ABSTRACT

Prediction of failure in rock slopes above or in the vicinity of towns and communication routes is a preliminary but fundamental step in the mitigation of damage related to rockfall processes. This paper deals with the analysis of the rockfall hazard at the eastern border of the valley of the Sele River, in the Southern Apennines of Italy: following the geologic and geomorphologic description of the area, the historic rockfall activity along the Mt. Valva – Mt. Marzano ridge is described, giving particular emphasis to the effect of the November 23rd, 1980, Irpinia earthquake (M = 6.8). Structural analysis of the carbonate walls, and the overall rockfall hazard are then discussed, focusing in detail the attention on the rock slopes above the towns of Valva and Colliano.