Analysis of urbanisation-induced land subsidence in Shanghai

Abstract

Since 1980, land subsidence has accelerated and groundwater levels have decreased in the centre of Shanghai, although the net withdrawn volume of groundwater has not increased. Theoretical analysis of the monitored data shows that the decrease in the groundwater level is the primary reason for the observed land subsidence. Meanwhile, the net withdrawn volume of groundwater in the urban centre of Shanghai has not increased during this period. Many underground structures have been constructed in the multi-aquifer-aquitard system of Shanghai since 1980. This paper discusses the factors related to the development of land subsidence during the process of urbanisation in Shanghai during the past 30 years. These factors include additional load during and after structure construction, the cut-off and/or partial cut-off effect of underground structures in aquifers, the decrease in the groundwater level due to leakage of underground structures and the reduction in recharge of groundwater from the surroundings.