Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco
To effectively manage the sustainable urban development of cities, it is crucial to quickly understand the geological and geotechnical attributes of the underground. Carrying out such studies entails significant investments and focused reconnaissance efforts, which might not align seamlessly with la...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Ikram Loukili Omar Inabi Mustapha El Ghorfi Saida El Moutaki Abdessamad Ghafiri |
| author_facet | Ikram Loukili Omar Inabi Mustapha El Ghorfi Saida El Moutaki Abdessamad Ghafiri |
| author_sort | Ikram Loukili |
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| description | To effectively manage the sustainable urban development of cities, it is crucial to quickly understand the geological and geotechnical attributes of the underground. Carrying out such studies entails significant investments and focused reconnaissance efforts, which might not align seamlessly with large-scale territorial planning initiatives within a city accommodating more than 3 million inhabitants, like Casablanca in Morocco. Additionally, various specific investigations have been conducted by municipal authorities in recent times. The primary aim of this study is to furnish city managers and planners with a tool for informed decision-making, enabling them to explore the geological and geotechnical properties of soil foundations using Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and geostatistics. This database, initially intended for utilization by developers and construction engineers, stands to economize a substantial amount of time and resources. During the urban planning of cities and prior to determining land usage (five- or seven-floor structures), comprehending the mechanical traits (bearing capacity, water levels, etc.) of the soil is crucial. To this end, geological and geotechnical maps, along with a collection of 100 surveys, were gathered and incorporated into a GIS system. These diverse data sources converged to reveal that the underlying composition of the surveyed area comprises silts, calcarenites, marls, graywackes, and siltstones. These formations are attributed to the Middle Cambrian and the Holocene epochs. The resultant geotechnical findings were integrated into the GIS and subjected to interpolation using ordinary kriging. This procedure yielded two distinct maps: one illustrating bearing capacity and the other depicting the substratum. The bearing capacity of the soil in the study zone is rated as moderate, fluctuating between two and four bars. The depth of the foundation remains relatively shallow, ranging from 0.8 m to 4.5 m. The outcomes are highly promising, affirming that the soil in Casablanca boasts commendable geotechnical attributes capable of enduring substantial loads and stresses. Consequently, redirecting future urban planning in the region toward vertical expansion seems judicious, safeguarding Casablanca’s remaining green spaces and the small agricultural belt. The results of this work help to better plan the urban development of the city of Casablanca in a smarter way, thus preserving space, agriculture, and the environment while promoting sustainability. In addition, the databases and maps created through this paper aim for a balanced financial management of city expenditures in urban planning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eed0944fac854686a225680cdf7fddbc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-eed0944fac854686a225680cdf7fddbc2025-08-20T02:04:54ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-11-011311182610.3390/land13111826Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, MoroccoIkram Loukili0Omar Inabi1Mustapha El Ghorfi2Saida El Moutaki3Abdessamad Ghafiri4Laboratory of Applied Geology, Geo-Informatics and Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Ben Msick, Casablanca 20670, MoroccoResources Valorization, Environment and Sustainable Development Research Team (RVESD), Department of Mines, Mines School of Rabat, Rabat 10090, MoroccoMohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoLaboratory of Applied Geology, Geo-Informatics and Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Ben Msick, Casablanca 20670, MoroccoLaboratory of Applied Geology, Geo-Informatics and Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Ben Msick, Casablanca 20670, MoroccoTo effectively manage the sustainable urban development of cities, it is crucial to quickly understand the geological and geotechnical attributes of the underground. Carrying out such studies entails significant investments and focused reconnaissance efforts, which might not align seamlessly with large-scale territorial planning initiatives within a city accommodating more than 3 million inhabitants, like Casablanca in Morocco. Additionally, various specific investigations have been conducted by municipal authorities in recent times. The primary aim of this study is to furnish city managers and planners with a tool for informed decision-making, enabling them to explore the geological and geotechnical properties of soil foundations using Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and geostatistics. This database, initially intended for utilization by developers and construction engineers, stands to economize a substantial amount of time and resources. During the urban planning of cities and prior to determining land usage (five- or seven-floor structures), comprehending the mechanical traits (bearing capacity, water levels, etc.) of the soil is crucial. To this end, geological and geotechnical maps, along with a collection of 100 surveys, were gathered and incorporated into a GIS system. These diverse data sources converged to reveal that the underlying composition of the surveyed area comprises silts, calcarenites, marls, graywackes, and siltstones. These formations are attributed to the Middle Cambrian and the Holocene epochs. The resultant geotechnical findings were integrated into the GIS and subjected to interpolation using ordinary kriging. This procedure yielded two distinct maps: one illustrating bearing capacity and the other depicting the substratum. The bearing capacity of the soil in the study zone is rated as moderate, fluctuating between two and four bars. The depth of the foundation remains relatively shallow, ranging from 0.8 m to 4.5 m. The outcomes are highly promising, affirming that the soil in Casablanca boasts commendable geotechnical attributes capable of enduring substantial loads and stresses. Consequently, redirecting future urban planning in the region toward vertical expansion seems judicious, safeguarding Casablanca’s remaining green spaces and the small agricultural belt. The results of this work help to better plan the urban development of the city of Casablanca in a smarter way, thus preserving space, agriculture, and the environment while promoting sustainability. In addition, the databases and maps created through this paper aim for a balanced financial management of city expenditures in urban planning.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1826geologicalgeotechnicalGISgeostatisticssurveysbearing capacity |
| spellingShingle | Ikram Loukili Omar Inabi Mustapha El Ghorfi Saida El Moutaki Abdessamad Ghafiri Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco Land geological geotechnical GIS geostatistics surveys bearing capacity |
| title | Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco |
| title_full | Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco |
| title_fullStr | Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco |
| title_short | Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco |
| title_sort | toward smart urban management integrating geographic information systems and geology for underground bearing capacity prediction in casablanca city morocco |
| topic | geological geotechnical GIS geostatistics surveys bearing capacity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1826 |
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