Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Geosciences
Date of Award
12-2018
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Dr. Ingrid Luffman
Committee Members
Dr. Eileen Ernenwein, Dr. Arpita Nandi
Abstract
Predicting infrastructure damage and economic impact of sinkholes requires high accuracy mapping distribution and development. The study mapped sinkholes and sinkhole hotpsots in Johnson City, TN using LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and a database of known sinkholes which were matched to LiDAR-derived depressions. For all matched depressions (n = 404), three metrics were calculated: circularity index, ratio of length to width of the Minimum Bounding Rectangle (MBR) and percent coverage of the MBR by the depression, and 3,634 new sinkholes were identified. Newly developed hotspots were identified in north Johnson City and other areas in the south near the Johnson City Medical Center. The methodology developed can be applied to identify hotspots in other small metropolitan cities and the hotspot map produced can be employed in hazard mitigation planning, resource allocation, and made available publicly to property owners and insurance companies.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Fasesin, Kingsley, "Improving Sinkhole Mapping Using LiDAR Data and Locating Sinkhole Hotspots in Johnson City, TN" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3511. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3511
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.