A GIS-based building risk assessment for the subsidence due to undercity coal mining activities in Zonguldak, Turkey

• Published in: Arabian journal of geosciences Vol. 14; no. 5
• Main Author: Akcin, Hakan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.03.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Coal; Coal mines; Coal mining; Damage detection; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Evaluation; Geographic information systems; Geographical information systems; Geology; Information systems; Interferometric synthetic aperture radar; Land use; Mining; Original Paper; Probability theory; Public buildings; Remote sensing; Risk assessment; SAR (radar); Schools; Subsidence; Tunnels; Turkey; GIS; Building risk assessment; Under city mining; Urban transformation; Risk assessment decision matrix; InSAR; Ground subsidence
• ISSN: 1866-7511; 1866-7538
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-021-06702-6

In this study, the risk assessment decision matrix based on geographic information system (RADM-GIS) model was applied to evaluate of spatial hazard of ground subsidence and building damage due to the active undercity coal mining at Bahcelievler area in Zonguldak. The city is the centre of major coal mining production basin in Turkey. The RADM-GIS model was evaluated using the ground subsidence regions, buildings and roads in the spatial database which were planned to include urban transformation. The database also included information such as mining tunnels and production panels, topography, geology and land use in the area. The model was applied to account for the risk value due to the probability and severity of each damaged building in areas related to the degree of subsidence in the Bahcelievler area. Maximum subsidence of 482 mm was observed from the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations between 2008 and 2019, and the damages were detected in 90 of 584 buildings within the hazard zone. In the three subsidence influence areas, medium and remarkable risks were determined in the 4 buildings of which severity levels were between 3 and 5. Two of the four buildings, identified as having remarkable risks, were public buildings used as high schools. The situation stem from the risk assessment in this region was reported to the local authorities and related mining company to reconsider the next coal productions to be realized in the near future.