Geologic hazards research and their inducing factors in Xianyang urban area, Northwest China

Xianyang urban district is one of most serious geologic hazard zones in Shaanxi province, Northwest China. In this paper, through field investigations, the main types and characteristics of geologic hazards in Xianyang urban district were analyzed, the different developments of geologic hazards were classified, the formation and inducing factors were explained as well as the estimation of harm on economy losses and human beings were figured out. The results show that the main hazard types in this region are collapse, ground subsidence and ground fissures, and the whole area can be divided into two geological disasterprone zones. Geological disasters are mainly developed in the front line of 3rd terrace and in some local areas of the Loess Plateau. The occurrence of geologic hazard in this city is closely related with topography, geology, rock and soil properties, precipitation, and groundwater pumping and human activities.