Электронный журнал «ГеоИнфо» - GeoInfo. Vol. VII, No. 2 (2025)

Abstract: The article considers the currently existing approaches to identifying the components of eco-geological conditions. Based on the doctrine of the ecological functions of the lithosphere, the characteristics of the eco-resource, eco-geodynamic, eco-geochemical, and eco-geophysical conditions of the Russian section of the Skovorodino-Mohe main oil pipeline are given. The presented approaches to the characteristics of the eco-geological conditions can be in demand both in engineering and environmental surveys and in assessing the impact on environmental components when solving similar problems in Russia and in the People's Republic of China.

Keywords: eco-geological conditions; components of eco-geological conditions; eco-resource conditions; eco-geodynamic conditions; eco-geochemical conditions; eco-geophysical conditions; oil pipeline route; Skovorodinо district

Abstract: Cleaning away oil pollution from grounds along oil pipelines is an extremely important task. However, none of the modern methods of cleaning away oil pollution from grounds is universal due to the variety of forms of oil pollution in grounds (from volatile light fractions of hydrocarbons to heavy fuel oils). Therefore, for successful solution of this problem, a rational technique on the basis of the integrated cleaning away hydrocarbons from grounds is needed. It is this question that is analyzed in this paper. The authors propose a number of rational integrated schemes for the process of cleaning away oil pollution from grounds along oil pipelines.

Keywords: geological environment; oil pollution; ground cleaning methods; rational cleaning scheme; oil pipeline routes

Abstract: The article analyzes the structure and characteristic features of industrial ecological-geological systems (EGS) existing in Belarus. It is shown that the considered EGS are anthropogenic ecological-geological systems that are widespread in the republic and play an important role in the ecosystems there. Each of those EGS has its own specific structure reflecting the influence of various technogenic factors on its abiotic (the lithotope, hydrotope, edaphotope) and biotic (the microbocenosis, phytocenosis, zoocenosis, society) components. All the components of those industrial EGS (both abiotic and biotic ones) have their own sets of special characteristics caused by the influence of human industrial-economic activity, by the technogenic transformation of the corresponding components of natural ecosystems, and by the creation of new artificial ecological-geological systems, that should be taken into account when systematizing EGS, describing and analyzing the ecological functions of the lithosphere. The characteristic features of different types of industrial EGS (production and warehouse ones as the most widespread in the republic) are described. The identified patterns and features can be considered as common for industrial EGS in Belarus and similar EGS in Russia. They should be taken into account when performing geo-environmental studies and site investigations.

Keywords: ecological-geological system (EGS); anthropogenic industrial EGS; technolithotope; technoedaphotope; technomicrocenosis; technophytocenosis; zoocenosis; Belarus

Abstract: The article is devoted to the difficulties encountered during construction due to difficult engineering-geological conditions in the territory of the Nizhnekamsk industrial hub, where the eluvial sandstones of the Urzhumian Stage are widely developed. Their structure and properties that distinguish them from ordinary sands and cause unpredictable behavior of the ground bases are analyzed. Lots of data from cone penetration tests, pile static load tests, and laboratory studies were collected and analyzed. Correlation dependencies between the physical-mechanical characteristics of the considered eluvial sandstones and the specific frontal resistance were established. Based on the systematization and analysis of field studies, regional dependencies between the parameters of cone penetration test and the strength and deformation characteristics of soils are constructed. The results are of great practical importance and make it possible to optimize the design and construction of infrastructure in a given area.

Keywords: weathering crust; eluvial sandstones; strength properties; deformation properties; cone penetration test; Nizhnekamsk industrial hub

Abstract: One of the most important areas of substantiating and ensuring the safety of buildings and structures is the risk assessment of originating geological processes. For more reliable assessments when solving problems of Engineering Geology, calculating not only the deterministic component of some engineering-geological process (as it has been often done so far), but also its random component is necessary. No risk analysis or design on the basis of the reliability theory can be performed without probabilistic analysis with the use of only the stability coefficient. Therefore, further development of probabilistic approaches to the calculations is required. The presented article demonstrates the efficiency and necessity of stochastic analysis by the example of slope stability calculation.

Keywords: geological processes; landslide processes; risk assessment; slope stability; stability factor; reliable assessment; probabilistic approach; stochastic analysis; reliability index

Abstract: We present a slightly abridged and adapted translation of the paper “Three-dimensional geological modeling of the shallow subsurface and its application: a case study in Tongzhou District, Beijing, China” written by Chinese specialists ( He et al., 2023). It was published in 2023 in the journal “Applied Sciences” by the MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute). It is an open access paper under the CC BY 4.0 license that allows it to be distributed, translated, adapted, and supplemented, provided that the types of changes are noted and the original source is referred to. In our case, the full reference to the original paper (He et al., 2023), which was used for the presented translation, is given in the end.

Three-dimensional (3D) geological models are currently needed and used independently for urban development. The main difficulty in constructing a 3D geological model of a shallow subsurface is to determine the stratigraphic distribution. Highly variable properties and geometries of geological units beneath lead to difficulty. It is key to find a practicable and efficient way to construct a model in practical work. This study takes Tongzhou District (Beijing) as a case; 476 boreholes (40 newly drilled and 436 existing engineering boreholes) were utilized combined with the cross-section method to construct an integrated 3D geological model. The framework and analyses contributed to the following applications.

1. High-quality information from new boreholes and existing engineering boreholes were used to define stratigraphy and build cross-sections.

2. The resulting geological model (up to 50 m beneath Tongzhou area) shows many details of the shallow subsurface. This includes 10 major layers which were grouped into three cyclothems representing cyclic sequences of clay, interbedded silt, sand, and gravel with variable quantities of lenses.

