Seasonal and Regional Patterns of Ground Subsidence Associated with Urban Water and Sewer Infrastructure Failures: A Case Study in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea

Abstract

Ground subsidence in urban areas often reflects hidden failures within water and sewer infrastructure, amplified by hydrologic and seasonal conditions. This study analyzes 303 documented subsidence incidents in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, from 2018 to 2024, focusing on infrastructure-related causes and their spatial and seasonal patterns. Incident records were reviewed to identify root causes, geographic distribution, seasonal trends, and impacts, including human injury and vehicle damage. Descriptive analysis showed that sewer pipe damage (39.3%) was the leading cause, followed by poor compaction or backfilling (22.8%) and excavation-related damage (14.2%). Subsidence linked to sewer systems occurred disproportionately during the summer monsoon, highlighting interactions between rainfall, pipe deterioration, and soil erosion. Statistical analysis using the Extended Fisher’s Exact Test revealed significant associations between subsidence causes and seasonality, vehicle damage, and regional location, but no significant link with human injury. Defective pipe construction contributed to elevated regional vulnerability, particularly in eastern municipalities, while excavation-related incidents were more common in spring. These results underscore the need for seasonally adaptive inspections, targeted rehabilitation of aging water and sewer networks, and region-specific asset management. By connecting subsurface failures with hydrologic conditions and infrastructure performance, this study offers data-driven insights to enhance proactive water infrastructure management and urban resilience.