Электронный журнал «ГеоИнфо» - GeoInfo №7-8/2024

Abstract: We present a slightly abridged and adapted translation of the paper “Advances in operational permafrost monitoring on Svalbard and in Norway” by Norwegian researchers (Isaksen et al., 2022). It was published in the journal “Environmental Research Letters” by the publishing company of the British scientific society “Institute of Physics” (IOP) that is now virtually international. 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 and the original source is referred to. In our case, the full reference to the original paper (Isaksen et al., 2022) used for the presented translation is given in the end. The cryosphere web portal maintained by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (https://cryo.met.no), provides access to the latest operational data and to the information on the current state of the sea ice, snow, and permafrost in Norway, the Arctic, and the Antarctic. The paper presents the latest addition to this portal on the operational permafrost monitoring by the institute and on the methods for visualising real-time permafrost temperature data. The latest permafrost temperatures are compared to the climatology data from weather stations, including medians, confidence intervals, extremes, and trends. There are additional operational weather stations with extended measurement programs at these locations. The collocated monitoring offers daily updated data for studying and monitoring the current state, trends, and the effects of, e.g., extreme climate events on permafrost temperatures. Ground temperature rates obtained from the long-term records in the warmer permafrost found in Norway are typically 0.1–0.2 °C per decade. In contrast, in the colder permafrost of the high latitudes of Arctic on Svalbard, warming rates are up to 0.7 °C per decade. The operational monitoring provides information faster than ever before, potentially assisting in the early detection of, e.g., high active layer thickness and pronounced permafrost temperature increases. It may also become a cornerstone of early warming systems for natural hazards associated with permafrost warming and degradation. Currently, the data are submitted manually to the international Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost and are scheduled for integration with the operational services of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) through the WMO Global Cryosphere Watch.

Keywords: operational monitoring; cryosphere; climate change; permafrost.

Abstract: We present a slightly abridged and adapted translation of the paper “Airborne geoscannin g as a site investigation tool in large-scale tunnelling projects: a synthesis of case studies from Norway and India” by Norwegian and Indian researchers (Rasmussen et al., 2021). It was published in 2021 in the journal “Earth and Environmental Science” by the publishing company of the British scientific society “Institute of Physics” (IOP) that is now virtually international. It is an open access article under the CC BY 3.0 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 (Rasmussen et al., 2021) used for the presented translation is given in the end. Unforeseen, challenging grounding conditions are a major obstacle for infrastructure development, including tunnel construction. Addressing this risk with traditional, intrusive ground investigations can be costly, sometime prohibitively so. In this paper, we present airborne geoscanning, a more efficient site investigation method that integrates airborne geophysics with other datasets to produce ground models. We primarily employ helicopter- based time-domain electromagnetics (AEM), a method that images differences in electrical resistivity in the subsurface. When available, we can combine geophysical data with ancillary datasets for more sophisticated interpretation. Such an integrated process we call airborne geoscanning. The integration techniques range from simple clustering analysis that support planning of follow-up ground investigations to customised artificial neural networks that automatically detect interfaces like the top of rock. Using examples from projects in Norway and India, we illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of using airborne geophysics for tunnelling projects. Using these case studies, we demonstrate three key insights that airborne geoscanning can provide to tunnelling engineers, i. e. identify major fractured zones, weaker rock units and rock cover thickness. These insights can be highly valuable for tunnel design and construction projects worldwide.

Keywords: site investigation; tunnel design; tunnel construction; aerogeophysical survey; airborne time-domain electromagnetics (AEM); airborne geoscanning.

