LIVIO FRANZ

PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

- Since 2022, Scientific Advisor for the Insubria Chapter of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).
- Since 2022, affiliated to the National Research Council (CNR) – IGAG (Torino), for the survey of the n.177 “Tortona” Sheet of the National Geological Map of Italy.
- In 2020, obtained the National Scientific Qualification (ASN – Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) for a full professor position
- In 2020, awarded by INQUA with a funding of € 4000/per year, for the networking scientific project EDITH (from earthquake deformation to seismic hazard assessment)
- In 2019 joins the scientific committee of the “International Summer School on Historic and Prehistoric landslides in the NE Italian Alps: implications for new hazard maps in mountainous areas” – 30 June, 5 July, 2019, Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto regions.
- In 2019, principal investigator for a two-years research project on the modeling of uncertainties in E&P studies, funded by Edison.
- Since October 2017, Associate Professor at the University of Insubria.
- In 2017, invited speaker for the International workshop in South Korea “International Conference for Earthquake Disaster Counterplan”; 7-8 sept 2017.
- In 2017 guest editor for Quaternary International Special Issue Volume: “Quaternary earthquakes: geology and paleoseismology for seismic hazard assessment”; vol 451.
- In 2017, joins the Scientific Committee of the international field-trip workshop “Three Destructive Earthquakes along the Central Apennines fault system, Italy” – 19th – 22th July 2017 – Camerino.
- In 2017, in the framework of an NPP siting procedure (N Jordan), consultant for analysis of LiDAR topographic data for the assessment of surface faulting.
- In 2015, in the framework of the preliminary investigation for the siting of the National Nuclear Waste Repository (CNAPI map by SOGIN), consultant for the assessment of surface faulting hazard.
- In 2015, in the framework of an NPP siting procedure (Embalse NPP, Argentina), consultant for the assessment of surface faulting.
- In 2015, joins the scientific committee of the “6th International INQUA Meeting on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archaeoseismology”. 19 | 24 April 2015, Pescina, Fucino Basin, Italy.
- In 2014, visiting scientist at the RWTH Aachen University for teaching and a research project on sandbox analogue modeling - founding by LLP Erasmus.
- In 2013, organized the field-trip workshop ‘Reconsidering Loess in Northern Italy’ (Po Plain, 1-3 July 2013), organized in the framework of the AEOMED Project of the INQUA TERPRO Commission. The workshop focuses on presenting and discussing the sources and formation processes of the loess in the Po Plain area.
- In 2013, participated to the scientific panel of the DOVE Project proposal (Drilling Overdeepened Alpine Valleys) – Principal Proponents: F. Anselmetti, F. Preusser, M. Bavec, C. Crouzet, M. Fiebig, G. Gabriel, C. Ravazzi, C. Spoetl.
- In 2012 – 2013, cooperated in the DPC-INGV Project – “D25/c2 Parametrization of active faults in the Calabria-Lucania region” – principal investigator: F.R. Cinti (INGV Roma)
- In 2012 – 2013, cooperated in the DPC-INGV Project “D17.b2 – Correlation, using chronological datings, between liquefaction events in the area of the May-June 2012 Emilia seismic sequence and known earthquakes of the past” – principal investigator: P.M. De Martini (INGV Roma)
- In 2011 – 2013, cooperated in the INTERREG I-CH project: “SITINET - Geological and Archaeological Sites of Insubria Region” – www.sitinet.org
- In Dec. 2011, in the framework of an NPP siting procedure (Akkuyu NPP, Turkey), consultant for the assessment of surface faulting.
- In July 2010, cooperated in the Project: “Program of re-training and re-orientation of Iraqi experts in the field of BIO-CHEM technology for peacefull applicaton” as a tutor; this project, managed by the University of Insubria in collaboration with the Landau Network (Como – Italy), has been coordinated by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Post-Doc at the University of Insubria since 2008
- During 2007-2009, joined to the National Project “Active compressive tectonics along the Southern Alps between Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore”, in collaboration with the Italian Environmental Protection Agency (ISPRA), the National Research Council (IAMC CNR), Milano University, Università di Milano, Birbeck University College – London and University of Colorado – Boulder.
- In 2006, consultant for a hazard mitigation project relative to a waste dump in Cairo Montenotte (SV).
- In 2005 – 2007, cooperated to the PRIN Project “Tettonica compressiva attiva lungo le Alpi Meridionali fra il Lago di Garda e il Lago Maggiore” - Principal Investigator: A.M. Michetti.
- In 2005, worked in project "ITHACA" (ITaly HAzards from CApable faulting) for the sector of Northern Italy.
- Surveyor, in the Project CARG (CARtografia Geologica) framework, for the sheet n. 75 “Como”.





SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

Research activity is principally aimed at investigating the activity of active seismogenic sources through a multidisciplinary approach, including paleoseismology, tectonic geomorphology and Quaternary geology. The methodological approach provides field mapping, remote sensing and photo-interpretation, paleoseismological analyses, macroseismic studies, geophysical investigation and large-scale sand-box analogue modeling.

The following issues are currently faced:

- Geological characterization of seismogenic sources
- Secondary surface faulting and relationship with deeper buried structures;
- Reconstruction of the environmental recent evolution of an area through the analysis of stratigraphic records;
- Calibration of the ESI Macroseismic Intensity Scale on recent earthquakes.


Geological characterization of seismogenic sources

According to the “seismic landscape” paradigm, the geomorphologic and geologic characteristics of a region also include some seismically induced features. These features have been generated through the repetition of many earthquakes on some seismogenic structures and therefore are the geomorphological and geological expression of many seismotectonic movements over a long time window. A seismic landscape is therefore characteristic for each seismogenic potential, in terms of deformation rates, maximum expected earthquake etc.
Research was conducted, in this line, on selected seismogenic sources in Italy and abroad.
In particular, significant results have been obtained on the characterization of the seismogenic potential and recent activity of blind thrusts in the Po Plain through a multidisciplinary and multi-scalar approach. This one included the blind thrust recognition and geometric reconstruction through the analysis of regional seismic reflection profiles (courtesy of ENI E&P) and the constraint of recent thrust activity through the analysis of secondary surface deformation (fold-related faults) induced by the deeper main structure and investigated through a paleoseismological approach.





Secondary surface faulting and relationship with deeper buried structures

Fold-related faults (e.g., bending-moment faults, flexural slip faults, out of syncline thrusts etc.) can be the brittle surface expression of shallow folding and can represent the only available feature feasible to paleoseismological investigations. In particular, bending-moment faults can be directly induced by extension localized in the external sectors of flexures and thus can be retrieved both in contractional (folding or buckling), extensional (i.e. rollover anticlines) or strike-slip related tectonic settings.
Yet, some questions arise concerning the reliability of these structural features in paleoseismology. In particular, whether slip on bending-moment faults can be considered a reliable indicator of folding and, in turn, of the deeper thrust movements.
Part of the conducted research focused on this issue, basing large-scale analogue sand-box modelling.




Reconstruction of the environmental recent evolution of an area through the analysis of stratigraphic records

Part of the conducted research focused on the study of recent landscape and environmental evolution in collaboration with experts in many different research fields (archaeology palynology, anthracology, environmental chemistry etc.). Main studies are related to reconstruction of the recent environmental evolution of the Como urban area (northern Italy), whose history have been reconstructed over different time windows and thanks to the analysis of a very detailed dataset of stratigraphic records.





Calibration of the ESI Macroseismic Intensity Scale on recent earthquakes

Some works have been aimed at the study of seismically-induced environmental effects, in the framework of the calibration of the ESI macroseismic scale, solely based on these kind of earthquake-induced features. These effects have been compiled for some important and recent earthquakes such as the Salò (Dec. 24th, 2004; Mw 5.38), L’Aquila (6th April, 2009; Mw 6.3) and the Emilia seismic swarm (May, 2012; Mw ca. 5.9).





These topics have been investigated in collaboration with several national and international research institutions, including: ISPRA (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale), INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) Boulder University (Colorado, US), Geological Survey of Israel, RWTH Aachen University.