Mapping of Mexico City's susceptibility to sinkhole formation using the weights of evidence method

Sinkholes are a geological risk that happens all over the world, emerging unexpectedly as a result of several natural and/or anthropogenic conditioning factors that may be interconnected. The study of these conditioning factors is particularly valuable for the prevention and mitigation of the hazards caused by sinkholes to civil works and roads in a region because it allows identifying the spatial distribution of the different factors that generate the phenomena and with which maps can be generated to highlight the places with the highest potential of sinkhole formation, thereby assisting in the minimization of infrastructure damage. In Mexico City, a serious situation is presented by the formation of sinkholes, between the years of 2017 and 2019 more than 500 sinkholes have been recorded throughout the city, so this work has as its aim to identify areas with greater susceptibility to the formation of sinkholes, using the probabilistic method of weights of evidence, with which it will be possible to identify areas that need further monitoring and with which future damage associated with the phenomenon can be prevented. For the identification of susceptible areas, a geographic information system database was created with information on distance to faults, fractures, subway lines, subsidence zones, hydrographic network, geology, land use, land elevation, slope, roads, location of water leaks, waterlogging sites, water wells, mines and groundwater depletion. The result of this study shows that most of Mexico City has a high susceptibility to sinkhole formation, however, the central-northern and eastern parts of the city show the highest potential for sinkhole formation.