WNOSTII — Settlement Trough Irregularity Indicator as a Supporting Tool for the Assessment of Deep Excavation Impact

This paper presents an original conceptual proposal for the Settlement Trough Irregularity Indicator, referred to in Polish as WNO — Wskaźnik Nieregularności Niecki Osiadań and in English as STII — Settlement Trough Irregularity Indicator. The proposed indicator is intended to describe the morphology, irregularity and local disturbance of a settlement trough induced by deep excavation works. The WNO/STII concept is not intended to serve as another building susceptibility index. It does not replace the MKPO-GW method or the object susceptibility index . Instead, it focuses on the settlement trough itself, understood as a deformation pattern of the ground surface or subsoil. The indicator is based on the assessment of deviation from a reference settlement model, curvature, asymmetry, local anomalies and displacement of the maximum settlement point. The proposed indicator may support the interpretation of monitoring results, the identification of locally disturbed deformation zones, the planning of monitoring points, and the preliminary selection of cases requiring more detailed numerical or observational analysis. It is particularly relevant for linear infrastructure and urban projects, where multiple structures and ground sections must be assessed in a transparent and repeatable manner. The proposed formulation should be understood as a conceptual and engineering-oriented framework. It does not replace detailed numerical modelling, field monitoring or expert geotechnical assessment. Further research should focus on calibration of the proposed components and class limits using monitoring data, field observations and case studies from deep excavation projects. Author’s Note Magdalena Florczak is a civil engineer and a second-year M.Sc. student at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, specializing in Bridges and Underground Structures. The WNO/STII concept was developed independently by the author as an independent conceptual preprint. This document does not constitute an official publication, statement, or study of Warsaw University of Technology. The information regarding the author’s status as a student of Warsaw University of Technology is provided solely for identification purposes and does not imply institutional authorship, approval, or representation of the University’s position.