Approaches to assessing deformation processes of slope systems on the Black sea coast of the Western Caucasus

Sustainable development of mountainous areas, as well as mitigating the impacts of global climate change while maintaining sustainable economic growth, is one of the goals of the new low-carbon development strategy of the Russian Federation until 2050. Improving the assessment of fractured structures in landslide-prone areas of Sochi's slope systems is particularly important. This paper presents the results of an analysis of geoecological monitoring of slope deformation on the Black Sea coast of the Western Caucasus. Materials and methods. To develop a conceptual framework for assessing landslide structures in Sochi, a search query was conducted in the Scopus database using the keywords "Sochi" and "landslide." This yielded a list of approximately 165 entries, which, after limiting the year of publication (since 2014), source type ("article"), and grouping the articles by subject matter, resulted in no more than 35 entries remaining. The resulting information was then analyzed and synthesized to formulate the author's vision for a comprehensive approach to assessing slope deformation processes. Results. Most approaches utilize separate direct methods (geodetic, geotechnical, or automated monitoring) and indirect methods (remote sensing, numerical modeling) for assessing displacements in slope systems, or a combination of both. The main advantage of geotechnical monitoring is its superior accuracy in assessing displacements in subsurface rock layers. Geophysical methods, in turn, allow us to identify the spatial boundaries of individual underground structures, fracture systems, and aquifer boundaries. Remote sensing and lidar technologies allow us to identify the evolution of landscape transformations as a result of anthropogenic impacts. UAVs provide ultra-high resolution for generating digital elevation models, while numerical models allow us to predict various scenarios for the development of hazardous geological phenomena within the modeled areas. Discussion. However, existing limitations prevent the identification of a single dominant method. All are either site-specific (in situ or UAV methods) or contain significant simplifications (runoff coefficients, pseudo-static problem formulation). Some are also limited in spatial coverage (several dispersed boreholes) or temporal continuity (images from different satellites or a lack of systematic observations). None can capture the full spatiotemporal dynamics of deformations in the studied rock mass. Conclusion. The most effective way to improve the methodology for assessing landslide-prone slope systems in Sochi is through the consistent integration of individual methods into a unified multi-level monitoring system. This involves combining photometric methods, geotechnical tools that take into account the depth of the rock layer with the lowest tensile strength on unstable slopes, geophysical mapping of fracture systems in the subsurface, and the use of GIS technologies and remote sensing to develop spatiotemporal models of the development of the processes under study. Continuous time series of InSAR interferometry should be used as a regional basis for developing macroscale models. This integration will overcome the limitations of individual methods and provide a comprehensive approach to managing geomorphic hazards in the context of transforming slope systems in the mountainous areas of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Resume. This article presents the results of an analysis of geoecological monitoring approaches to slope system deformation on the Black Sea coast of the Western Caucasus. It has been established that, over a twenty-year period, the most commonly used methods by authors of high-ranking articles are geotechnical, geological, geomorphological, and geophysical studies, as well as remote sensing. The most effective approach to improving the methodology for assessing deformable slope systems in Sochi is the consistent integration of individual methods into a single multi-level monitoring system (covering both the superficial and subsurface layers of the rock mass). This system should include interconnected datasets from photometry of surface fracture systems, geophysical mapping of fracture systems in subsurface layers, spatial geological models, and DEM modeling

Aquifer · Black sea · Climate change · Deformation monitoring · Digital elevation model · Landslide · Scopus · Landslides and related hazards · Marine and environmental studies · Soil and Environmental Studies