Geospatial Mosaic-Based 3D Ground Model of SPT-Derived Subsurface Stiffness in Seoul, South Korea

Abstract

This study explores the integration of advanced data analysis and geostatistical modeling to enhance geotechnical resilience in urban environments prone to cascading geo-hazards. Focusing on a 4 × 4 km plain area in Seoul, South Korea, standard penetration test data were meticulously pre-processed to remove outliers and missing values, ensuring a robust input for spatial analysis. Two predictive methods, 3D ordinary kriging and mosaic-based modeling, were applied to interpolate soil strength parameters essential for assessing seismic slope stability and liquefaction risk. The mosaic-based model demonstrated superior reliability, achieving a 43% improvement in prediction accuracy through leave-one-out cross-validation compared to ordinary kriging. The results highlight the importance of conservative modeling approaches for capturing the spatial variability of subsurface conditions in densely populated, high-risk areas. This research contributes to the development of data-driven strategies for mitigating compound and cascading geo-hazards, offering valuable insights for geotechnical earthquake engineering and urban risk management. © ASCE.