Multi-source monitoring data and numerical analyses for the assessment of settlements affecting built-up areas in variable soil conditions

Abstract

This paper presents an integrated analysis based on the use of multi-source wide-area datasets consisting of hydro-mechanical properties of geomaterials, in-situ investigations/measurements (e.g. groundwater levels in wells) and innovative space-borne data (i.e. DInSAR techniques) to support numerical analyses aimed at assessing and predicting the settlements affecting built-up areas in variable soil conditions. To this aim, an expeditious procedure was developed and tested with reference to a district in Rotterdam City (The Netherlands) affected by subsidence phenomena due to the presence of heterogeneous settling strata mainly composed by peat and organic soils. The results obtained allowed investigating the role of predisposing factors of the settlement occurrence and assessing the induced damage on buildings. Considering the widespread diffusion of such geohazards, the followed procedure could help the in-charge authorities to carry out activities at urban scale aimed at identifying the areas most affected by subsidence risk and to select the most suitable and sustainable mitigation strategies.