A procedure for evaluating the susceptibility to natural and anthropogenic sinkholes

The procedure for evaluating the susceptibility to natural and anthropogenic sinkholes is aimed at contributing to mitigate the risk from the most common geohazard in karst. It develops from the identification and geographical location of the caves, and then proceeds with the speleological survey, before characterising the caves in terms of geological-structural data (highlighting all the existing discontinuities in the rock mass, of both stratigraphic and tectonic origin), and of all the features related to occurrence and development of instability processes. Laboratory tests and monitoring are also mentioned as further possible steps of the analysis. Eventually, the procedure results in a zonation depicting the sectors most prone to development of sinkholes.