Substantiation of environmental safety in metro facility operations considering hydrogeological risks

In today’s world of rapid urbanization, environmental safety has become a key aspect of urban planning and management. The issue of environmental safety encompasses a wide range of concerns, from pollution reduction and biodiversity conservation to ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. In this context, metro facilities, as an integral part of urban infrastructure, play a crucial role in providing mobility for urban populations, yet they also pose potential environmental challenges. The operation of metro facilities is associated with noise pollution, emissions of harmful substances due to the use of energy produced from fossil fuels, energy consumption, undesirable impacts on groundwater, and other negative environmental aspects. Equally important is the issue of waste disposal and the use of construction materials during the building and maintenance of metro systems. The aim of this study was to assess the environmental safety of metro facility operations. The consideration of this topic is particularly relevant in light of global efforts towards sustainable development and the need to ensure a high quality of life for urban populations. The assessment of environmental safety in metro operations is proposed to be conducted through a comprehensive approach, involving field studies and modelling the distribution patterns of defects in metro structures under the influence of hydrogeological risks. A systematic approach to evaluating environmental safety in metro operations, based on modelling the development of defects in tunnel structures under the influence of hydrogeological factors, will help organize existing information on potential accidents and develop monitoring methods and measures to minimize risks that compromise the environmental sustainability of underground transport infrastructure. The research results, which include the systematization of environmental safety criteria for metro operations and the analysis of tunnel structure defects caused by hydrogeological factors, provide the basis for further developing methods to ensure environmentally safe operation of urban transport tunnels.