Evaluation of Horizontal and Vertical Erosion of the Water Protection Zone of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir (a Case of Dubovsky District)

Abstract

The nature and intensity of erosion processes are an important parameter for monitoring water protection area of water body. A technique, based on field and office studies, which were carried out with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Advanced), was worked out and the intensity of the manifestation of erosion processes in the water protection area of the Tsimlyansk reservoir was assessed (on the example of Dubovsky district). In our research, the comparative-geographic method was used. That allowed us very accurately to identify erosional objects on the ground, and to determine their morphological and morphometric characteristics. Cameral works processed the data obtained by using UAVs. The tools of the Agisoft Metashape Professional program and the tools of the ArcGIS program were used during the work. These programs make it possible, without labor-intensive instrumental field research, to draw up orthophotoplans for gullies and determine their areas, steepness of slopes, length and width of slopes, depth of gullies, make longitudinal and transverse profiles of gullies, measure the volume of gullies and a number of other parameters. This method gives us a complete picture of the gullying network within the water protection area. In addition, a comparison of survey materials for different periods makes it possible to identify trends in the development of individual erosional forms, as well as the entire gullying network within the water protection area as a whole.