Public Health, Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Urban Land Subsidence

Abstract

Land subsidence (LS) due to groundwater pumping has been the subject of many studies at various spatial scales, dimensions of impacts and degrees of economic characterization. Recent progress in remote sensing has led to assessments at the planetary level, with an emphasis on the city-impacts. In this paper we first conduct a review of recent economic assessments of LS impacts and evaluate their potential to inform decisions and to be applied in other urban environments, from which we derive desirable characteristics for future assessments. Then we propose a framework and methodology specific to the urban context, but applicable to any city, considering availability of appropriate data. The approach attempts to categorize levels of impacts on the built and natural infrastructure and propagates its consequences for public health, socioeconomic and the environment. From its application to the context of Jakarta, we conclude with recommendations regarding methodology, data, and governance level for the international community to support local actors. In addition to monitoring plans and regulatory interventions, we reaffirm the need of multidisciplinary teams to address the complex issue of the infrastructural risk of LS and its impacts.