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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 5241

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Donglin Dong

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Guest Editor

College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China
Interests: hydrogeology; environment geology; application of GIS; abnormal groundwater dynamics assessment; water inrush assessment; mine water control; mine water environment
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Prof. Dr. Wenjie Sun

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Guest Editor

College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China
Interests: hydrogeology; mine water environment; groundwater hydrochemistry; groundwater dynamics; hydrological modeling and GIS
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Prof. Dr. Francesco Fiorillo

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Guest Editor

Department of Science and Technology, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Benevento, Italy
Interests: karst hydrogeology; landslide; geohydrology; extreme events; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogeology and regional groundwater flow systems are critical to understanding water resource sustainability, contaminant transport, and ecosystem resilience. This Special Issue aims to advance interdisciplinary research on groundwater dynamics at regional scales, integrating field observations, numerical modeling, and innovative technologies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Groundwater flow modeling: novel approaches for simulating regional aquifer systems, including machine learning applications and hybrid models.
Hydrogeochemical processes: interactions between groundwater and geological formations, contaminant fate, and remediation strategies.
Climate change impacts: effects of warming trends and extreme weather on groundwater recharge and availability, particularly in sensitive regions like arid zones and high-altitude catchments.
Sustainable management: policy frameworks, water–energy–food nexus, and adaptive strategies for groundwater depletion.
Emerging technologies: remote sensing, isotopic tracing, and big data analytics in hydrogeological studies.
Groundwater thematic research: evaluation, prediction, prevention, or control of water problems at mining operations or their impact on the environment.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and case studies that address both theoretical advancements and practical solutions for groundwater challenges.

Prof. Dr. Donglin Dong
Prof. Dr. Wenjie Sun
Prof. Dr. Francesco Fiorillo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

groundwater flow dynamics
aquifer characterization
hydrogeochemical modeling
climate–groundwater interactions
regional water security

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1574 KB

Open AccessArticle

Accurate Construction of a Transient Groundwater Flow Model for a Near-Surface Disposal Site

by Weizhe Cui, Jie Wang, Haifeng Liu, Yuchen Wang, Jingli Shao and Qiulan Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(24), 12905; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152412905 - 7 Dec 2025

Viewed by 178

Abstract

Numerical simulation of groundwater level dynamics plays a crucial role in the safety assessment of near-surface radioactive waste disposal facilities. Such disposal sites are typically located in regions characterized by extensive bedrock outcrops. However, accurately characterizing the permeability of fractured media is challenging, and the scarcity of groundwater level data poses significant difficulties for constructing reliable numerical models. This study focuses on a near-surface disposal site in northwestern China. By integrating field packer tests with hydraulic conductivity tensors computed from borehole televiewer data, we quantitatively evaluated the permeability of fractured rocks of different lithologies to provide accurate parameters for numerical modeling. The constructed groundwater flow model was further calibrated and validated using long-term groundwater level monitoring data and field tracer-based groundwater flow direction tests, ensuring high model reliability. Using the calibrated model, groundwater level variations were simulated under various rainfall and pumping scenarios. The results show that pumping intensity in the downstream farmland area exerts a limited influence on groundwater levels beneath the disposal site, while rainfall intensity plays a dominant role. Under the heavy rainfall scenario, the groundwater level at the disposal site rises by approximately 5.2 m after 50 years, leaving a 6 m gap above the base of the disposal unit. Under prolonged heavy rainfall conditions, implementing drainage measures may be necessary to ensure the repository’s long-term safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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15 pages, 6704 KB

Open AccessArticle

Electromagnetic Response Characteristics and Applications of Numerical Simulation of Geoelectricity in Water-Rich Areas of Mines

by Yunlan He, Kexin Li, Suping Peng, Xikai Wang, Zibo Tian and Lulu Fang

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12566; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312566 - 27 Nov 2025

Viewed by 179

Abstract

Mine water inrush remains one of the major hazards threatening the safety of coal mining operations. To assess the feasibility of integrating transient electromagnetic (TEM) and direct-current (DC) methods for advanced detection in underground settings, a three-dimensional geoelectric forward model for both techniques was developed in COMSOL Multiphysics based on the fundamental principles of electromagnetic prospecting. The model was used to examine the electromagnetic responses of water-rich anomalies surrounding mine roadways under different source configurations and spatial positions. Comparative analyses show that both DC and TEM methods effectively detect water-bearing targets within 40 m of the roadway, whereas TEM exhibits superior sensitivity at greater distances. TEM achieves its highest sensitivity when the anomaly is located within an azimuthal range of 30–45°. The characteristic response patterns derived from the simulations were applied to interpret field data acquired at the Tashan Coal Mine. The interpretation successfully delineated the presence and orientation of the water-bearing body ahead of the excavation face, and subsequent underground drilling verified the accuracy of the predictions. These findings demonstrate that COMSOL-based electromagnetic forward modeling provides a reliable framework for interpreting advanced geophysical detection data and is feasible for practical applications in mine water-inrush hazard assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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17 pages, 2644 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Clay Layer Permeability Failure Under Loose Strata: Effects of Mining-Induced Fracture Width

by Yuan Hang, Jinwei Li, Shichong Yuan, Dengkui Zhang and Chuanyong Wei

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 12318; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152212318 - 20 Nov 2025

