Environmental Geology Section
Introduction
This section is composed of researchers whose work focuses on the field of Geology applied to environmental problems. Although the topics covered by Environmental Geology are numerous, following the framework proposed in a reference work such as "Geology and Environment" published by the Ministry of Public Works, all of them can be grouped into three main lines:
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Resource management
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Active geological processes-risks
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Evolutionary trends of natural systems.
Location
This section is composed of researchers whose work focuses on the field of Geology applied to environmental problems. Although the topics covered by Environmental Geology are numerous, following the framework proposed in a reference work such as "Geology and Environment" published by the Ministry of Public Works, all of them can be grouped into three main lines:
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Resource management
-
Active geological processes-risks
-
Evolutionary trends of natural systems.
Objectives
Regarding resources, the research to be developed focuses on three main fields:
Territorial assessment
These are mainly geomorphological topics and focus on the development of territorial analysis, environmental thematic cartography and physical environment studies. The final objective is environmental impact assessment studies, strategic environmental assessment, land-use planning and integrated landscape restoration. In this regard, collaboration is maintained with the Mining Section in matters related to the restoration of areas degraded by extractive activity.
Water and soil resource management
The objective is to carry out integrated studies involving both surface and groundwater, as well as soils. The aim is to develop models of hydrological dynamics and their influence on soil development and conservation. These models ultimately aim to obtain indicators of quality, capacity, availability, etc., of water and soils and, in turn, allow the development of guidelines aimed at achieving the sustainable use of these resources.
Reuse and recycling of waste
Mining and industrial activities generate a large amount of waste whose storage and treatment pose significant problems and high economic costs. The reuse and recycling of these materials is proposed as a viable alternative, allowing waste to be transformed into a resource.
Regarding active geological processes and risks, the work in this Section consists of theoretical and instrumental research (monitoring) and mapping of geological processes to determine their degree of activity and the anthropogenic influence on them. The final objective is to develop spatial and temporal causality models. Based on these, susceptibility or propensity maps for the occurrence of these processes and hazard maps useful for territorial management and risk analysis and assessment are produced.
Finally, with regard to evolutionary trends of natural systems, given that this is a very broad and rather theoretical field, this Section focuses specifically on a highly relevant topic such as global changes. Further narrowing the topic, work is carried out on the development of evolutionary sequences of certain exogenous processes (glacial-periglacial, slope and fluvial) in order to develop indicators for interpreting climate changes and the dynamic variability of geological processes affected by human activity.
Work Team
There are two research groups that have developed differentiated lines of work:
Geomorphology and Environmental Geology Group (GYGA)
Go to the Geomorphology and Environmental Geology project webpage
Research Lines
In the field of basic research, the topics focus on:
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Relief analysis. Configuration, genesis and evolution of landforms.
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Geomorphological processes: fluvial, glacial, periglacial, coastal, arid, slope and karstic.
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Edaphological and morphotectonic processes.
In the field of applied research, the priority lines are those of Geology and Geomorphology applied to the Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage and to Environmental or Territorial Management, that is:
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Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment
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Land-use planning
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Analysis and Assessment of Natural Risks
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Landscape restoration
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Environmental cartography
Equipment:
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Field equipment for hydrogeological surveying. Sensors and measurement equipment for hydrogeological studies.
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Optical, image and sound equipment. Includes telescopes, video cameras and recorders, digital and analog cameras, an ultraviolet spectrophotometer and computer equipment for image and sound processing.
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Geographic Information System (GIS) equipment. Includes A4 and A3 scanners, large-format digitizing tablet in various sizes (A1, A2 and A3) and several GPS positioning devices.
Laboratory:
Geographic Information System (GIS).
Technological Offer:
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Conservation of natural and cultural heritage and environmental or territorial management: planning and environmental impact assessment.
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Land-use planning.
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Analysis and assessment of natural risks.
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Landscape restoration.