Abstract: We present a slightly abridged and adapted translation of the paper “Application of spatial multi-criteria analysis (SMCA) to assess rockfall hazard and plan mitigation strategies along long infrastructures” by Italian researchers (Foria et al., 2021). It was published in the journal “Earth and Environmental Science” by the publishing company of the British scientific society “Institute of Physics” (IOP) that is now virtually international. It is an open access article under the CC BY 3.0 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 (Foria et al., 2021) used for the presented translation is given in the end. Long infrastructures often cross areas with a high probability of landslides, causing eventually serious problems to the serviceability and compromising safety. The identification and prediction of hazardous zones are difficult, especially for what concerning rockfalls, as they can occur quickly and suddenly. In order to assess rockfall hazard, detailed data such as slope geometry, geotechnical and geomechanical properties of materials, drainage system pattern, etc. are needed. Even though thematic datasets are available and easily downloadable for the majority of the Italian territory, their scale is not adequate and ad-hoc input data must be gathered. An original multi-disciplinary procedure (GEO4) has been developed by the authors based on a mobile mapping system (ARCHITA) integrated with Airborne Lidar and ILI (In- Line Inspections), geomatics, geological models, geotechnical-geomechanical characterization and geomorphometric approach. A Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis (SMCA) is then used to create a composed and spatially distributed index of landslide hazard based on normalized values of triggering factors. Such index is used to identify and classify the morphological unstable element along the infrastructure, supporting decision-makers in defining the most appropriate mitigation measures and planning their implementation in a clearer, more repeatable and more objective orientated-way. The presented method has been successfully applied so far to hundreds of km of railway lines in Italy.

Keywords: landslide hazard; rockfall hazard; landslide mitigation; rockfall mitigation; long infrastructures; GEO4 multi-disciplinary procedure; spatial multi-criteria analysis (SMCA); aggregated index of landslide hazard.

Abstract: We present a slightly abridged and adapted translation of the paper “Response analysis of deep foundation excavation and dewatering on surface settlements” by Chinese researchers (Li et al., 2020). It was published in the peer-reviewed journal “Advances in Civil Engineering” by the Hindawi publishing company. It is an open access article under the CC BY 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 (Li et al., 2020) used for the presented translation is given in the end. Accurate prediction of surface settlements is a primary concern when deep excavations were carrying out under the water table in urban environments for the safety of the work site. The sedimentation deformation due to deep excavation of foundation pit and dewatering occurs as a result of coupling action of the two factors. The study is aimed at revealing the coupling ground response to the two factors and developing empirical correlations for estimating ground deformations. Taking a deep foundation pit of a metro station as an example, surface settlement estimations were calculated by analytical formulas and numerical models. The settlement results by analytical formulas under excavation and dewatering conditions were added linearly to the total settlements. And three- dimensional coupling numerical models were established by applying commercial software (GMS and MIDAS) to investigate the interaction impact of excavation and dewatering on the sedimentation deformation. Comparing with monitoring data, numerical simulation results match well with the monitoring data. Furthermore, an empirical surface subsidence correlation equation was developed by the polynomial fitting to illustrate the effect contribution on the total surface settlement of foundation excavation and dewatering.

Keywords: soil deformations; surface settlements; settlement estimation; deep foundation pit; soil excavation; dewatering; analytical formulas; three- dimensional numerical models; monitoring data; polynomial fitting; empirical correlation equation.

Abstract: From the 1st of September 2024, developers of project documentation for submission to state expertise will have more freedom in choosing the ways of substantiating their decisions. Accordingly, the importance of specialists and with it the responsibility (especially of managers, chief engineers and chief architects of projects) will increase. This was announced in the RF Government Decree of 05/06/2024 № 589, which amended some regulations. In particular, this concerns changing the requirements of the Federal Law “Technical regulations on the safety of buildings and structures”. Compliance with the requirements of this document when preparing project documentation will no longer be mandatory – whether it concerns future facilities or existing ones, about construction or reconstruction. From the legislators’ point of view, this means convenience and progress, which the performers should only be happy about. The performers’ position is other. They are not yet sure that all this is for their benefit, which is what they share in industry-specific Telegram channels and chats. At the recent webinar “Updated list of “voluntary” documents (Order of Rosstandart 1112). Changes in paragraph 87. Cancellation of the mandatory list (paragraph 815) from 09/01/2024. Changes in the Statute on construction control from 09/01/2024 (paragraph 589 from 05/06/2024)”. Elena Chegotova, an advisor to the chairman of the Committee for Construction of St. Petersburg, gave explanations about what exactly has changed and how developers of design documentation should work after the 1st of September.

Keywords: project documentation; state expertise; technical regulations; technical regulation; voluntary list of documents; transition period; unified electronic register of requirements.

