Spatial–temporal characterization of land subsidence induced by large area distribution of recent dredger fill

Abstract

Large-scale land subsidence often occurs after large-scale land formation caused by dredger fill, which affects the sustainable development of the region. In order to prevent and control land subsidence in the area with dredger fill, the characteristics of land subsidence and its main influencing factors need to be studied. A typical region was examined using geological survey data, land-level monitoring and comparative analysis, to provide insight regarding the variability of dredger-fill characteristics and impacts on land subsidence. The geological survey results provided the information about burial distribution characteristics of dredger fill and its underlying soil layers. The land-level monitoring results were analyzed to characterize the spatial-temporal distribution of land subsidence. The comparative analysis of land subsidence with the formation time, soil properties, thicknesses of dredger fill and the lower soft soil layer provided information about the different impacts. The monitoring results show that the land subsidence of dredger fill areas was substantially larger than that of adjacent areas. The later the filling was formed, the thicker the filling is, and the more clay-rich the soil property and the thicker the soft soil layer is, the larger the land subsidence is. Finally, the future trend of land subsidence in the study area are given and some suggestions on the prevention and control of land subsidence are also given.