Late Quaternary environmental evolution of the Como urban area (Northern Italy): A multidisciplinary tool for risk management and urban planning

In 2012, we carried out investigations during a re-evaluation of the design parameters for the flood mitigation project at the Como lake-shore. The new campaign included seven boreholes, many in situ and laboratory tests, and four 14C dates. We found an organic silty unit, historical in age, with bad mechanical properties that was critical in the design of the flood mitigation project. We also obtained index properties for static and dynamic conditions, necessary for robust engineering planning. The results were used to update the project and better define future executive phases. Although the importance of acquiring independent experimental data is often overlooked, they can significantly improve the reliability of engineered systems, as demonstrated by the Como town case history.