Integrated assessment of technogenic transformation of the geological environment in the southwestern region of Belarus

Abstract

   The article presents the results of assessment of technogenic transformation of the geological environment in the territory of the southwestern region of Belarus under the influence of various human economic activities. The research was based on the application of a complex methodology, including the study of published and fund sources, geological, geomorphological, topographic and cadastral maps, plans of settlements, remote survey data and materials of field and route observations, cartometric and cartographic works. It is shown that over the past 150 years, a noticeable restructuring of the earth’s surface, the structure and composition of the cover deposits has taken place in the region. This is due to a hydro-reclamation and residential development of the territory, road and railway construction, mining, accumulation of solid waste and other activities. The total volume of technogenically displaced soils in this area is 780.7 million m3, and the calculated indicator of the intensity of technogenic geological processes is 182 m3/km2/year. It is 2.4 times higher than the total impact on the earth’s surface of the region of modern exogenous geological processes.