The use of BIM for hydrogeological risk analysis in Cervo Valley: an innovative perspective

The primary objective of this thesis is to develop innovative web maps in both 2D and 3D formats, offering static and dynamic (real-time) information. They are adopted to demonstrate their potential application in conducting hydrogeological risk analyses, especially in regions with high risk due to dense urbanization. The main area of interest is the Cervo Valley, situated in the Piedmont Region, Italy. This Valley is cyclically affected by catastrophic natural events due to its orographic and hydrographic characteristics. To achieve this final purpose, a series of QGIS Python-based tools and Python scripts are utilized to create the web maps. Additionally, initial comments are provided on the features of two culturally and historically significant infrastructures in the Valley: the Sain Giovanni Andorno Sanctuary and the ex-wool mill Maurizio Sella. This study uses QGIS, an open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) software, due to its flexibility and compatibility with Python. Initial geographic data from Geoportale Piemonte and ARPA Piemonte websites are processed in QGIS to create simplified web maps. Python scripts generate additional static layers, while API calls to ARPA Piemonte website introduce dynamic updates. The finalized maps can made public. Hydrogeological risks identified include landslide susceptibility for Saint Giovanni Andorno Sanctuary and flooding for the ex-wool mill Maurizio Sella. Static layers effectively show vulnerable areas in the Cervo Valley, while dynamic data integration emphasizes the need for real-time updates. Further Python script optimization and additional data on terrain conditions are necessary for a complete analysis. Overall, this thesis aims to showcase the practical applications of innovative web maps in conducting hydrogeological risk assessments. It uses the Cervo Valley and its infrastructures as a case study.