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

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.