Site investigation in seismic zones in Italy

Site investigation has considerably increased in Italy after the last two destructive earthquakes of May 6th, 1976 in Friuli, and November 23rd, 1980 in Irpinia. The main characteristic of site investigation in seismic areas is to use techniques belonging to different disciplines, such as seismology, geophysics and geology as well as geotechnical and structural engineering. As regard to this, preliminary investigations on site seismicity are required. The well known variety of geological and geotechnical conditions of Italy makes it impossible to elaborate one site investigation programme of general validity for the whole Italian territory: however, the site investigation methods commonly used in Italy are mentioned in the paper. A lower limit standard site investigation necessary for geotechnical design parameter evaluation is also defined. Case histories of special site investigations to solve special problems such as microzoning, slope stability evaluation, foundation of industrial buildings and soil improvement are briefly reported.