Ashghal Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Sinkholes

Abstract

Sinkholes are a common and recurring problem with potential safety risks to road users and authorities. A sinkhole is a void in the ground caused by natural and/or manmade activities, and mainly associated with carbonate rocks and underground water movement. It occurs suddenly and manifests as a hole in the ground, with the potential to cause significant problems of road closure and interruption to road users and construction activities. With the vast infrastructure, development over the last two decades and the majority of soil formation of Qatar exposes limestone and dolomites, the number of reported sinkholes has increased dramatically. This paper presents the development and implementation of new guidelines for the evaluation and repair of sinkholes for the Roads Operation and Maintenance Department (ROMD) at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). It reviews the methodology adopted for the classification of sinkholes, application of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technique for the early detection of subsurface voids and sinkholes before they become major problems. It also covers the approach adopted by ROMD and its Framework Partners for the repair of sinkholes. A case study is presented on the implementation of the new guidelines for the effective evaluation and repair of sinkholes, with performance monitoring in service. Successful implementation of the new guidelines contributes to enhanced management of road network in Qatar by maximizing asset performance and minimizing accidents and service disruption.