An Integrated Approach for the Assessment and Monitoring Of Land Deformation in the Riyadh City and Its Surroundings for Identifying the Controlling Factors

Author

Abdulaziz Ibrahim Aljammaz, Western Michigan UniversityFollow

Date of Award

5-2021

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Geological and Environmental Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Mohamed Sultan

Second Advisor

Dr. Alan Kehew

Third Advisor

Dr. Peter Voice

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Richard Becker

Keywords

Land deformation, Small Base Line Subset (SBAS), urbanization, Global Positioning System (GPS), Supervised classifications, agricultural activities

Abstract

An integrated approach (remote sensing, field, geodesy, geology, and hydrogeology) was conducted to assess and monitor land deformation at Riyadh city and its surroundings. Two settings were investigated. The first, Jinadriyah area (1.5 km²), an urban area located east of Riyadh city, was selected to assess deformation associated with urbanization over desert lands. The second location was Al Kharj area (19,790 km²) to the south of Riyadh city, a reclaimed desert land that was selected to assess the deformation associated with agricultural groundwater extraction from fossil aquifers. My investigations revealed high subsidence rates (up to -30 mm/yr) over Jinadriyah that could be related to mining of aggregate and other construction materials, development of dump sites and fill areas, and construction of roads and buildings or collapse of underlying sinkholes. Subsidences over Al Kharj area reach up to -14 mm/yr that is caused by excessive groundwater extraction from the fossil aquifers and the presence of compressible clays.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

Recommended Citation

Aljammaz, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, "An Integrated Approach for the Assessment and Monitoring Of Land Deformation in the Riyadh City and Its Surroundings for Identifying the Controlling Factors" (2021). Dissertations. 3720.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/3720