Remote monitoring of factors determining the environmental safety of urban areas

Abstract

On the example of the cities of Central Russia, a spatial assessment of the environmental safety factors of the urban environment based on the materials of remote sensing of the Earth was carried out. The data source was multichannel satellite images taken from the Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellites for the period from 2015 to 2022. To assess the dynamic characteristics over a twenty-year period, satellite images of the studied territories from the Landsat-7 satellite for the period from 1999 to 2001 were used. To assess the level of anthropogenic load exerted on the studied territories, 4 zones were identified – with a strong anthropogenic load; with an average anthropogenic load; natural framework; hydrological objects. The largest territory is occupied by areas with an average anthropogenic load, which includes low-rise buildings, agricultural landscapes. Most of this area falls on agricultural fields located near the city. The specific weight of the natural framework is from 8 to 12% of the study area, which is not sufficient to ensure environmental safety. The assessment of the dynamic characteristics of anthropogenic load in all the studied territories shows an increase in zones with a strong anthropogenic load due to the reduction of territories with an average anthropogenic load, which is explained by socioeconomic reasons for the development of these territories. As a positive aspect, it is necessary to highlight the increase in the natural framework zone on the territory of the Voronezh city district over a twenty-year period.