DEMOS - Development of a Monitoring System to Counter-manage the Risks of Subsidence Deformation on the Population of Tuzla (Bosnia) - Project number: PDD(TC)-(ESP.EAP.SFP 983305)

Tuzla is one of the densely populated urban areas in Bosnia and Herzegowina that has a long history of coal and salt exploration leaving behind abandoned mines. These mines are a hazard to the infrastructure and the population in this area due to ground deformation and sink holes. Many of the historical buildings simply collapsed and disappeared during the last 50 years. The project will bring together the huge amount of historical data on mining areas, their geotechnical and hydrogeologial features, and integrate and produce an actual real picture of the situation by updating the existing geographical information system (GIS). The end-result will be detailed hazard maps for endangered areas that will provide the basis for a long-term planning to monitor and mitigate the risk. The research will be done together with the communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (representatives of the Tuzla Canton government and ministries, as well as the municipality of Tuzla) in order to increase their understanding of the problems and their feeling of ownership.