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Problems related to the sinking of the land surface as a result of anthropogenic causes have been recognized for centuries. With increased exploitation of natural resources in the 20th century, the occurrence and magnitude of land subsidence has increased significantly.

In 1950, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated the "Mechanics of Aquifers" project to conduct research into the occurrence and processes related to land subsidence. The seriousness of land subsidence was also recognized by many other scientific organizations and political entities, and in 1964, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included subsidence as one of the topics to be studied under the International Hydrological Programme (IHP).

In 1969, the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and UNESCO developed and began distributing a 4-page questionnaire designed to collect information on the occurrence, location, causes and other ancillary data related to land subsidence cases.

Over the past 30 years, more than 200 cases of land subsidence have been documented worldwide in this database. This database represents a wealth of information about spatial and temporal distribution of land subsidence, with the potential of being a significant resource for the USGS, public works administrators, engineering agencies, resource managers and scientists around the world.
   

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URL:http://isols.usgs.gov
Developer: Nate Clifford
Page Overall site last updated: August 1st 2007