# Impact of Mining Disturbance on Highway Sustainability:
###### Abstract  
Underground coal mining in expansive basins has led to land subsidence, posing significant threats to the aboveground structures and the environment. Addressing this issue is paramount, necessitating accurate and reliable prediction methods. This study introduces a novel approach to forecast subsidence and deformations along Highway E75, Belgrade-Nis, situated in the influence zone of the Morava Pit at the Aleksinac mine. The prognostic calculation was conducted using the MITSOUKO software package rooted in the stochastic Patric-Stojanovic method, and based on the obtained results, a spatial analysis within the geographic information system (GIS) was performed. Additionally, the sustainability of the highway segment affected by mining activities was evaluated. The data from geodetic measurements indicate that the developed model demonstrates exceptional proficiency in simulating mine subsidence and deformation processes. Precise forecasts of subsidence and deformation, along with accurate risk assessments, are essential prerequisites for developing and implementing effective measures to mitigate the impacts of mine-induced subsidence on highways. This investigation could play a vital role in the feasibility assessment of reopening the Aleksinac mine, potentially presenting lucrative and environmentally sound solutions amidst current energy challenges. m m  
trigger immediate subsidence, while others induce post-mining subsidence long after excavation ceases [1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9]. Accurately forecasting these dynamic surface changes poses significant challenges due to their dependence on various factors, including geological conditions, mining techniques, advancement speeds of working faces, and the duration of mining activities [10; 11; 12; 13]. Subsidence is one of the most complex and debated issues in mining and geotechnical engineering. Surface subsidence resulting from underground coal mining is a highly intricate process that evolves over time and across different spatial scales. Based on variations in subsidence velocity, the entire surface subsidence process can be categorized into three distinct phases: the active period, the residual or post-mining period, and the long-term period. While the resulting surface impacts and structural damage may appear similar, the mechanisms responsible for trough subsidence vary significantly [2; 14; 15; 16; 17]. Active subsidence, which occurs due to underground coal mining, encompasses all ground movements that take place simultaneously with mining operations. This phase can be further divided into three stages: the initial period, the active period, and the weakening period. The time function associated with subsidence serves as an idealized model that captures surface subsidence characteristics, including downward displacement, subsidence rate, and sinking acceleration. A subsidence trough is a depression that forms above the mined-out area, progressively expanding both horizontally and vertically as coal support is systematically removed [18; 19]. Residual subsidence poses a substantial challenge in urban areas built over abandoned mine workings, necessitating a thorough evaluation of land stability and suitability. Predicting if and when such failures might happen remains highly uncertain. In abandoned longwall mines, abrupt secondary or potential subsidence may result from the failure of remnant pillars, sometimes decades after mining operations have ceased [20]. Accurately predicting this duration is crucial for assessing the long-term stability of surface structures and infrastructure [14; 16]. Long-term subsidence presents significant challenges for urban areas situated above abandoned mining sites, requiring precise estimates of its duration to determine the stability and safety of surface facilities [4; 21]. The first subsidence measurements, initiated around 1860 in coal mines in Germany's Ruhr District, aimed to understand damage to structures and the movement of undermined terrain.