Dimensional Study of Mine Subsidence Mapping Using Google Earth

Problems arising from subsidence pose danger for future land development above abandoned coal mines and are challenging to forensic engineers to substantiate these damages and differentiate the effects due to mine subsidence from other possible non-mine related damages. Forensic investigators commonly asked to provide evidence that the structures-of-interest are in fact above or close to the coal mines by associating the structures to possible mine activity sites, such as within the angles of draw to the underground mine. This paper discusses the problems and errors associated with abandoned mine mapping using Google EarthTM and historical mine maps. Analyses of dimensions are performed to validate the results of error analysis.