Monitoring of landscaping and development of the floodplain area
of the Ural River within the boundaries of the city of Orenburg using geoinformation technologies 

Irina A. Stepanova, Candidate of biological sciences, associate professor of the sub-department of ecology and environmental management, Orenburg State University (13 Pobedy avenue, Orenburg, Russia), irinaanstp@mail.ru
Marina Yu. Garitskaya, Candidate of biological sciences, associate professor, associate professor of the sub-department of ecology and environmental management, Orenburg State University (13 Pobedy avenue, Orenburg, Russia), m.garitskaya@yandex.ru

Background. Freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, streams, and floodplain ecosystems are essential ecological resources that provide many ecosystem functions. The fertile floodplains of the rivers are intensively exploited, as a result of which the landscape along the river valleys is gradually changing as a result of human activity. Materials and methods. The Google Earth Pro application and Landsat satellite images were used tostudy the floodplain area of the Ural River within the city of Orenburg. The QGIS and SAGA GIS programs were used to work with cartographic materials. The digital model corresponding to the maximum flood level is based on data from the digital terrain model FABDEM. Results. The level (height) of the absolute maximum of water during floods has been revealed, on the basis of which the flooding zone of the Ural River near the city of Orenburg isogypsum has been constructed. Based on satellite scenes from Landsat satellites, an analysis of the structure of the floodplain zone within the city for the presence and changes of landscaping and development over the past twenty years has been carried out. Conclusions. When studying the flood activity of the Ural River, the level of the absolute maximum of water was revealed. As a result of studies of the structure of the floodplain zone, there were no changes in the size of landscaping areas and an increase in building areas in this area during the study period.

landscaping floodplains, floods, floodplain area, Ural river, Orenburg, building

Stepanova I.A., Garitskaya M.Yu. Monitoring of landscaping and development of the floodplain area of the Ural River within the boundaries of the city of Orenburg using geoinformation technologies. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Estestvennye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Natural sciences. 2025;(1):78–87. (In Russ.). doi: 10.21685/2307-9150-2025-1-7