Sinkholes and Subsidence

 "Sinkholes and Subsidence"  provides a twenty-first century account of how the various subsidence features in carbonate and evaporite rocks cause problems in development and construction in our living environment. The authors explain the processes by which different types of sinkholes develop and mature in karst terrains. They consider the various methods used in site investigations, both direct and indirect, to locate the features associated with these hazards and risks, highlighting the value of hazard mapping. Various ground improvement techniques and the special types of foundation structures which deal with these problems are covered  in the second half of the text. This book is supplemented with a wealth of actual case studies and solutions, written by invited experts.

• Drainage
• Drainage Control
• Foundation Collapse
• Hydraulic Structure Problems
• Investigation Methods
• Karst Processes
• Remedial Measures
• Rock Dissolution and Cavity Formation
• Sinkhole Development
• Subsidence
• remediation
• structure
• hydrogeology

From the reviews:

"Waltham … and colleagues at the British Geological Survey introduce sinkholes in karstic terranes, with an emphasis on engineering and construction. … The book is profusely illustrated and includes numerous boxes intended to highlight important features. It corrects numerous misconceptions surrounding sinkholes and provides students and professionals with remarkably valuable information that is easy to read; it also readily serves as a handy desk reference. … Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (M.S. Field, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (10), June, 2005)

"This book was written by geologists for engineers. It provides a thorough and practical overview of subsidence processes, effects, detection, and remediation. … It is comprehensive, covering every type of collapse … . The book is remarkably compact … . The presentation is seamless and well organized … . the diagrams are clear and informative. Classifications are meaningful and easily applied … . We recommend this book enthusiastically to anyone involved in the engineering aspects of karst … . In presentation and utility it is in a class by itself. " (Arthur N. Palmer and Margaret V. Palmer, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, Vol. 67 (2), August, 2005)

"One of the informal conclusions of the 13^th International Karstological School, held at Postojna (Slovenia) in June, 2005, was that the application of engineering geology approaches to general karst geomorphology has become urgent. … an echo appeared in the arena – in the form of the present book. … The figures have been carefully chosen and matched … . Photographs are of high quality, and related directly to the text. … It is, and it will remain, the essential work in this specific field … ." (Acta Carsologica, Vol. 35 (1), 2006)

"The authors have written this book for a readership of civil engineers with the intention ofexplaining the processes of karst and the consequential damage at the ground surface and to foundations resulting from this form of erosion. … The book is well illustrated … . This is a book that should find a place on the bookshelves of all geotechnical practices, either to act as a warning or as a reference should karst problems be encountered." (D. Pascall, Geotechnique, Vol. 55 (6), 2005)

"The greatest strength of this book is the manner in which the information offered is so richly illustrated by examples and photographs from the authors’ extensive experience. … the book is aimed at an audience of civil engineers. … I found the book an excellent and highly informative read and I suspect that most engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers would find equal value within its pages. … The authors of this book have produced an accessible text of real value that is thoroughly recommended." (Mike G. Winter, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology, Vol. 40, 2007)

"At-last – a book about engineering geology (and related topics) that is dedicated to karst and karst-related issues, written by a team that knows about and appreciates karst. … The book is completed by an extensive and up to date … . To me this seems to be a useful, user-friendly and well-written reference text that carries significant interest for lay readers … ." (Dave Lowe, Speleogenesis and Evolution of Karst Aquifers, Issue 94, 2007)

• Civil Engineering Division, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

  Tony Waltham

• British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, UK

  Fred G. Bell, Martin G. Culshaw

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