Geoecological Analysis of the Effects of Pipeline Transport on the Environment of Transit Regions (Voronezh Region, Russia)

Abstract

Aim. To analyse the anthropogenic impacts of pipeline transport systems on the environment. The main objectives of the study include: determination of the typology of the impacts of pipeline geosystems, assessment of the geo-ecological risk for natural landscapes of the Voronezh Region and the development of geo-ecological mapping of the territory indicating the degrees of influence of pipeline transport on the environment.Material and Methods. In order to comprehensively assess the influence of the oil and gas economy, a method of fractional differentiation of the Voronezh Region has been developed for identifying regional zones according to the degree of environmental risk using a points system and subsequent calculations.Results. Geo-ecological zoning was developed of the risks of the impacts of the regional pipeline system on the environment together with the mapping of negative natural processes. An algorithm for methodical statistical calculation is proposed, including indicators of regional risk levels, the ratio of negative processes in the area of pipeline transportation, the degree of environmental friendliness of the pipeline system, and an integral indicator of the risks of influence of pipeline transport.Conclusions. The research revealed the geo-ecological situation in areas influenced by pipeline transport in the Voronezh Region. The authors have developed a program for the organisation of environmentally safe pipeline transport and have proposed an algorithm for using GIS technologies for quick analysis of the degree of risk. The rehabilitation of land disturbed by the regional pipeline system has also been taken into account and a program proposed to optimize the functioning of the system in the context of the region's social, ecological and economic challenges.

Keywords

• трубопроводный транспорт
• транзит
• регион
• нефтегазоносная система
• геоэкологический риск природопользования
• интегральный коэффициент риска
• ландшафтно-экологическое районирование