The possibilities of geophysical control of man-made changes in the geologic environment

Geophysical control of man-made changes of the geologic environment is based on the investigation of the deformations of physical fields and properties of the lithospheric space under the impact of man's economic activities. This control presupposes extensive airborne, spacecraft, on-land, subsurface and aquatic investigations. Observations are made at the same sites in consecutive periods of time which makes it possible to study the dynamics of engineering-geologic processes occurring under long-and short-term technogenic loads. Geophysical observations do not affect the geologic environment and may be repeated as many times as required. The application of methods of various physical nature allows one to characterise the general trends of the processes being studied and, if necessary, to isolate their individual components.

The cited practical examples show that geophysical monitoring of man-made changes in the geologic environment may be implemented on a large scale under different natural conditions and diverse human economic activities.