Engineering geology and land use planning in Nakhon Si Thammarat area | |
| Author | Nilaweera, Nimal Santha |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GT-89-22 |
| Subject(s) | Land use--Thailand--Nakhon Si Thammarat--Planning Engineering geology--Thailand--Nakhon Si Thammarat |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Geologically, Nakhon Si Thammarat area is underlain by a thick formation of unconsolidated detrital sediments. The uppe r surface of the formation is covered by Quaternary sediments which include alluvium, beach ridge and mudflat sediments, recent tidal flat and marshy sediments, and recent beach sediments. Three main beach ridges and the associated mudflats were formed as a result of three major episodes of sea level regression of a very shallow sea. The human settlement of the area began along the beach ridges since they are the only high elevations in the chenier plain. The City of Nakhon Si Thammarat was built on one of these beach ridges. Nakhon Si Thammarat area has experienced two dominant natural hazards, flooding and beach erosion. Flooding is caused mainly due to h eavy rainfall, large drainage basins of eastward flowing rivers and sudden decrease of gradient b etween the coastal plain and Khao Luang mountain range. Frequent occurrence of flooding is aggravated by beach ridges and major road system which are oriented in an obstructive manner to the flood flow. The present beach of the area has been eroded severely for the past two d ecades due to lack of beach material. Several man made effects cause depletion of beach material and alteration and obstruction to the northward longshore drift whi c h is the major sediment supplier to the eroding b each. In the city area, the geological succession from surface to about 30 m depth is sand, clay and gravel, and the gravel layer is used as the end bearing layer for deep foundation of multi-storied structures. Surface water from closeby rivers is the main source of water supply for the city. In rural areas household dug wells and tube wells are used for domestic water supply. Tube wells are constructed to extract groundwater from sandy and gravelly aquifers in the formation of unconsolidated sediments. High cadmium and lead anomalies in shallow groundwater were detected in the area east of the city. Present rate of waste production within the city is about 50 tons/day. Existing waste disposal site is unfavorable for decomposable waste. |
| Year | 1990 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering (GT) |
| Chairperson(s) | Prinya Nutalaya |
| Examination Committee(s) | Rantucci, Giovanni ;Balasubramaniam, A.S. ;Noppodol Phien- wej |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Australia |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1990 |