A geographic illustration delineating areas in Illinois vulnerable to floor floor displacement as a result of collapse of underground coal mine workings. This cartographic useful resource portrays the spatial extent and potential severity of such instability, enabling knowledgeable decision-making associated to land use and infrastructure improvement. For instance, these maps can spotlight areas the place building necessitates specialised engineering methods to mitigate the danger of structural harm.
The first worth lies in proactively figuring out potential hazards and facilitating preventative measures. These paperwork inform constructing codes, insurance coverage assessments, and land acquisition choices, finally contributing to public security and minimizing financial losses. Traditionally, reliance on these maps has grown as understanding of the long-term results of underground mining has elevated and infrastructure has expanded into beforehand undeveloped areas.