Geographic information system approach in evaluating the geotechnical properties of soils: A case study of Oymaa?a? in Kayseri

Abstract

Kayseri, the ninth biggest city in Turkey, the regions opened to the ongoing construction of residential areas are expanding rapidly parallel to population growth. Soil improvement works are carried out in areas with the poor bearing capacity of foundations and in regions that are not suitable for safe construction. This event causes severe economic losses in urban development. This study proposes a (Geographic Information System) GIS-based approach to comprehensively understand the research area's underground conditions, predetermine the zones opened for construction by considering the parameters affecting the foundation of the buildings, and create an informative geotechnical model with visualization technology. For an exemplary application, a database was created with ArcGIS in the Kayseri Oymaagac location, and geological and geotechnical data were combined. The soil properties of this one million five hundred thousand square meter area opened for new settlement were analyzed in a GIS environment. The variation of SPT-N values measured in 60 boreholes in the field with depth, soil types, groundwater levels, and Vs data were used to combine the data, and related maps were drawn. Then, maps of the liquefaction of the soil in a possible earthquake and visual maps showing the bearing capacity of the foundations were created. This study will offer the best and most reliable land-use scenarios and in situ soil properties to decision-makers such as engineers, government agencies and disaster management. It will contribute to making accurate and fast decisions in urban planning. In addition, it will also be able to use as a tool for risk management in emergencies.