Integrating dendrochronology and geomatics to monitor natural hazards and landscape changes

The monitoring of natural hazards is of extreme importance in the areas of Italy where there are high hydrogeological and avalanche risks. Despite the fact that records of past events are sometimes available, some of their data are often incomplete and show that the monitoring and mapping of these phenomena are never enough to avoid damage. We present the results of different studies where an integrated approach has been used by combining geomatics and dendrochronology techniques. In particular, we refer to case studies concerning avalanches, debris flows, natural reforestation in Italy and riverbed path changes in Albania. The position of all the plants sampled for dendrochronology was taken by GPS (Global Positioning System). The cartographic information used in these studies was provided by official sources from public organisations or processed by extracting them from aerial photographs or satellite imagery. With the Geographic Information System, it was possible to spatialise and analyse the information from dendrochronological sampling through the creation of multi-temporal morphological and potential risk maps showing the effects of the phenomena on forest cover. The GIS software used in these studies are GRASS, QGIS and IDRISI. The results showed that avalanches, debris flow, riverbed and landscape change can be studied effectively by integrating geomatics and dendrochronological techniques. This integration enabled spatial and temporal modelling, including the reconstruction of paths and volumes of past phenomena. The analysis of growth disturbances over time also enabled the reconstruction of the frequency of avalanches and debris flow activity over the last 50 years and, in some areas, over the last century. A detailed analysis of one of the avalanche tracks provided interesting results regarding the reconstruction of avalanche dynamics. Analysis of scars on buried stems of Pinus sylvestris also provided interesting results in terms of debris volume estimation. The dendrochronological reconstruction of the patterns of natural reforestation led to the determination of forest expansion rates that were used for modelling future scenarios and refining the changes of river morphology. Dendrochronology strongly improved the results of GIS satellite imagery analysis. These reconstructions are particularly important for the areas that are more exposed to the direct risk of avalanches, debris flows and floods in order to prevent the consequences of such phenomena in a changing climate.