Sinkhole susceptibility hazard zones using GIS framework and heuristic method

Abstract

Sinkhole is not named new marvel in this nation, particularly encompass Klang Valley, Malaysia. Since 1968, the expanding quantities of sinkhole occurrence have been reported in Kuala Lumpur and surrounded areas. As the outcomes, it represents a genuine danger for human lives, resources and structure especially in the capital city of Malaysia. Therefore, a Sinkhole Hazard Model (SHM) was created with incorporation of GIS system by applying Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) procedure in order to created sinkhole susceptibility map for the specific territory. Five successive criteria for principle criteria each classified by five sub-classes were chosen for this study which is Lithology (LT), Groundwater Level Decline (WLD), Soil Type (ST), Land Use (LU) and Proximity to Groundwater Wells (PG). An arrangement of relative weights were allotted to each instigating factor and registered through pairwise correlation framework got from expert judgment. Lithology and Groundwater Level Decline has been distinguished gives the highest effect to the sinkhole phenomenon. A sinkhole susceptibility risk zones was grouped into five inclined territories which is very low, low, moderate, high and very high zones. The outcomes acquired were approved with 33 past sinkhole inventory data. This assessment demonstrates that the model shows 61 and 15% of the sinkhole events fall inside high and very high zones respectively. In light of this result, it unmistakably shows that AHP approach is helpful to foresee catastrophic event, for example, sinkhole hazard.