Study of Soligorsk Salt Tailings Piles while Using Up-To-Date Geodetic Technologies

Intensive development of the Starobinsk deposit is related with formation of salt tailings piles which are annually increasing and they have already reached the height of 120-150 m, their volume constitutes 1.5 billion tons and their area is equal up to approximate to 3000 ha. Such situation leads to activation of geodynamic processes, salting of soil and underground water. For this reason study of salt tailings piles with the help of up-to-date geodetic technologies is considered as the most efficient methods for environmental protection. Geodetic innovation technologies for study of salt tailings relief include the following: creation of plan and height control along relief perimeter and route of equipment motion within salt tailings pile with the help GPS-system; experimental study of salt tailings relief while using an electronic tacheometer with reflectorless regime; import of total station coordinates in software package LISCAD Plus where simulation of salt tailings is formed; study of digital salt tailings simulation and its interpretation. More accurate study of salt tailings is carried out by laser scanning while using scanner Leica ScanStation C10. Operations from several stations are executed with the purpose to obtain data on salt tailings and these operations provide their complete survey. Results of the survey are loaded into a computer; the data is compiled together and so a digital simulation of salt tailings is obtained. An advantage of laser scanning is complete automation and due to this accuracy is increased significantly and time required for the survey is reduced. Such approach makes it possible to increase efficiency in various measures directed on improvement of environmental conditions.