Development of Sinkhole Hazard Mapping for Central Florida

Sinkholes are one of the most frequent hydrogeological hazards in the Central Florida region. The risks related to sinkholes pose a significant threat to humans, infrastructure, and natural resources. It is important to identify the sinkhole-prone areas in order to mitigate or prevent damage and losses caused by sinkholes. The main objective of this study is to develop sinkhole hazard mapping for Central Florida region with a GIS technique. A sinkhole hazard map was generated by using frequency ratio (FR) model that analyzes the relationship between the sinkhole occurrence and sinkhole-affecting factors. Various hydrogeological factors that potentially contribute to the sinkhole formation in the region were identified and used for the analysis. The sinkhole hazard index (SHI) values for the entire study area were determined using the developed hazard model, and then used to produce the sinkhole hazard map of the Central Florida region. The developed sinkhole hazard map shows a strong correlation with the reported sinkhole.