Geotechnical map of a coastal and industrialized urban area (Avilés, NW Spain)

Geotechnical mapping of urban environments is usually constrained by the scarcity of outcrops during fieldwork. Such is the case of Avilés, a coastal Spanish city that has been heavily industrialized since the middle of the last century. This research approaches the study of its urban subsoil through the development of a Geographical Information Systems-based relational database containing thousands of unpublished ground data, partially extracted from geotechnical reports. This allowed analysing the distribution and changes of thickness of the superficial deposits and lithostratigraphic formations as well as the evaluation of their main geotechnical properties. Thus, 14 geotechnical units were differentiated (hierarchically displayed in three categories) depending on lithological, geotechnical and constructive criteria. As a result, this investigation provides a geo-engineering map at scale 1:25,000.

城市区域岩土测绘（Geotechnical mapping）通常受限于野外作业中露头（outcrop）的稀缺性。西班牙沿海城市阿维莱斯（Avilés）便是典型案例，该城市自上世纪中叶以来已实现高度工业化。本研究通过构建基于地理信息系统（Geographical Information Systems，GIS）的关系型数据库，开展其城市地下土层研究；该数据库收录了数千份未公开的岩土勘察数据，其中部分数据取自岩土工程报告。借此得以分析表层沉积物与岩石地层单元（lithostratigraphic formations）的厚度分布及变化特征，并评估其核心岩土工程特性。据此，研究人员依据岩性、岩土工程及工程建设评判标准，划分出14个岩土工程单元（geotechnical units），并按层级将其划分为三大类别。最终，本研究产出了比例尺为1:25000的岩土工程制图成果。