Integrated monitoring system of littoral and fluvial sediment transport in Basilicata

The work deals design, planning and implementation of a monitoring integrated system of coastal dynamics and rivers sediment transport, in order to characterize qualitative and quantitative phenomena and processes interesting the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coast of Basilicata. The immediate feedback of integrated monitoring take place into the definition of a territorial decisions support system for defence, emergency management and risk in both rivers and coastal areas also related to social and economic development. Measurements and calculations are addressed to the development and upgrading of geographic informative system connected to informative system available by the local Authority and to monitoring networks existing on Basilicata region. Two macro-sectors have been developed relatively to coastal dynamics and to the control of littoral and fluvial sediment transport. For coastal dynamics, the main aim is represented by the prediction of sea state and knowledge of littoral sediment transport due to nearshore-currents while, for rivers, the activities are targeted to monitoring water discharge and sediment transport. Monitoring system and further analyses, based on use of algorithms for the assessment of coastal and hydrodynamic processes, allow to characterize the interaction between littoral and fluvial currents, both in ordinary conditions and during extreme events. The work considers in a detailed way the measure of suspended sediment and bed-load discharge, organizing both fixed stations and mobile equipments, in order to realize a database according to standard procedure which allow repetitiveness and temporal continuity.