The Full Picture

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GeoSciML and INSPIRE principles to make a significant contribu-

tion to the implementation of the directive – that is, developing

systems and protocols to better enable the discovery, viewing,

downloading and sharing of core European spatial geological data

and to demonstrate best practice examples of the delivery and appli-

cation of geological spatial data in the public and private sectors.

This initiative is a further practical contribution of the European

geological surveys to GEOSS.

Mitigating the impacts of geohazards

A wide range of natural hazards is related to local geological

conditions. Some are very spectacular, and widely known (e.g.

earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruption) but many are of a

less visible, insidious nature such as radon gas emanations or land

heave and subsidence. These nevertheless affect lives and economic

assets.

Thanks to the support of the European Space Agency, the IGOS-P

Geohazards Executive Bureau is managed by BRGM, the French

geological survey and a EuroGeoSurveys member. It intends to

respond to scientific and operational geospatial information needs

for the prediction and monitoring of geophysical hazards, namely

earthquakes, volcanoes and land instability. The Executive Bureau

coordinates the efforts of a wide international partnership, bring-

ing together well over 200 experts from a broad range of

organizations, from data suppliers to end users. Gathering a wide

community of practice, it plays an important role in supporting

GEOSS, contributing to the GEOSS clearinghouse through its

GeoHazData system and to a number of GEOSS tasks:

• DI-06-07 ‘Multi-hazard Zonation and Maps’

• DI-06-03 ‘Integration of InSAR Technology’

• DI-06-02 ‘Seismographic Networks Improvement and Coordination’.

Contributions to further GEOSS tasks are proposed.

Energy environmental impact monitoring

TNO, the Dutch member of EuroGeoSurveys, leads the task EN-07-

02, promoting the development of Earth observation systems for

the monitoring and prediction of environmental impact from

energy resource exploration, extraction, transportation and/or

exploitation. It brings to bear the wide experience of TNO and

some other European geological surveys in CO

capture and its

sequestration in depleted gas or oil reservoirs and other geological

formations.

The African-EU Georesources Observation System

Africa, the largest single component of the African Caribbean

Pacific (ACP) group of states, despite its huge potential for devel-

opment through both human and resources of geological origin

(georesources), suffers in many places from poverty and underde-

velopment. The sustainable use of its resources is a key issue, not

only for development of the African countries, but also for the

world’s future. The sustainable use of its georesources requires

knowledge based on data, information and expertise. Thus, the

availability, traceability, accessibility and processing using GIS tech-

nologies of heterogeneous data from multiple sources are essential,

as explained above. Such processing requires qualified and expe-

rienced personnel and the definition of strategies for capacity

building and training. In view of this situation, a recognized need

has emerged for a shared, distributed, Internet-linked georesources

observation system based on open standards and interoperability

developments, as a contribution to the sustainable

development of African countries. Twenty-two part-

ners, including nine from Africa, tabled an EU

Coordination Action Proposal, which is the prepara-

tory phase needed to develop the partnership and

design the African-European Georesources Observation

System (AEGOS). The system will be capable of

hosting and providing access to Africa’s georesources

spatial information, including groundwater, energy and

mineral resources. The project is expected to start near

the end of 2007.

The Geochemical Atlas of Europe

On a voluntary basis, without any external financial

support, the European geological surveys developed

the first ever continent-wide cartography of the distri-

bution of over 60 chemical elements in soils and

surface water, using common sampling and analytical

procedures across Europe. The result is the European

Geochemical Atlas. Although this is a small-scale

cartography, the atlas presents the first ever overview

of the pan-European distribution of such elements as

arsenic or selenium in soils and surface water. The

methodology and continent-wide data delivered by this

project are of relevance to GEOSS both in terms of

methodology for the production of continent-wide

thematic geological data and in terms of contribution

to the GEOSS ‘health’ societal benefit area.

The collective experience in research is documented in

the list of about 200 European Research projects, most

supported by the fifth and sixth EU Research Framework

programmes (covering the period 1998 – 2006).

EU, national, regional and local authorities in charge of:

• Civil protection

• Land-use planning

• Environmental protection

• Resources management

• Competitiveness and industrial policy

• Health

• Defence

• Police and security

Engineering companies

Real-estate and construction companies

Insurance companies

Investors

Industry, including oil, gas, mining etc.

Tourism sector

Heritage conservation

Consultants

Landowners

Farmers

Research & Academia

Data suppliers

Civil society, NGOs

General public

Media

End-users of geological spatial data,

information and knowledge

Source: Patrice Christmann

GEOSS C

OMPONENTS

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BSERVING

YSTEMS