NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS RELATED TO ACTIVITY OF SLOPE PROCESSES ON THE TERRITORY OF THE PROJECTED RAILWAY ELEGEST–KYZYL–KURAGINO

Abstract

The study is relevant due to the development of the project of the first railway in Tyva, which should link Tyva with the Krasnoyarsk territory. The route is planned in very difficult engineering-geological conditions. The article presents an assessment of the engineering and geological conditions of the route territory, which is necessary to support the decision-making process for the placement of structures. This study aims to identify the influence of physical and anthropogenic factors in activity of slope processes on the territory such as landslides, mobile scree, avalanches, solifluction, stone glaciers, kurums, splashes, mudflows. Object of the study is the geological environment of the area of the projected Kyzyl–Kuragino highway. We considered the main factors affecting the formation of slope processes such as lithology; topography; seismotectonic; geotechnic; hydrology-hydrogeology; permafrost and presence of roads. Each natural and anthropogenic factor is further divided into sub-categories. Methods. We used statistical analysis of the frequency of slope processes and the method of hierarchy analysis along with a geographical information system to determine the relationship between natural and anthropogenic factors and the activity of slope processes. The results. We analyzed 9 factors with 43 classes within them to determine the relationship of natural and anthropogenic factors with slope processes. We found that the most informative parameters are the slope of the surface, its elevation, slope aspect, genetic type and lithology of soils. The frequency of gravitational displacements increases on the northern slopes with a slope of more than 10°, with marks of more than 2000 m, composed of metamorphic rocks and detrital formations. The frequency and scale of landslides are increasing in the immediate vicinity of roads. Their maximum values are observed within the 50-meter buffer zone. The results of determining the weights by two methods showed high convergence of the results. Summary. The results provide information on natural and anthropogenic factors characterizing slope processes in the study area. The applied methodology rapidly estimates areas prone to slope processes and it may be utilized for landslide hazard assessment mapping as well as for preparation of planning documentation and recommendations for engineering protection of the territory.

Keywords

• soils
• slope processes
• geographic information system
• frequency ratio
• analytical hierarchical process