Researchers at the University of Central Florida are devising a way to predict sinkholes.

The researchers said last week that they’ve created a sinkhole simulator to help them understand what causes sinkholes.

They are devising a prediction model that can predict where sinkholes are likely to occur. The researchers also are studying the relationship among sinkholes, rainfall and temperature.

Sinkholes take place when soil collapses into large holes caused by flowing water in underground layers of limestone.