Abstract: In the autumn, the law on the transition to single-stage design of linear objects is expected to enter into force. This means that in some cases, the preparation of working documentation will no longer be mandatory and only design documentation will remain. The new rules are designed to make construction cheaper and faster. However, for the same purposes, there was also two-stage design with the mandatory preparation of both design and working documentation for the construction and reconstruction of facilities. But the practical engineers did not like the two stages, and the legislators received requests to optimize the design of simple structures that include pipelines, railways, highways, and power lines. The law has been redone, but many engineering surveyors and designers are now dissatisfied again, which they talk about in professional chats. Someone thinks that it will become easier for designers, and more difficult for engineering surveyors. Someone is worried about how simplifying the procedure and reducing the number of documents will affect the safety of structures. The editorial staff of the “Geoinfo” journal collected these questions and asked for comments to Maksim Baborykin, who is the chief analyst of the Center for Geographic Information Systems of the Innopolis University (Innopolis, Tatarstan, RF), the chief geologist of Aerogeomatics LLC (Krasnodar, RF), Doctor of Philosophy (Geology and Mineralogy).

Keywords: construction; reconstruction; linear objects; engineering surveys; design; one-stage design; two-stage design; risks; design documentation; working documentation.

Abstract: The “Sirius” University of science and technology in Sochi is implementing a project to create an environmental monitoring system, including in terms of assessing geological risks. The observations are conducted all over the territory and in the surrounding areas. An article posted on the institution’s website states that scientists are able to predict landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis to some extent, but this requires data. To collect them, it is planned to install sensors that will monitor the condition of grounds. The “Geoinfo” journal published this news on its website and in its Telegram channel. Questions and comments followed. They were about current technologies and devices, data collection and interpretation, the lack of a unified state monitoring of hazardous natural phenomena in the Krasnodar Territory. After that, the editorial staff of the journal interviewed some participants of the discussion. The experts told how they make up for the lack of predictive information on landslide processes.

Keywords: hazardous natural processes; hazardous geological processes; landslides; measurement points; cadastral boundaries; human resourcing; unified monitoring system; centralized funding.

Abstract: Landslides, fallen trees, rising waters in rivers, tornadoes over the sea are the usual headlines of news in Sochi. However, natural features do not prevent Krasnodar Region from being one of the leaders among the other regions of Russia in terms of investment amounts in construction. The fact is that you cannot build something on the Black Sea coast and live undisturbedly. You always need to think about protecting the facility. Aleksey Gerelis, the head of the separate division “South” of the “GEOIZOL Project” company in Krasnodar explained to the editorial staff of the “Geolnfo” journal why the current observations are not enough there, why proper observations are economically justified and why a unified system for monitoring geotechnical safety is needed. Our interlocutor was involved in monitoring transport interchanges and tunnels built for the XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi. He is constantly engaged in diagnostics of landslide-prone areas where residential complexes will be built, of the construction and operation sites of federal and regional roads in Krasnodar Region.

Keywords: Krasnodar Territory; Greater Sochi; Black Sea coast of the Caucasus; hazardous geological processes; landslide- prone area; engineering protection of territories; rational solutions; economic effect; monitoring; unified monitoring system; interdepartmental state monitoring system.

Abstract: At the end of June, the Russian government approved the Regulation on state background monitoring of permafrost. The collection of information and compilation of permafrost maps are organized on the basis of the observation network of the Federal Hydrometereology and Environmental Monitoring Service. Specialists whose work is related to the cryolithozone have long discussed the need for constant monitoring of the cryolithozone at the state level, as it was in Soviet times. Maps made in the 1970s are still used, although much is no longer relevant in them. Last time the maps were updated in 1990. Permafrost in different regions of Russia is different. It can be different even under neighboring structures. This means that professional experience exchange is required, but there will be no universal recipes. This is discussed at every theoretical and practical event. Shortly before the approval of the above-mentioned regulation, the “Mingeo Siberia” two-day international mining and geological forum was held in Krasnoyarsk. In this article, we will talk about the issues discussed at one of its plenary sessions called “Cryolithozone and geocryological studies during exploration and development of deposits; construction of enterprises and monitoring of permafrost grounds”. The discussion at this session was about the Krasnoyarsk Territory peculiarities, observations of permafrost, personnel training, innovations and cooperation between business and science.

Keywords: permafrost: permafrost degradation; monitoring; Krasnoyarsk Territory; personnel problem; permafrost experts; targeted training; information exchange.