GEOINFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE STUDY OF ETHNIC ASPECTS OF URBANIZATION IN RUSSIA

The paper discusses the use of geoinformation technologies in studies of ethnic aspects of urbanization in Russia. It analyzes the level of urbanization, urbanization transition in ethnic groups, and changes in the geography of population settlement of the country with centrographic and other methods.


INTRODUCTION
The transformation of the ethnic structure of the population of the Russian Federation is determined by the course of urbanization, the nature of migration, demographic processes, and other factors. At present, the ethnic factor has often a dominant influence on the socio-political, economic, cultural, and historical processes.
The modern world is a mosaic of different people coexisting with each other. Cities are particularly diverse. As noted by G.M. Lappo, "Cities concentrate much more mixed, in respect to the national origin, population compared to rural areas... " [Lappo, 2005]. Cities are the catalysts for social and ethnic processes.
To effectively address inter-ethnic issues, it is very important to monitor ethnic processes, synthesize knowledge, and integrate it in the social and state systems [Belozerov 2001]. GIS technology is an important tool in modern geographic studies of ethnic processes.
The problem of ethnic processes in Russia has been addressed by many national scientists: sociologists, ethnologists, and geographers.

RESEARCH METHODS
The creation of a GIS-based monitoring system is the priority goal in the study of ethnic aspects of urbanization in Russia. This system is based on knowledge about ethnic aspects of urbanization in Russia and other factors affecting the process. The system has specific features of the architecture and of its components [Belozerov, Panin, Cherkasov, 2012]. The main steps of the construction of this GIS application are: 1) selection of the logical structure and creation of the spatial geodatabase based of the material collected; preparation of cartographic framework; 2) compilation of the geodatabase on the ethnic structure of the population of Russia and its regions; 3) construction of the spatial-temporal models of the ethnic dimensions of urbanization in Russia and its regions; 4) assessment and monitoring of the ethnic structure at different territorial levels.
Multi-scale monitoring of ethnic processes using geospatial and statistical analysis utilizes geoinformation and mathematical software products and applies them to the information stored in a geodatabase [Butler, 2011]. This approach allows detailed study of ethnic processes, including the ethnic aspects of urbanization.
The software component of our system was based on ArcGIS Spatial Analyst (ESRI). ArcGIS, like other powerful information systems, has a well-defined model for working with data, especially spatial. This product has a number of features that facilitate monitoring of multi-scale ethnic processes; the tools for modeling and mapping of processes have diverse functionality.
A geodatabase (e.g. file or personal) stores spatial and non-spatial data and enables efficient data retrieval. The data stored in the system can be accessed and rendered through geostatistical analysis. Our system utilized vector data formats (polygon, point, and line objects); the data in the database were organized logically and hierarchically, which improved data management because it integrated many different types of geographic features in a single space while preserving the initial characteristics of its elements. Spatial relationships within this data model were particularly important in solving complex analytical problems (Andrianov, 2004).
Data representation in a vector model is similar to traditional paper maps. Points represent geographic objects that are too small to be shown as lines or polygons; lines represent narrow objects that cannot be shown as polygons; polygons represent closed and homogeneous objects. All geographic objects that make up the spatial component are assigned a unique ID; the associated non-spatial information is stored in the attribute tables of ArcGIS.
