Community-contributed Sessions

The coastal areas of Bulacan and Pampanga as well as some inland areas are sinking with alarming rates resulting in losses of land and as result of this in losses of buildings, infrastructure, agricultural production and other economic activities. Though this phenomenon caught the attention of the scientific community already two decades ago our understanding of the root causes of land subsidence in the Northern Manila Bay Area (NMBA) and the magnitude of the impact is still limited and requires more research. The same applies to the consequences of subsidence in inland areas where the subsidence is suspected to increase river flooding. The New Manila International Airport currently under construction in Bulacan is facing subsidence problems, though the magnitude and whether operations will be affected soon is currently debated. At present the public and political awareness of the severity of land subsidence is low, which hinders effective mitigation and adaptation actions. The meeting aims to foster collaboration among scientists and community members to raise awareness of the issue. 

The session welcomes contributions from all aspects relating to land subsidence, including, but not limited to, Measuring of LS, 2. Causes of LS, 3. Impacts of LS on communities, 4. Mitigation options, 5. Adaptation options. Presently, there is some research conducted covering measurement and causes. Furthermore, mitigation interventions are actively considered, and some adaptation activities are implemented (e.g. road elevation). The impact of LS in the NMBA is not systematically documented yet.

It is expected that the first results from the recent establishment of corner reflectors (for satellite-based monitoring of LS with InSAR) and GNSS receivers will be presented in the session. A team of scientists from the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands) will introduce findinLS concerning the probable impact of ground water extraction on LS. The impact of LS on communities, infrastructure, and economic activities will be covered by community members and/or scientists. Planned mitigation efforts will be introduced (water retention basin for freshwater production), and a critical view on planned/implemented adaptation measures from the perspective of a community member will conclude the sessions.

It is expected that session participants will have an increased understanding of the severity of the LS phenomenon the NMBA. Furthermore, it is hoped that the scientific community will commit more resources to investigating and understanding LS (especially causes) due to the urgency of the problems. The same applies to the research and documentation of LS impacts. Here, a collaboration between science and communities/government institutions will be important. It is expected that different views on what are feasible mitigation and adaption options will be discussed in the session. This will, hopefully, result in a harmonious understanding of the way forward.  

This session examines how geospatial technologies, AI, and digital tools enhance government-led land use planning. It focuses on integrating remote sensing, GIS, and AI analytics for risk-informed planning, site suitability, and compliance. Key topics include consolidating national datasets, using machine learning for predictive modeling, and digitalizing processes to improve decision-making, zoning enforcement, and urban resilience while ensuring efficient policy alignment.