Relief monitoring under main pipeline route in the center of the Russian plain with remote sensing and GIS methods

Abstract

The eco-geomorphological assessment of the projected and operated major pipelines in the European part of Russia, Siberia, and the Far East shows that linear sections of the traces have a newly
created technogenic (anthropogenic) relief. Changes in the morphology of the relief forms composed of weakly compacted artificial ground lead to the manifestation of relief-forming processes. As a rule,
paragenesis of exogenous relief-forming processes (for example, slope erosion and landslide), which was not characteristic of pre-existing natural conditions (surface slopes, vegetation cover, lithology of
loose new sediments, etc.) occurs on the sections of the route. Manifestations of modern relief-forming processes are potentially dangerous for pipeline operation. The rapid identification of landforms produced by exogenous relief-forming processes at the early stage of their formation makes it possible to plan proper engineering protection of the main pipeline. Monitoring of the relief under the section
of the gas pipeline route in the center of the Russian Plain was carried out with remote sensing and geoinformation methods. Previous studies of the Protva Valley have shown that pipeline, after crossing
the river, also sequentially crosses terrace, steep and gentle terrace slopes. Terraces are composed  of alluvium of middle Middle Pleistocene age, which is covered by slope loams. Landslide processes
occur on the steep slope of the terraces, and mass displacement of slope material (“creep”) is seen on the gentle slope. After pipeline construction, as a result of the remediation, a gentle slope is formed
in the considered area. Now it is transformed by water erosion and landslide processes. A network of erosion ruts and a terrace-like landslide have formed on the slope. Landform changes were revealed
during the ground survey. The spatial distribution of the landforms under the gas pipeline section was studied with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and high-precision mobile complex of global navigation
satellite system (GNSS). Accumulation and systematization of the received data was carried out in the GIS of the study object. Future systematic observations will allow assessment the dynamics of the
landforms under the pipeline.