A conceptual scheme of the GIS-based monitoring approach that we have developed and that comprehensively reflects features of the ethnic structure of Russia is presented in Fig. 1. The experience of the laboratory "Population and GIS Technologies" of the North Caucasus Federal University was instrumental in the creation of the conceptual schemes of the geoinformation monitoring of ethno-demographic [Panin, 2005] and demographic processes [Rauzhin, 2011]. As any working GIS system, the GIS-monitoring approach described herein includes five key components: hardware, software, data, users, and methods 1 . The spatial objects in our GIS 1 Hardware: is a computer that is running GIS. Nowadays, GIS applications work on different types of computing platforms, from centralized servers to separate or connected by a network desktop computers (in our case).
GIS software: provides the functions and tools needed to store, analyze, and visualize geographic (spatial) information. Key components of the software are tools for entering and manipulating geographic information, a database management system (DBMS), tools supporting spatial queries, analysis and visualization (maps), and a graphical user interface (GUI) for easy access to tools.
Data: is the most important component of GIS. Data on the spatial position (geographical data) associated with tabular data can be collected and prepared by the user, purchased from commercial suppliers, or taken from other sources. In the process of spatial data management, GIS integrates spatial data with other types and sources of data, and can also use DBMS; DBMS is used by many entities to organize and support available data.
Operators: wide application of GIS technology is not possible without people who work with software products and design their application for solving real problems. GIS users can be technical experts, developing and maintaining the system, and regular employees (endusers) that use GIS to solve current issues and everyday problems.
Methods: the success and effectiveness (including socio-economic) of the GIS application depends on a well-designed plan and work rules prepared in accordance with specific tasks.
approach are tied to the local conditions in the Cartesian coordinate system.
The GIS-monitoring approach for the study of the ethnic dimensions of urbanization in Russia was built on the administrativeterritorial division (ATD) of the Russian Federation in 2010, since it is the most useful for comparing data in the GIS environment for 1959,1970,1979,1989,2002, and 2010, and allows most consistent analysis.
The cartographic GIS-monitoring approach is based on the territorial structure for the key regions (Astrakhan Oblast [AO], Stavropol Kray [SK], Khanty-Mansi and Yamal- The design of the logical structure required the identification of specific information available. This information defined the selection of its thematic blocks. We identified four blocks, each with a set of two-dimensional tables related to each other on the key fields (Fig. 2).
The blocks "Urbanization", "Dynamics of the ethnic structure of Russia", "Dynamics of the urban ethnic structure of Russia", and "Regional features of the ethnic structure" contain data for Russia and the regions (AO, SK, KChR, KMAD, and YNAD -at the level of cities and administrative districts; and Moscow).
The blocks "Urbanization", "Dynamics of the ethnic structure of Russia", and "Dynamics of the urban ethnic structure of Russia" are utilized in the GIS-application at different territorial levels of the Russian Federation ATD and provide statistical geodata on the population of the country's regions and the ethnic structure of the population in general and separately for urban areas.
The block "Regional features of the ethnic structure" is the most complex because it includes five additional sub-blocks. Each sub-block addresses a separate region in the research. The following regions were chosen as the study areas: the regions currently industrially developed and with intensive changes in the ethnic structure of the population [KMAD and YNAD], multiethnic centers of the capitals (Moscow, St. Petersburg), industrial-agro multi-ethnic regions -SK, AO; and agro-industrial national territorial districts (KChR). This structure of the GIS-monitoring approach determined the thematic divisions that include cartographic components on the ethnic aspects of urbanization in Russia. Table 1 presents the names and content of the blocks of the spatial database. The first three blocks are the cartographic models of the ATD of the Russian Federation (subjects and cities). The first block contains information on the urban network at the time of the censuses

ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS
The use of this GIS-monitoring application enabled a comprehensive analysis of the ethnic aspects of urbanization in Russia. Based on the quantitative characteristics of the ethnic aspects of urbanization, we have developed a typology of ethnic groups in terms of the urbanization features and urbanization transition. This typology makes it possible to analyze the participation of different regions of Russia in the process of urbanization.
The overall urbanization transition in Russia occurred in 1958 [Popov, 2005]. Each of the ethnoses participated, to a greater or lesser extent, in rapid urbanization of the territory of modern Russia in the XX th -XXI th centuries.
By the nature of participation in the urbanization process, the ethnoses may be divided into the following groups:  .
Analysis of the quantitative characteristics of the ethnic dimensions of urbanization revealed differences in urbanization level of the individual ethnoses in Russia (Fig. 3). Due to different historical and socio-economic factors, some ethnoses were included in the orbit of urban life earlier than others. However, the trend toward a greater involvement in urbanization processes was common to all groups. Overall, based on this typology, it is possible to state that urbanization in Russia was occurring with a phase-gate inclusion of the ethnoses in urbanization processes [Cherkasov, 2011]. Currently, the share of the ethnoses in Group I is 81,5% of the population. Together with Groups II and III, the people who underwent urbanization transition comprise 87,9% of the population of Russia.
The spatial-temporal and mathematical modeling is one of the key aspects of monitoring of the ethnic aspects of urbanization in Russia [Tikunov, 1997]. In the study, we used the centrographic method [Polian, Treyvish, 1990]. This method allows not only assessing whether the ethnoses living in the territory of Russia are in the state of "balance" or "imbalance", but also identifying the displacement vector of the center of gravity of the population groups that have deferent intensity of changes in geography of settlement. The following groups were identified with this approach: -ethnoses with changing, over a long period of time, geography of settlement (Russians, Jews, Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Germans); -ethnoses with rapidly changing, in the last decades, geography of settlement (Avars, Chechens, Armenians, and Azerbaijanis); -ethnoses with a relatively stable center of gravity of the population (Tatars, Kazakhs, and Bashkirs). (Fig. 4). Currently

CONCLUSIONS
Geographic information technologies present a great opportunity for the use of mathematical methods in the construction of cartographic models; GIS provides for the flexibility to quickly update data as new statistics appears. This approach to the monitoring of the ethnic dimensions of urbanization in Russia allowed grouping the ethnic groups by their participation in the urbanization processes, modeling of the centers of gravity of the population with the centrographic method, and, with the method of settlement distribution modeling, analyzing the settlement patterns of the peoples of Russia.
The prospects for further research include creation of a unified specialized geographic information system for monitoring of the ethnic processes in Russia. This system would provide analytical support to decisionmaking aimed at regulation and stabilization of the inter-ethnic, ethno-demographic, and migration processes in the Russian Federation.
Alexander A. Cherkasov is a faculty member of the North Caucasus Federal University and Instructor in cartography and geoinformatics of the Institute of Natural Sciences. He is Head of the Student Scientific Innovation Center "TerraGIS", Head of the Cartography Department at center for strategic territorial planning SSU "CSTP-SSU". He has led and participated in a number of projects, including the preparation of territorial planning documents -the schemes of territorial planning, master planning, land use and development, investment certificates of the territories, etc. He is one of the organizers of the annual events at NCFU: International Day of GIS and International Migrants Day. He is a member of Russian and international conferences and competitions, for example, the ESRI Conference in Russia and the CIS and InterCarto-InterGIS "Sustainable Development of Territories: GIS Theory and Practical Experience". He has been involved in the study of ethnic processes in Russia and the application of GIS technology. His work has been incorporated in a series of thematic maps and atlases, including "Migration Atlas of Russia", and the atlas information system "The Resettlement of Peoples in Russia". He is the author of 20 scientific works, including patents, certificates, and computer programs. Vladimir S. Tikunov is Professor, Head of the Integrated Mapping Laboratory, Geography Faculty of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Director of the Center of the World Data System for Geography. He has led a number of Russian and international projects. His work has been used in many thematic maps and atlases: National Atlas of Russia (editor-inchief of Vol. 3), Environmental Atlas of Russia, Atlas of Socio-Economic Development of Russia, Atlas of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District -Yugra, etc. He is a recipient of the D.N. Anuchin Award for his work in mathematical cartographic modeling. He is also a recipient of the Award in Science and Technology of the Russian Federation Government for the development of environmental and natural-resources atlases of Russia. He was Vice-President and, currently, is Chairman of the commission of the International Cartographic Association and a member of the Commission on Geographic Information Science of the International Geographical Union. He has been a member of the editorial boards of 9 Russian and international journals. He lectured at a number of national and international universities. He has been organizing, beginning in 1994, the annual international conferences InterCarto-InterGIS "Sustainable Development of Territories: GIS Theory and Practical Experience" that take place both in Russia and abroad. He published over 500 scientific works, including 14 monographs, texbooks, and manuals in 28 countries of the world and in 14 languages.