Prevention of negative social and environmental consequences of suffosion

Introduction. The subject of the study is suffusion — an exogenous geological process dangerous for construction, capable to cause a catastrophe. The term suffosion is interpreted most widely in comparison with other interpretations: according it suffosion includes leaching, piping, subsurface erosion of soils or rocks, cemented by soluble material. The aim of the study is to analyze the interaction of natural and anthropogenic subsystems in natural-technical systems arising from the economic development of territories favourable for the development of suffosion processes.

Materials and methods. Domestic and foreign experience of exploitation of objects of various purposes experiencing negative impact of natural and anthropogenic suffosion processes is analyzed from the position of system approach. Special attention is paid to possible catastrophic consequences of such impacts for buildings and structures. It is noted that, despite the presence of certain positive aspects in the interaction of suffosion with the environment, negative aspects prevail.

Results. Neutralization of possible undesirable social and ecological consequences of formation of various kinds of underground and surface suffosion manifestations is achieved by rational choice, clear engineering-geological substantiation and competent implementation of measures that sharply reduce (and sometimes exclude) the possibility of related emergencies. Classification of currently used and quite suitable for application in the future methods of protection of territories, buildings and structures from negative consequences of suffosion development, including those provoked by the protected object itself, is proposed. Different variants of protective measures related to each of the identified types of anti-suffosion measures are mentioned.

Conclusions. It is noted that in the presence of existing suffosion occurrences on a particular territory or in case of a scientifically justified assumption regarding the potential possibility of development of suffosion processes, a comprehensive assessment of the natural-technogenic situation and its expected changes is necessary. This should be followed by planning of further actions, either to preserve the landscape elements formed by suffosion or to eliminate any threats from this process as much as possible.

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