Konya Basin sinkhole risk study published in international journal

An international research study led by Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University (BŞEÜ) has provided a comprehensive analysis of sinkhole risks within the 50,000 square kilometer Konya Basin. The study, published in the prestigious journal Engineering Geology, involved collaboration between researchers from Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University and Zaragoza University in Spain.

By utilizing historical aerial photography, satellite imagery, maps, and field data, the researchers created a multi-temporal inventory of sinkholes in the region. The research details their locations, formation times, and morphometric characteristics, while evaluating the geological, hydrogeological, and human-induced factors that influence their frequency and occurrence.

The findings aim to assist in disaster risk reduction by identifying high-risk areas. This data is intended to support scientific decision-making regarding safe land use, urban planning, and the protection of critical infrastructure through targeted geotechnical investigations.