FGS, Subsidence Incident Reports

Florida Geological Survey - Data and Maps

Subsidence Incident Reports

Sinkholes are closed depressions in areas underlain by soluble rock such as limestone, dolostone, gypsum, or salt. Sinkholes form when surface sediments subside into underground voids created by the dissolving action of groundwater in the underlying bedrock.

Other subterranean events can cause holes, depressions or subsidence of the land surface that may mimic sinkhole activity. These include subsurface expansive clay or organic layers which compress as water is removed, collapsed or broken sewer and drain pipes or broken septic tanks, improperly compacted soil after excavation work, and even buried trash, logs and other debris. Commonly, a reported depression is not verified by a licensed professional geologist to be a true sinkhole, and the cause of subsidence is not known. Such an event is called a subsidence incident. The Florida Geological Survey maintains and provides a downloadable database of reported subsidence incidents statewide. While this data may include some true sinkholes, the majority of the incidents have not been field-checked and the cause of subsidence is not verified.

Below you will find three different types of files. One is an Excel Spreadsheet, the second is an ESRI ArcGIS compatible shapefile, and the third is a kmz overlay file for use in Google Earth and similar mapping products. These files provide subsidence incidents reported to the Florida Geological Survey and updated through May 6, 2013.

After clicking on any of the Subsidence Incident Reports links you will be taken to a page where you must submit your e-mail address: your e-mail address is used only to statistically track who is using the Subsidence Incident Reports and will not be used in any other way. After submitting your e-mail address and before you can download the Subsidence Incident Reports you will be asked to read and agree to a disclaimer.

A Word Document titled "The FGS the FSRI, and Karst Data in Florida" has been provided here for anyone interest in the history of the Database and other subsidence incident publications.

Contact Clint Kromhout (clint.kromhout@dep.state.fl.us) with questions

Subsidence Incident Reports in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

Download the database spreadsheet here (SubsidenceIncidentReports_2013may6.xlsx - size: 1.8MB)
Use this word document (SIRs_fieldnames.doc) to help with identifying the fields in the Subsidence Incident Reports file.

Subsidence Incident Reports in an Arcview shapefile

This file is to be used with any geographic information system software that can use ESRI ArcGIS shapefiles. A FREE reader for shapefiles is available at http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer
This file would be most beneficial to anyone familiar with ESRI Arcview Software since only the shape file and database for the Subsidence Incident Report locations have been provided.

During the download process, you may be prompted for a file download destination. Be sure to point the download to a locatable folder on your computer.

Download the zipped shapefiles (SubsidenceIncidentReports_2013May6_shapefile.zip - size: 1.9Mb) here.

To extract files after download:

Find the file on your computer; (SubsidenceIncidentReports_2013May6_shapefile.zip)

Double click on the file. With many unzip programs you will be asked where you would like to extract the files. Choose an existing folder or create a new one in which to place the file.

Subsidence Incident Report locations in a KMZ file

This file is to be used with popular mapping software such as Google Earth. Google Earth is available as a free download at http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html

Once Google Earth is installed, loading the kmz file as a layer will plot the locations of the subsidence incidents in the FGS database as yellow dots, labeled with the FGS incident reference numbers. Users may cross reference the incident numbers to the Excel spreadsheet (downloadable above) for further information about each incident.

During the download process, you may be prompted for a file download ("save as") destination. Be sure to point the download to a locatable folder on your computer.

Download the kmz file (SubsidenceIncidentReports_2013May6.kmz - size: 693Kb) here

How to use with Google Earth:

Install the Google Earth software.
Download the kmz file to a locatable folder on your computer (use the "save" option when prompted).
Start Google Earth.
Once Google earth is running, open Windows Explorer and double click on the KMZ file saved in your computer. It will automatically load into Google Earth. The subsidence incidents will appear as a new layer in the list of layers - make sure the box beside its name is checked. Yellow dots will appear in the state of Florida. Zoom in to Florida to view the incident locations. Users may type a specific street address into Google Earth's address window to view subsidence incidents adjacent to that address. If you wish to have future access to the layer, be sure to save it when prompted upon closing Google Earth.

• For assistance with file download problems please contact Frank Rupert, FGS Web Administrator, at frank.rupert@dep.state.fl.us.

The Florida Geological Survey does not receive support or funding from or collaborate with external software or business websites. Links are provided for informational purposes only. The end-user takes on all risk associated by entering said web sites.

Notes:

The Florida Geological Survey Arcview shapefile formats are projected using a DEP modified ALBERS projection. The ArcView and ArcMap projection data is available at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gis/projdata.htm.

For further assistance on GIS information available through the FGS please contact, Jim Cichon james.cichon@dep.state.fl.us, ph. 850-617-0335)

Last updated: May 13, 2013