Abstract
Many coastal areas have been intensively urbanized because people living and working on or near coastlines are increasing. Land reclamation from the sea and high-rise buildings are common approaches to satisfying the growing needs for more housing and other land use. Coastal areas are usually the ultimate discharge zones of groundwater systems. Using a coastal area in Hong Kong as a case study, this paper discusses the change in a groundwater system due to land reclamation and construction of building foundations in a coastal area. The upper part of the study area is in a nearly natural state, whereas the lower part is probably one of the most extensively developed areas in the world. It is evident that the groundwater flow system in this area has been changed over the last century. The piezometers in the transitional zone between the natural slopes and the urbanized areas indicate significant response to rainfall and obvious upward groundwater flow. To understand these piezometric responses to rainfall, a cross section is selected for detailed study using a two-dimensional multilayered numerical model. The parameters and structure of the aquifer system are calibrated by comparing the simulated and observed water levels. To reproduce the observed behavior of the groundwater system, the model has to include two important characteristics: a highly permeable zone at the rockhead and a reduction in hydraulic conductivity of 14–20 times in the urbanized area. The simulation demonstrates that both land reclamation along the coastline and deep foundations have contributed to the modification of the flow system, but the deep foundations have the most profound impact, especially when a high conductivity zone is present at the rockhead.
Résumé
La plupart des zones côtières ont été intensivement urbanisé due à la croissance de la population qui travaille et vive sur les zones littorales. La récupération des terrains sur la mer ainsi que la construction des grandes immeubles sont les moyens usuels utilisés pour satisfaire les demandes accrues de logement. D’habitude les zones côtières représentent l’exutoire final des aquifères. En utilisant la zones côtière de Hong Kong comme un étude de cas cet article analyse les changements dans les systèmes aquifères produits par la récupération des terrains et par les fondations des grandes immeubles. Tendis que la partie supérieure de la zone étudiée se trouve presque à l’état naturel, la partie inférieure représente une des zones les plus développée du monde. Il est donc évident que la circulation des eaux souterraines a été modifiée pendant le dernière siècle. Les piézomètres remplacés entre les versants et la zone urbanisée montrent une réponse significative aux précipitations ainsi qu’une hausse générale des niveaux. Pour mieux comprendre la réponse des niveaux aux plues on a modélisé l’écoulement dans une coupe vericale en utilisant un modèle numérique multicouches. Les paramètres et la strucure du système aquifère ont été calés en comparant les niveaux calculés et mesurés. Affin de reproduire les niveaux mesurés le modèle doit considérer deux caratéristiques importantes: une zone périglaciaire à grande perméabilité et une diminution jusqu’ à vingt fois de la perméabilité dans les zone urbanisées. La simulation a mis en évidence que les récupération des terrains au long du littoral aussi bien que les fondations profondes ont modifié l’écoulement mais que les dernières ont l’impact le plus important surtout lorsqu’il s’agit de la zone périglaciaire à grande perméabilité.
Resumen
Muchas áreas costeras han sido urbanizadas de manera intensiva, debido a la presión creciente de la gente que quiere vivir y trabajar en estos sitios. Los terrenos arrebatados al mar y los edificios de gran altura, son las respuestas comunes para satisfacer las necesidades de mas vivienda y usos nuevos para el suelo. Las áreas costeras son comúnmente las zonas de descarga final de los sistemas de agua subterránea. A través de un área costera en Hong Kong, tomada como estudio de caso, este artículo discute el cambio causado en un sistema de agua subterránea, debido a la recuperación de terrenos anteriormente cubiertos por el mar y a la construcción de cimientos de edificios en la zona costera. La parte más alta de la área de estudio está casi en su estado natural, mientras que la parte baja es probablemente una de las áreas más extensas en su tipo y más desarrolladas en el mundo. Es evidente que el sistema de flujo del agua subterránea en esta área ha sido cambiado a lo largo del último siglo. Los piezómetros en la zona transicional, entre los taludes naturales y las áreas urbanizadas, muestran una respuesta notable a la lluvia y un flujo evidente hacia arriba del agua subterránea. Para entender estas respuestas piezométricas a la lluvia, se seleccionó una sección vertical para estudio detallado, utilizando un modelo numérico bidimensional multicapa. Los parámetros y estructura del sistema acuífero son calibrados mediante la comparación de los niveles de agua observados y simulados. Para reproducir el comportamiento observado del sistema de agua subterránea, el modelo ha incluido dos características importantes: Una zona altamente permeable en la parte más elevada y una reducción de 14 a 20 veces en la conductividad hidráulica, dentro de la zona urbanizada. La simulación demuestra que tanto los terrenos recuperados del mar, como las cimentaciones profundas a lo largo de la línea de costa, han contribuido a la modificación del sistema de flujo, pero las cimentaciones profundas han causado el mayor impacto, especialmente cuando se presenta una zona de alta conductividad en la parte más elevada del área.
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Acknowledgments
This research was partially supported by Committee on Research and Conference Grants (CRCG) at the University of Hong Kong and grants from the Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No HKU 710502 and HKU 7013/03). The authors wish to acknowledge Shakeel Ahmed and other two anonymous reviewers whose comments have led to a significant improvement of the paper. Thanks also go to Chiman Leung and Guoping Ding for their assistant in diagrams and data collection.
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Jiao, J.J., Wang, XS. & Nandy, S. Preliminary assessment of the impacts of deep foundations and land reclamation on groundwater flow in a coastal area in Hong Kong, China. Hydrogeol J 14, 100–114 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0393-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0393-6