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Spatial assessment of land subsidence in the Sefid Dasht plain using a one-dimensional consolidation model and hydrogeological data
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Asghar Ghaedi Vanani  , Gholamreza Shoaei * , Amirhossein Khaksar |
| Department of Engineering Geology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. |
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Abstract: (487 Views) |
Objective: Land subsidence, as a significant environmental and geotechnical challenge, has affected many plains in Iran, including the Sefid Dasht Plain in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, causing damage to urban and agricultural structures and threatening environmental sustainability. This study aimed to estimate the spatial extent of land subsidence in the Sefid Dasht Plain resulting from excessive groundwater extraction.
Method: To achieve this objective, a one-dimensional consolidation model based on Terzaghi’s theory was applied, using hydrogeological data including borehole logs, compressible clay layer thickness, and groundwater table drawdown. Using this model, subsidence at piezometer locations was calculated over a 40-year period from 1984 to 2024. Subsequently, the spatial distribution of subsidence across the plain was generated using interpolation techniques within a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Results: The results indicated that the highest groundwater table decline (42–50 m) occurred in the southwestern and southern parts of the plain. Accordingly, the annual subsidence rate in the plain, considering different storage coefficients, was estimated between 0.66 and 2 cm. Spatial zoning of subsidence showed a clear correlation between areas with the thickest compressible clay layers, the greatest groundwater decline, and the highest subsidence rates. Validation of the results with field observations confirmed the reliability of the applied model.
Conclusions: These findings can serve as an effective tool for sustainable groundwater management, predicting high-risk areas, and developing strategies to mitigate subsidence hazards in the study area. Moreover, this study provides an example of the application of consolidation models and GIS in analyzing geological problems and managing natural resources in Iran’s arid and semi-arid regions.
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| Keywords: Land subsidence, Sefid Dasht Plain, One-dimensional consolidation model, Groundwater level decline. |
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Full-Text [PDF 1798 kb]
(508 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/12/24 | Accepted: 2026/01/12 | Published: 2026/01/12
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