A Framework for Assessing the Earthquake-induced Landslide Resilience of a Road Network in Turin, Italy

Landslides, defined as the downward movement of rock, debris and soil, pose a significant risk to road infrastructure in the Piedmont region, Italy, particularly when triggered by seismic activity and heavy rainfall. This study focuses on assessing the stability and resilience of a rural road network consisting of four primary roads, all connecting the city of Turin, more specifically, the Sassi neighbourhood, with the town of Pino Torinese. Analytical models were integrated into a novel framework for determining the safety factor (FS) and critical acceleration (ac) for various ground conditions within the identified road network. This method involves the use of GIS data and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) to assess the slope characteristics. Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) models were employed to derive peak ground acceleration (PGA) values, which were then used to calculate Newmark's displacement. Both fully dry and fully saturated conditions were considered to model the boundary conditions of ground stability. Results show that road stability is strongly impacted by soil conditions and slope angles, with stability decreasing as FS approaches the unit value. The highest instability occurs in fully saturated soils due to heavy rainfall, while seismic activity in the studied areas has limited impact. The proposed framework offers valuable insights for designing targeted interventions and assessing road networks’ resilience