ABSTRACT
Geomorphology, the science of landforms and earth surface processes, is an essential component of all urban development. Ground conditions have to be evaluated in order to make good decisions on where to develop new towns or cities, or how to develop a new housing area, industrial zone, or urban park. Good urban planning requires a sound understanding of the ground on which a city is built. Geophysical earth surface events, such as landsliding, subsidence, and shrink-swell phenomena are widespread in many urban areas and every year cause considerable losses. Urban construction problems associated with karstic rocks include subsidence, sinkhole formation, uneven and pinnacled rock surfaces, and reduced rock-mass strength. Urban areas are where human-driven changes are at their most diverse, complex, and persistent. Urban construction involves removal of forest and rural vegetation. Earthmoving operations during urban construction frequently lead to severe erosion problems and consequent channel modifications.
