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Water-Induced Geo-Disaster Reduction in the Context of Climate Change: Hydrology, Management Strategies, and Ecological Geological Engineering

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrogeology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 811

Special Issue Editors

School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: rock engineering; landslides; mine water disasters; rock bolt; resilience; soil mechanisms

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Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: landslide monitoring; landslide modeling; SAR interpretation for landslides analysis; soil hydrology; 3D geological modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Extreme climate changes alter surface and groundwater systems, leading to complex and variable seepage and stress fields in shallow to medium-depth rock and soil masses. These layers, as the primary zones of human activity, experience significant disturbances and are frequently affected by disasters. Geological events such as landslides, collapses, debris flows, and mine water inrushes are fundamentally influenced by interactions between surface and groundwater. The dynamic interplay between water and geological processes exacerbates both the frequency and severity of these events. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research and advancements in this crucial field. It elucidates the mechanisms by which extreme rainfall impacts geological disasters, explores innovative management strategies to mitigate these effects, and describes new monitoring and modeling techniques.

Key Topics:

  • Understanding how climate change influences geological processes and hydrological behavior, leading to increased geological disasters, including the evolution of surface and groundwater systems and the response of geophysical and mechanical properties of geological bodies to water;
  • Developing adaptive and resilient strategies to mitigate the impact of water on geological disasters and reduce risks, including groundwater system control, ecological restoration, early detection methods, and predictive models;
  • Creating models to describe and simulate geological disasters under different climate change projections, integrating climatic, geological, and hydrological data.

This Special Issue invites contributions from multidisciplinary perspectives to foster a comprehensive understanding of the impact of water on geological disasters. By synthesizing knowledge from climatology, hydrology, geology, engineering, and social sciences, the Issue aims to propose practical solutions to enhance community resilience and sustainability in the face of climate change.

Dr. Chang Zhou
Dr. Massimiliano Bordoni
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • water-induced geo-disaster
  • water burst
  • hydrological cycle processes
  • soil and water conservation
  • monitoring systems
  • numerical simulation
  • ecological restoration
  • resilience strategies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5555 KiB  
Article
Water Inrush Mechanism During Mining Adjacent to Large Water-Conducting Faults
by Xiaofei Gong, Dan Ma, Luyuan Wu, Qiang Li, Zhenhua Li, Feng Du, Rui Qiao and Jiufang Han
Water 2025, 17(10), 1508; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17101508 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 208
Abstract
In mining operations, the rock mass located between the water-conducting fault fracture zone and the waterproof protective coal column is highly susceptible to damage, which may result in sudden water inrush disasters. This paper first employs indoor experiments and on-site rock sample analysis [...] Read more.
In mining operations, the rock mass located between the water-conducting fault fracture zone and the waterproof protective coal column is highly susceptible to damage, which may result in sudden water inrush disasters. This paper first employs indoor experiments and on-site rock sample analysis to determine the macroscopic mechanical parameters of rocks and rock masses, as well as the microscopic mechanical parameters of block contacts. The fracture and seepage evolution mechanisms in the mining-induced rock mass adjacent to major faults were analyzed utilizing the discrete element-fluid coupling theory in Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC). The results identified three primary pathways for water hazards caused by mining: the calculated stress field and seepage field indicated that the formation of the water-inrush channels was determined by the parameters of coal seam mining. Different waterproof protective coal columns were set up for the three geological conditions under study. Additionally, a “claw-shaped” detection and flow monitoring method has been proposed for small water-conducting faults. These findings are important and provide valuable guidance for understanding and managing water inrush hazards in mining operations near major faults. Full article
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20 pages, 12803 KiB  
Article
Prediction of the Water-Conducting Fracture Zone Height Across the Entire Mining Area Based on the Multiple Nonlinear Coordinated Regression Model
by Jianye Feng, Xiaoming Shi, Jiasen Chen and Kang Wang
Water 2025, 17(9), 1303; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17091303 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 247
Abstract
The water-conducting fracture zone (WCFZ) is a critical geological structure formed by the destruction of overburden during coal mining operations. Accurately predicting the height of the water-conducting fractured zone (HWCFZ) is essential for ensuring safe coal production. Based on more than 150 measured [...] Read more.
The water-conducting fracture zone (WCFZ) is a critical geological structure formed by the destruction of overburden during coal mining operations. Accurately predicting the height of the water-conducting fractured zone (HWCFZ) is essential for ensuring safe coal production. Based on more than 150 measured heights of fractured water-conducting zone samples from various mining areas in China, this study investigates the influence of five primary factors on the height: mining thickness, mining depth, length of the panel, coal seam dip, and the proportion coefficient of hard rock. The correlation degrees and relative weights of each factor are determined through grey relational analysis and principal component analysis. All five factors exhibit strong correlations with the height of the fractured water-conducting zone, with correlation degrees exceeding 0.79. Mining thickness is found to have the highest weight (0.256). A multiple nonlinear coordinated regression equation was constructed through regression analysis of the influencing factors. The prediction accuracy was compared with three other predictive models: the multiple nonlinear additive regression model, the BP neural network model, and the GA-BP neural network model. Among these models, the multiple nonlinear coordinated regression model was found to achieve the lowest error rate (7.23%) and the highest coefficient of determination (R2 = 87.42%), indicating superior accuracy and reliability. The model’s performance is further validated using drill hole data and numerical simulations at the B-1 drill hole in the Fuda Coal Mine. Predictive results for the entire Fuda Coal Mine area indicate that as the No. 15 coal seam extends northwestward, the height of the fractured water-conducting zone increases from 52.1 m to 73.9 m. These findings have significant implications for improving mine safety and preventing geological hazards in coal mining operations. Full article
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