ABSTRACT
Shallow tunnels excavation inevitably implies surface settlements, especially when performed in soft soil or weak rocks. The intensity and the extension of induced settlements depends on a number of factors, such as physical and mechanical properties of the interested soil/rock formation, geomorphologic context, tunnel overburden cover, tunnel cross-sectional area, excavation methods and phases. Subsidence become a critical aspect when the tunnel is realized in urban areas or underpass sensible structures. For this reason, a settlement prediction is required in order to estimate possible induced damages and to design proper preventive measures.
