A Review of Resilience Measures for Land Subsidence-prone Areas

Abstract

The gradual sinking of the ground surface known as land subsidence is a serious geological hazard driven by both anthropogenic factors and natural factors. The phenomenon has the potential to seriously harm the environment, infrastructure, economy, and social factors but is often overlooked due to the long span of damage it induces that resulted in a persisting challenge globally. The study explores land subsidence, its causes, and impacts by categorizing them into the four main critical categories in an attempt for a comprehensive approach. Through analysis of existing studies and case examples of land subsidence in the past, indicators were derived for vulnerable areas which were ranked on their impacts through an expert survey. Resilience measures were then identified through case studies addressing the identified indicators. The effectiveness of the resilience measures was then evaluated through expert survey with experience in land subsidence-prone areas.

The outcome of the study helps establish that continual monitoring of land subsidence rates and patterns is required for which an awareness among policy makers and communities on land subsidence and their impacts is essential for reduction and prevention of the impacts. It also helps observe that proper site assessment and investigation for development and construction is highly necessary for subsidence vulnerable areas.