3. The new model was used as a tool to visualize the depth and geometry variations below ground and to characterize a large variety of properties (for example, the compression modulus analyzed in this paper) that each unit contains, and then to evaluate the underground geological conditions.

4. An analysis of a dynamic monitoring model based on the resulting 3D model indicated that the geological units (sand and silty clay) at depths between 30 m and 40 m, with an average vertical deformation of 0.97 mm, from July 2019 to September 2020, are suitable for underground construction, from the perspective of vertical stability in the study area. Monitoring models that take time into consideration based on a 3D framework will be further explored.

The translation of the paper was carried out with the support of the “PETROMODELING” Group of Companies and Aleksey Bershov.

Keywords: three-dimensional geological model; shallow subsurface; geotechnical properties; cross-sections; urban underground space; monitoring station; Tongzhou District

Abstract: We present an adapted translation of the paper “Engineering geological 3D modeling and geotechnical characterization in the framework of technical rules for geotechnical design: the case study of the Nola’s logistic plant (Southern Italy)” by Italian specialists (Petrone et al., 2023). It was published in 2023 in the peer-reviewed journal “Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment” by the Springer Science+Business Media publishing company. It is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license that allows it to be distributed, translated, adapted, and supplemented, provided that the types of changes are noted, the original source and the license are referred to. In our case, the full reference to the original paper (Petrone et al., 2023) used for the presented translation and to the open access license are given in the end.

In the design and construction of buildings and infrastructures, the reconstruction of a reliable 3D engineering geological model is an essential step to optimize costs of the construction and limit risks from failure or damage due to unforeseen ground conditions. The modeling of ground conditions is a challenging issue to be tackled especially in the case of geological units with complex geometries and spatially variable geotechnical properties. In such a direction, coupled geological and geotechnical criteria are usually adopted to define engineering geological units.

These concepts are considered by the current technical rules for geotechnical design such as the Eurocode 7 and by the national regulations which have followed it, known in Italy as “Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni (NTC)”. Notwithstanding this advanced regulatory framework, no comprehensive indications on methodological approaches were given for the 3D engineering geological modeling and geotechnical characterization of a design and construction site.

In this paper, the case study of the highly heterogeneous and heteropic pyroclastic-alluvial stratigraphic setting of the Nola plain (Campania, Southern Italy) characterizing the site of the Nola’s logistic plant is dealt with. The approaches are based on the engineering geological modeling analysis of a high number of stratigraphic, laboratory and in situ geotechnical data, collected for the design of the plant, and the use of a specialized modeling software providing advanced capabilities in spatial modeling of geological and geotechnical information, as well as in their visual representation.

The results obtained, including also the analysis of statistical variability of geotechnical properties and the identification of representative geotechnical values, can be potentially considered a methodological approach, consistent with the current technical rules for geotechnical design as well as with fundamental concepts of engineering geological modeling and mapping.

The translation of the paper was carried out with the support of the “PETROMODELING” Group of Companies and Aleksey Bershov.

Keywords: 3D modeling; complex ground conditions; geotechnical design; construction; civil engineering works; engineering geological unit; engineering geological type; 3D engineering geological model

Abstract: The new version of the “Regulations on cultural heritage site protection zones”, which came into force on the 1st of March in this year, established new rules for surveys, construction and economic activities near cultural monuments. Now, there are not only more prohibitions, but also more freedoms, not only specific things, but also unclear ones.

Elena Chegotova, an expert in urban planning legislation, technical regulation and digitalization of construction in St. Petersburg, told at the webinar “The status of cultural heritage site protection zones starting with 01.03.2025", which was organized by “Business Communications Center Forum Skills” LLC, why this document was adopted, how to design and build objects near historical sites now.

In this article, we will briefly outline the information that we learned at the webinar and from some open sources. We will tell you why it is necessary to collect as much evidence as possible to prove that it is possible to carry out construction, repair work or other economic activity near a cultural monument before those work. We will consider the need to understand the interests of cultural heritage advocates and the value of their activities, because the latter may cause the construction to be stopped.

Keywords: cultural heritage sites; historical and cultural monuments; protected zone; combined protected zone; special protection regime; historical-cultural expertise; law enforcement practice; cultural heritage advocates

Abstract: Drilling deadlines missed, budget overruns, insufficiently qualified personnel and lack of transparency of business units’ profits are the main threats to the design and survey business, which can turn a successful organization into a bankrupt with a negative reputation. In addition, it is obvious to most managers that, in recent years, the profitability of design and survey work has sometimes been measured by first percents of turnover. Because of this, the cost of a mistake leading to the fact that the customer will not accept and pay for the work is very high. And here, special ERP systems come to the rescue. They are comprehensive programs for managing all business processes in a company, which enable you to count money and optimize costs. For the design and survey field, these systems include, for example, the WebGeo ERP software package, which can become an auxiliary tool for both top managers and ordinary employees. It is this software that has been used for several years by TPR LLC that had the turnover of 3.3 billion rubles in 2024. We talked to Fedor Zepalov, the first deputy general director of this company, about how this helps in the work.

Keywords: business process management; business resource control; ERP systems; WebGeo ERP software package; process control; quality management; efficiency management; cost management; human resource management

Abstract: The paper is devoted to the problem of reliability of laboratory soil tests during engineering-geological surveys. The author analyzes the scale of falsifications (up to 80% of “drawn” reports), identifies the critical stages of the process from sampling to issuing laboratory test results, and proposes five practical tools for quality control of the results.

Keywords: engineering-geological surveys; soil laboratory; soil laboratory tests; test results falsification; test results reliability