Sustainable management of river sand resources requires accurate spatial information to support environmental monitoring and rational natural resource using. This study addresses the problem of assessing sand extraction potential within river channels through the integration of topographic-geodetic and bathymetric survey data. The research was conducted at the “Vyshhorodska” sand deposit located in the Dnipro River channel near Vyshhorod, within the Polissia region of Ukraine.
The methodology was based on integrated geospatial surveying using a Hi-Target V100 GNSS receiver operating in RTK mode and a Lowrance Hook4 echo sounder for bathymetric measurements. Spatial coordinates and depth data were processed using Topcon Tools, SonarViewer, and GeoniCS 13 for AutoCAD. A total of 32 control points and 8,493 survey points were collected across an area of 270.7 ha. The acquired datasets were integrated to develop high-resolution digital terrain and riverbed models and to create a large-scale topographic plan of the study area.
The results revealed significant spatial variability of riverbed morphology and enabled the identification of areas suitable for sand extraction. The most promising deposits were found in the central part of the channel, where stable bottom forms, moderate depths, and low flow velocities favor sustainable extraction activities. The developed geospatial models also facilitated the delineation of environmentally sensitive zones where extraction should be restricted.
The study confirms that integrated topographic and bathymetric surveys provide reliable geospatial information for environmental monitoring, resource assessment, and decision support. The resulting digital models can be effectively applied for planning extraction operations, monitoring riverbed dynamics, and promoting sustainable management of river sand resources.
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