Assessment of risks associated with changes in the geotechnical environment in the urban areas

Abstract

Georisks can be triggered not only by natural occasions (landslides, seismic, excess atmospheric phenomena and related consequences, etc.), but also by anthropogenic factors (mining, erosion failures, flooding, barrage impacts, etc.). Georisk assessment is carried out by studying both natural geological and hydrogeological, geomorphological or environmental conditions, processes and phenomena, as well as features of anthropogenic activities, which in total represent a possible threat to human life, health and property or to the environment. Negative impacts of a different nature are often observed during the construction and operation of underground structures that are common in urban areas and megacities - subways, during the construction of which there are many geotechnical problems that determine one or another level of georisk. When developing measures to reduce risks in a changing geotechnical environment, an important role is played by the involvement of additional information that can be obtained through scientific research to ensure the reliability of structures. In each case under consideration, it is necessary to solve the problems of reliability, safety, economic efficiency of structures, since the solution of this problem determines the acceptable level of risk. This article discusses a number of challenges that arose during the construction and operation of the Vienna metro, the risks associated with the construction of new sections, and also proposes an algorithm for a probabilistic approach to assessing the georisks of the “tunnel-soil” system.