Study Reveals Luxury Condos and Hotels in Florida Are Sinking Due to Construction Vibrations and Coastal Changes

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Miami has uncovered a troubling trend: dozens of luxury condos, hotels, and other buildings in southeast Florida are sinking at an alarming rate. The buildings, which include high-profile structures like the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Trump Tower III, Trump International Beach Resort, and the iconic Surf Club Towers, have reportedly sunk as much as three inches between 2016 and 2023.

The study, which was initiated after the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside in 2021, found that construction vibrations were a significant cause of the subsidence, or gradual sinking of land. The vibrations from ongoing and past construction cause soil particles to compact and settle over time, resulting in the gradual sinking of these buildings. Researchers compared the effect to shaking ground coffee to make more room for additional particles, as explained by Falk Amelung, a senior author of the study and professor of geophysics at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School Department of Marine Geosciences.

While it was not surprising that buildings might shift or sink slightly during or immediately after construction, the study’s most shocking discovery was that this sinking continued for several years after construction had been completed. This was particularly concerning as it was happening long after construction activities had concluded, raising serious questions about the long-term stability of many buildings along Florida’s coast.

The researchers used satellite images to track the tiny movements of the Earth’s surface, specifically focusing on points like balconies and rooftop air conditioning units of the buildings. The study found that nearly 70% of the buildings in northern and central Sunny Isles Beach are sinking. Around 23% of these buildings were constructed in the last decade, indicating that even newer buildings are not immune to subsidence.

Apart from the vibrations caused by construction, daily tidal movements that shift water toward and away from the shore also contribute to the ground shifting beneath these buildings. Seismic activity and soil compaction from sediment build-up or heavy buildings pressing down on the ground also exacerbate the issue. The study particularly pointed out the vulnerability of new coastal land created over the years by backfilling with sediment, a process common in areas like Miami Beach.

Miami, already facing the ongoing threat of sea-level rise due to climate change, is now confronting a dual threat: sinking land and rising oceans. The combination of both phenomena makes the region particularly susceptible to severe flooding, storm surges, and coastal erosion. As highlighted by Manoochehr Shirzaei, a geophysicist at Virginia Tech, land subsidence exacerbates the impact of sea-level rise. This, in turn, could lead to even more severe flooding in the area.

The study found that the rate of sea-level rise in the region is approximately 2.6 inches per decade, when averaged over the past 30 years. This rate is matched by the rate at which the buildings are sinking, effectively doubling the effects of sea-level rise at those sites. However, researchers like Shirzaei and Amelung are quick to point out that while these findings are concerning, there is no immediate need to panic. They emphasized that the use of satellite technology to track land subsidence can help proactively monitor the stability of coastal buildings, enabling authorities to take precautionary actions before a catastrophe occurs.

Shirzaei also suggested that land subsidence, unlike sea-level rise, can be mitigated through localized actions. By closely monitoring the stability of buildings and taking steps to address any issues, such as reinforcing foundations or halting construction that may exacerbate subsidence, the risk can be managed.

The findings of the study raise important questions for the future of coastal development in Florida, particularly as the state continues to grow and more high-rise buildings are constructed. The ongoing monitoring and use of advanced technology like satellite imagery will be essential in ensuring the long-term safety and stability of these iconic structures.

Original Article by Rachel Ramirez /// CNN