Fractal analysis of the Oyo River, cave systems, and topography of the Gunungsewu karst area, central Java, Indonesia

Gunungsewu, the southernmost subzone of the Southern Mountains, central Java, is a classic karst terrain, bounded by the Oyo River on the north and the Indian Ocean on the south. In this study, the Oyo River, the main drainage in the area, is divided into 14 segments, and the fractal dimension of each segment is determined by the box-counting method. The 14 segments show various values of fractal dimensions, which are controlled by lithology and geologic structures of the area that is being dissected by the river. Easily eroded lithologies have larger fractal dimensions, and the value changes abruptly when the river crosses faults. Fractal dimensions of six underground rivers in the Bribin, Sodong, Semuluh, Jomblang, Soga, and Sumurup caves, and the surface topography above the caves were also determined. The caves have fractal dimensions that range from 1.043 ±0.01 to 1.08±0.01; the surface topography has fractal dimensions that range from 1.49±0.01 to 1.732±0.01. The fractal dimension of an underground river is proportional to the fractal dimension of the surface topography over the passage. Larger fractal dimensions of underground rivers are associated with smaller flow rates of the rivers. Received, June 1998Revised, March 1999, August 1999, February 2000Accepted, February 2000     

Development of drain hole design optimisation: a conceptual model for open pit mine slope drainage system with fractured media using a multi-stage genetic algorithm

High rainfall in equatorial regions leads to high groundwater levels or pore pressures and a high risk of landslides on the slopes of open pit mines, hindering mining operations. To lower the groundwater level surrounding a slope, a drainage system is needed. A drain hole is a part of a drainage system which utilises gravity to drain groundwater. Drain hole installation in fractured media requires the determination of the number, location, length and other parameters of the drain holes. Drain holes are frequently installed in uniform configurations or in layouts with uniform spacing, which are often ineffective and uneconomical, as some holes are not in the right positions or directions within the fractured media. This paper attempts to develop a conceptual model of an optimised configuration of drain holes by setting the drain hole parameters, or decision variables, such as number, location and length, in such a way that it produces the most effective and efficient outcome by maximising groundwater lowering and minimising cost. The optimisation is supported by the multi-stage genetic algorithm method in combination with a groundwater simulator, hereafter called the multi-stage GWSim-GA SO method. The procedure of the conceptual model will be further developed and used as a framework in the groundwater management of fractured media of an open pit mine slope.