A multidisciplinary study of residential suitability in Yucekapi, Eleski̇rt, Agri: geophysical, geological and geotechnical perspectives

The objective of this study is to assess the suitability of the Yücekapi (Ağrı) region from a geophysical, geological, and geotechnical perspective for the identification of safe and sustainable settlement areas. Within this scope, the geological structure of the region and the engineering properties of the soils were investigated through detailed field studies, field tests, and laboratory analyses. In the study, geophysical (MASW, seismic refraction) and geotechnical (SPT N60, drilling) data were evaluated using IDW interpolation and converted into 100×100 m² microzones together with topographic slope and elevation data sets. Subsequently, the data were scaled using the min–max normalization method. The resulting multi-layer data matrix was subjected to cluster analysis using the K-means algorithm. The optimal number of clusters was determined to be k = 3 based on the results of Elbow, Silhouette, and hierarchical dendrogram analyses. From a practical standpoint, it was observed that the region, which is currently evaluated under a single "cautionary area" class according to existing legislation, could be meaningfully divided into three subgroups using the K-means clustering method based on geological, geotechnical, and geophysical raw data. This approach enables the sub- grouping of urbanization areas within the existing "single precautionary area" class based on raw data in terms of suitability for settlement, thereby contributing to planners making more objective decisions in spatial planning processes.