Viewed by 197

Abstract

Based on the problem of water and sand inrush caused by the infiltration and failure of the clay layer at the bottom of the loose layer in shallow coal seam mining in eastern China, this study adopts the Particle Flow Code numerical simulation method to conduct multi-physics field coupling analysis. Based on the geological conditions of Taiping Coal Mine in Shandong Province, a two-dimensional water sand clay coupling model was constructed to systematically simulate the entire process of permeability failure of clay layers under different mining crack widths (5–20 mm). The permeability failure mechanism was revealed through porosity distribution, particle contact number, and contact force evolution laws. The numerical simulation results show that with the increase in crack width, the speed of contact reduction is faster, the speed of water and inrush is faster, and the time is shorter. The process of infiltration failure can be divided into two stages: the first stage is the clay infiltration deformation stage, and the second stage is the water inrush and sand collapse stage. In addition, the larger the width of the crack, the greater the contact force, and the shorter the time of infiltration failure and water and sand bursting experienced. The quantitative relationship between the width of mining induced cracks and permeability failure was revealed, and a critical discrimination index for permeability failure in clay layers was established, providing theoretical support for optimizing safe mining parameters and preventing water and sand inrush disasters in porous aquifers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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25 pages, 12502 KB

Open AccessArticle

BiLSTM-VAE Anomaly Weighted Model for Risk-Graded Mine Water Inrush Early Warning

by Manyu Liang, Hui Yao, Shangxian Yin, Enke Hou, Huiqing Lian, Xiangxue Xia, Jinsui Wu and Bin Xu

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(19), 10394; https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910394 - 25 Sep 2025

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Abstract

A new cascaded model is proposed to improve the accuracy and early warning capability of predicting mine water inrush accidents. The model sequentially applies a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Network (BiLSTM) and a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) to capture the spatio-temporal dependencies between borehole water level data and water inrush events. First, the BiLSTM predicts borehole water levels, and the prediction errors are analyzed to summarize temporal patterns in water level fluctuations. Then, the VAE identifies anomalies in the predicted results. The spatial correlation between borehole water levels, induced by the cone of depression during water inrush, is quantified to assign weights to each borehole. A weighted comprehensive anomaly score is calculated for final prediction. In actual water inrush cases from Xin’an Coal Mine, the BiLSTM-VAE model triggered high-risk alerts 9 h and 30 min in advance, outperforming the conventional threshold-based method by approximately 6 h. Compared with other models, the BiLSTM-VAE demonstrates better timeliness and higher accuracy with lower false alarm rates in mine water inrush prediction. This framework extends the lead time for implementing safety measures and provides a data-driven approach to early warning systems for mine water inrush. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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15 pages, 6226 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Grout Anisotropic Propagation at Fracture Intersections Under Flowing Water

by Bangtao Sun, Dongli Li, Xuebin Liu, Qiquan Hu, Xiaoxiong Li, Xiangdong Meng and Wanghua Sui

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(17), 9787; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179787 - 6 Sep 2025

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Abstract

Grout propagation is a critical aspect of fracture grouting. This study investigated grout propagation at fracture intersections under flowing conditions using a simplified two-dimensional (2D) fracture network. Transparent soil technology was employed to simulate the porous filling material within the fractures. The results showed that the penetration velocity of grout decreased significantly after passing through an intersection, and the velocity in the main fracture was consistently higher than that in the branch fractures. In the unfilled fracture network, the diffusion ratio between branch and main fractures ranged from 0.35 to 0.88, whereas after filling, it ranged from 0.71 to 0.86. For each intersection, the ratio of grout length in the downstream branch to that in the main fracture (RDM) was positively correlated with branch width. This trend was especially evident in unfilled fractures, whereas in filled fractures, the increase in RDM was much less pronounced. Regarding the upstream ratio (RUM), it was consistently lower than RDM. RUM increased with branch width in unfilled fractures but decreased in filled fractures. Additionally, higher fluid velocity amplified these anisotropic propagation behaviors. Based on the simplified filled fracture model, it was concluded that porous filling materials reduce permeability differences between fractures with different aperture widths. Furthermore, increased flow rate intensified the anisotropic diffusion of grout. This study provides valuable insight into the mechanism of anisotropic grout propagation and offers guidance for engineering grouting applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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17 pages, 2779 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mine Water Inflow Prediction Using a CEEMDAN-OVMD-Transformer Model

by Yang Li, Qiang Wu and Fangchao Lei

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(17), 9710; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179710 - 4 Sep 2025

