Geodesic measurements of mining area deformations indicate that their description fails to be regular,
as opposed to what the predictions based on the relationships of the geometric-integral theory suggest.
The Knothe theory, most commonly applied in that case, considers such parameters as the exploitation
coefficient a and the angle of the main influences range tgβ, describing the geomechanical properties of the
medium, as well as the mining conditions. The study shows that the values of the parameters a = 0.8 and
tgβ = 2.0, most commonly adopted for the prediction of surface deformation, are not entirely adequate in
describing each and every mining situation in the analysed rock mass. Therefore, the paper aims to propose
methodology for determining the value of exploitation coefficient a, which allows to predict the values
of surface subsidence caused by underground coal mining with roof caving, depending on geological and
mining conditions. The characteristics of the analysed areas show that the following factors affect surface
subsidence: thickness of overburden, type of overburden strata, type of Carboniferous strata, rock mass
disturbance and depth of exploitation. These factors may allow to determine the exploitation coefficient a,
used in the Knothe theory for surface deformation prediction.