Liquefaction hazard map for the harbour area of Gioia Tauro (Italy) by geostatistical methods

This paper reports the results of a case study of liquefaction assessment and mapping carried out in the harbour area of Gioia Tauro, in the southern part of Italy. The area, lying on a flat plain prevalently constituted in the first 20 meters below the ground level by cohesionless loose soils, struck by several historical earthquakes with intensity superior to VIII MCS, was the object of extensive seismological, geological and geotechnical surveys. The cyclic resistance ratio and the liquefaction potential index were estimated from numerous but not equispatially distributed in the area CPT and SPT profiles. Therefore geo-statistical method were applied to draw up reliable liquefaction hazard maps including uncertainties of estimated risk.