Predict part 2: Building a Geo-Database and a 3D subsurface model for the historical center of Rome

Abstract

In many countries, the subsurface is increasingly recognized as an integral part to urban planning, requiring detailed knowledge of the 3D subsurface geometry and properties of both natural sediments and artificial deposits. The underground data are essential for visualizing and analyzing geological features in combination with artificial structures, assessing risks related to groundwater protection, seismic hazard, and preserving archaeological heritage. Geographic information systems offer powerful tools for managing and visualizing spatial data, facilitating the creation of detailed subsurface models. In this work, a novel geo‑lithologic database has been implemented in a GIS environment to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subsurface of the Roman urban area. The Roman area, despite being located in a moderate seismic hazard zone, is exposed to a significant level of seismic risk, also due to the unique cultural heritage of its historical center. Over 800 boreholes, with average depths of 50‑60 m, were georeferenced and interpreted from a large database of civil engineering boreholes. This geodatabase (hereafter GDB) served as the basis for developing a 3D subsurface model, finalised to seismic response analyses in the framework of the INGV Dynamic Planet ST‑Predict project. In addition, the development of an implicit 3D geological model for Rome, based on stratigraphic correlations and lithofacies analysis, provides crucial input for future analyses on the Quaternary deposits of the Roman area.