Mapping investigation based on engineering geology of a developing urban area (Nigde, Turkey)

Definitions of urban geological environments are usually required to provide information about an engineering basis for planners and design engineers to prepare a rational land use planning and developing urban areas. Therefore, the geological mapping investigation method can be a beneficial way of defining urban geological environments visually. In this study, the Engineering Geological Mapping Method (EGMM) was used to investigate and present the geotechnical and geological data obtained from Nigde city of Turkey. Around forty-five unpublished reports that were obtained from the construction work done around the study area were evaluated as detail. Then, the study area was divided into five different regions which were considered their geological characteristics. In each region, nine unpublished reports were selected and analyzed for interpreting the data and plotting the geotechnical and geological maps. The main indispensable parameters for geotechnical design engineers were drawn by using the data obtained from the different boreholes for Nigde city. These drawn maps by GIS technic: (1) groundwater table, (2) liquefaction zone, (3) plasticity index, (4) bearing capacity, (5) soil classification, and (6) SPT results. For preparing the maps, two types of interpolation methods were used (minimum curvature and Voronoi polygons methods). The Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to rearrange and control all this information and to prepare engineering geotechnical and geological maps. As a result, the Engineering Geological Mapping Method applied for this study is to show more crucial for preventing mistakes making in practical works during preparing urban extension planning for developing cities in the future