Development of Impact Evaluation and Diagnostic Indicators for Sinkholes

Abstract

Based on the previous studies on sinkholes and ground subsidence conducted until date, the factors affecting the occurrence of sinkholes can be divided into natural environmental factors and human environmental factors in accordance with the purpose of the study. Furthermore, to be more specific, the human environment can be classified into the artificial type and the social type. In this study, the assessment indices for assessing risks of sinkholes and ground subsidence were developed by performing AHP analysis based on the results of the study by Lee et al. (2016), who selected the risk factors for the occurrence of sinkholes by performing Delphi analysis targeting relevant experts. Analysis showed that the artificial environmental factors were of significance in affecting the occurrence of sinkholes. Explicitly, the underground factors were found to be of importance in the natural environment, and among them, the level of underground water turned out to be an imperative influencing factor. In the artificial environment, the underground and subterranean structures exhibited similar importance, and in the underground structures, the excessive use of the underground space was found to be an important influencing factor. In the subterranean ones, the level of water leakage and the erosion of the water supply and sewage piping system were the influential factors, and in the surface, compaction failure was observed as an imperative factor. In the social environment, the regional development, and above all, the groundwater overuse were found to be important factors. In the managemental and institutional environment, the improper construction management proved to be the most important influencing factor.