Viewed by 834

Abstract

Coal is a vital part of China’s energy system, and accurately predicting mine water inflow is crucial for ensuring the safety and efficiency of coal mining. To enhance prediction accuracy, this study introduces a hybrid model—CEEMDAN-OVMD-Transformer—that combines Adaptive Noise Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (CEEMDAN), Optimal Variational Mode Decomposition (OVMD), and the Transformer architecture. This combined model is used to forecast water inflow at the Heidaigou Coal Mine. The experimental results show that the proposed model achieves excellent predictive accuracy, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.507, a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.614, a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 0.010, and a Coefficient of Determination (R²) of 0.948. Compared to the standalone Transformer model, the CEEMDAN-OVMD-Transformer model reduces the MAE by 34.50% and increases the R² by approximately 3.04%, indicating a significant improvement in forecasting accuracy. The findings demonstrate that the CEEMDAN-OVMD-Transformer hybrid model can effectively reduce the complexity of high-frequency components in mine water inflow time series, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of predictions. This research presents a new and effective approach for mine water inflow forecasting and offers valuable technical guidance for water hazard prevention and control in similar coal mining environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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17 pages, 9898 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study on Prediction Methods for Water Inflow in Regional High-Intensity Water Inrush Mine Clusters: A Case Study of Xiaozhuang Coal Mine

by Jia Ding, Shuning Dong, Xiaoming Guo and Bo Liu

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(17), 9472; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179472 - 28 Aug 2025

Viewed by 683

Abstract

To address the challenges of predicting high-intensity water inflow in regional mine clusters, this study evaluates the reliability of three methods—hydrogeological analogy, dynamic water inflow prediction models, and numerical simulations—based on geological and hydrogeological conditions as well as measured water inflow data from the target mining area. The water inflow at various working faces of the target coal mine was back-calculated, and the reliability of the three methods was compared. The conclusions are as follows: (1) Under the hydrogeological conditions of high-intensity water inflow in regional mine clusters, the conventional hydrogeological analogy method exhibits high reliability in predicting water inflow at the first-mined working face, with a coefficient of determination (R²) as high as 0.95. However, its prediction error increases significantly for non-first-mined working faces, yielding R² values of only 0.72–0.85. (2) Compared to the hydrogeological analogy method, the dynamic prediction model based on groundwater dynamics more accurately characterizes the lateral runoff recharge process of aquifers, significantly improving the prediction accuracy for non-first-mined working faces (R² = 0.90–0.94). (3) The numerical simulation method for water inflow prediction demonstrates high reliability under various conditions, but its accuracy is highly dependent on model characterization and parameter calibration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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25 pages, 4997 KB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Game Theory Weighting in Roof Water Inrush Risk Assessment: A Case Study of the Banji Coal Mine, China

by Yinghao Cheng, Xingshuo Xu, Peng Li, Xiaoshuai Guo, Wanghua Sui and Gailing Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(16), 9197; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15169197 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 630

Abstract

Mine roof water inrush represents a prevalent hazard in mining operations, characterized by its concealed onset, abrupt occurrence, and high destructiveness. Since mine water inrush is controlled by multiple factors, rigorous risk assessment in hydrogeologically complex coal mines is critically important for operational safety. This study focuses on the roof water inrush hazard in coal seams of the Banji coal mine, China. The conventional water-conducting fracture zone height estimation formula was calibrated through comparative analysis of empirical models and analogous field measurements. Eight principal controlling factors were systematically selected, with subjective and objective weights assigned using AHP and EWM, respectively. Game theory was subsequently implemented to compute optimal combined weights. Based on this, the vulnerability index model and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model were constructed to assess the roof water inrush risk in the coal seams. The risk in the study area was classified into five levels: safe zone, relatively safe zone, transition zone, relatively hazardous zone, and hazardous zone. A zoning map of water inrush risk was generated using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The results show that the safe zone is located in the western part of the study area, while the hazardous and relatively hazardous zones are situated in the eastern part. Among the two models, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model aligns more closely with actual engineering practices and demonstrates better predictive performance. It provides a reliable evaluation and prediction model for addressing roof water hazards in the Banji coal seam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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Review

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19 pages, 7609 KB

Open AccessReview

Mine Water Production, Treatment, and Utilization in the Yellow River Basin: Spatial Patterns and Sustainable Transformation Pathways

by Wenjie Li, Hao Xie, Wenjie Sun, Yunchun Han, Xiaodong Jiang, Gang Huang and Pengfei Tao

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12353; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312353 - 21 Nov 2025

Viewed by 326

Abstract

The Yellow River Basin faces high-intensity coal resource development and severe water scarcity. This makes the treatment and use of mine water a critical factor constraining both coal industry development and ecological security for the region. This study uses kernel density estimation and the Standard Deviational Ellipse model to identify the spatial pattern of mine water production. It also combines bibliometric analysis and field investigations to assess research progress and current practice for mine water treatment and use in the basin. Results show that mine water production displays strong spatial clustering, with the center of gravity shifting northward. Research is moving from an engineering-focused stage to a theory-oriented one, emphasizing systematic optimization and sustainable use. Current practices still struggle with non-standardized data, uneven treatment quality, and incomplete management systems. This research underscores the importance of improving the region’s integrated management of mine water and proposes shifting mine water from an environmental burden to a resource asset. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Regional Groundwater Flow)

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