Geological and geo-thematic cartography and research

Brochure: Geological,seismic and soil survey

For approximately 25 years now the Geological, Seismic and Soil Survey has been studying the geological structure of the region of  Emilia-Romagna. Involving 50 young geologists, 7 universities and 2 institutes of Italy’s National Research Council, the study began with the geological survey of the hill and mountain areas at 1:10.000 and proceeded with the survey of the plain at 1:25.000. The Emilia-Romagna Apennines are documented in 360 maps, 160 of which are currently available in print. As part of the National Geological Cartography Project (CARG project) maps to scale 1:25.000 and 1:50.000 have been compiled.
Starting with this wealth of resources, the SGSS has developed numerous applied research projects (geo-thematic).

Geological cartography to scale 1: 50.000 along with the relative data base in scale 1:25.000 will soon be available for consultation on the Internet.

Geological maps

• scale 1:10.000 digital version available, covering entire hill and mountain area;
• scale 1:25.000 already available for 6 sheets of the Geological Map of Italy in scale 1:50.000 (216, 236, 237, 252, 254, 265) and currently being drawn up for sheets 215, 217, 218, 235, 256;
• scale 1:50.000 (CARG project) 12 printed maps available and 10 maps ready for print. The survey of hill and mountain areas has been completed, and to date 80% of the plain has also been surveyed).
• scale 1:250.000 geological map of the plain and two studies on the hill and mountain area available. The summary geological map of Emilia-Romagna is currently being compiled.

Geo-thematic maps

• scale 1:250.000: structural-geological map of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, the Master Plan on Geo-environmental Hazards and the seismotectonic map.
• to support monitoring and study of landslides, landslide inventory maps have been compiled (scale 1:10.000 and 1:25.000), as has an Inventory of Italian landslides (IFFI project) and a landslide hazard map for Civil Defence purposes (scale 1:25.000 and 1.250.000)
• seismic microzonation
• research projects for the identification of materials for extraction purposes

Cartography and pedological survey

In 1975 Emilia-Romagna regional authority launched a soil survey campaign covering the entire region with three levels of mapping: 1:250.000, 1:50.000 and 1:10.000. Maps are available both in printed and digital format and can be consulted on the Internet  (http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/cartpedo/index.htm (italian language site)). On the website http://www.gias.net (italian language site) visitors can access descriptions of the main soil types of the Emilia-Romagna plain, their agronomic behaviour and some considerations on their agricultural use.

As well as constantly updating soil maps, the SGSS remit extends to several other activities, including: the National Pedological Map (1:250.000); the integration, at European and national level, of soil mapping survey methods and definition criteria for the relative databases; the development of tools for analysis and forecast of soil erosion in hill and mountain areas; the definition of ground water resources and collaboration with other regions in activities coordinated by the European Soil Bureau (USB-JRC) aimed at harmonizing European pedological data. 

Soil maps

• scale 1:10.000 available for some research companies only (first approximation, 1994)
• scale 1:25.000 available for the plain and hill and mountain sample-areas (second approximation, 1998)
• scale 1:250.000 available for the entire region (printed with explanatory notes, 1994).

In addition,   a Map of Soil Use Capacity for agricultural-forestry purposes and for rural land management has been compiled.

Summary of maps

Geographic information systems 

Geological database

This contains all the data from the Sheets of the Geological Map in scale 1:50.000 (CARG project) organized as per a structure defined in agreement with the Italian Environmental Protection Agency and Technical Services (APAT). For sheets pertaining to the plain, a data base of subsoil maps is also available.
In addition, a database has been set up for the geological map in scale 1:10.000 of the hill and mountain areas within the region. Thematic databases have been established to support the maps of the plain. The geognostic database contains approximately 50,000 geognostic tests. The objective of the archaeological database is to make accurate datings available on a regional scale in order to facilitate the characterization of superficial stratigraphic units mapped on the geological map of the plain. Recently, two new databases have been created: a database of springs and a geological heritage database. Both databases collect and organize data from regional surveying and cataloguing of springs and geosites.

Soils database

This contains information on regional soils expressed according to the three available levels of mapping (1: 10.000, 1: 50.000, 1: 250.000). In addition to aerial data, the database contains over 22,000 test areas selected for the compilation of the soils map and characteristic soil information. The database is configured as a geographical information system, in that it creates a network for the numerous alphanumeric and geographic archives.

Coastal Geographic Information System

The Coastal Geographic Information System (SIC) collects coastal environment data which had previously been held disjointedly by various bodies and institutions, and which is now linked to the regional database. Data that has been collected and georeferenced includes basic cartographic data (historical and bathymetric maps), thematic maps, images (aerial photos, satellite images), sedimentological and altimetric data, etc.. The SIC will also contain information such as, for example, photo-planes acquired from all flights, organized in such a way that facilitates comparison with the Regional Technical Map (1:10.000). In SIC, all the information refers to a single geographic system, which makes it possible to analyze a vast amount of relevant data, draw comparisons between various themes and data collected at different moments in time, thus facilitating study, systematic monitoring activities and planning of defence strategies.

Water resources

• Reconstruction of the plain's underground water reservoirs.
• Definition of a conceptual model of the aquifer of the Emilia-Romagna plain.
• Revision of the underground water monitoring network (in association with ARPA)
• Detailed studies of the principal alluvial fans (Taro, Trebbia, Reno and Marecchia) with a view to defining the ground-water flow system.
• Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to agricultural sources of nitrate contamination. A map of the depth of coarse deposits with respect to the topographic surface has been drawn up and, for the first time ever, pedological data has been used to evaluate the contribution of the "soil-climate-crop" system to the recharge of deep underground aquifers.
• Map of the protected areas for aquifers (Emilia-Romanga water preservation plan, approved by regional council 22 December 2004).
• Identification of alternative water resources.
• Mapping of reservoir-rocks.
• Census of deviated springs in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines.

Seismic

One of the main responsibilities of the SGSS, and one that is indispensable for proper land planning and management, is the development of specific analyses and methodologies to support seismic risk reduction measures. The SGSS focuses on seismic hazards of the region, studying local effects and seismic microzonation; it evaluates the vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure, working closely with a technical-scientific committee.
Alongside these activities, the SGSS is also committed to a number of other projects, including:

• "Seismotectonic map of Emilia-Romagna region" (to scale 1:250.000)
• The implementation in Emilia-Romagna, in collaboration with the National Seismic Survey unit, of the National Accelerometric Network and that of the "Osservatorio Sismico delle Strutture", the seismic monitoring unit for structures.
• Development of the regional evaluation centre for technical activities during seismic emergencies.
• New seismic classification of Municipalities of Emilia-Romagna (Italian law n. 3274/2003; regional deliberation n. 1435/2003) of so-called "first application" and susceptible to future revisions
• Monitoring of seismic risk. Implementation of National Accelerometric Network (in agreement with the Department of Civil Defence-National Seismic Service-DPC-SSN). Since 2000, seismic monitoring of 7 school buildings and one bridge in various municipalities of Romagna (Project of Seismic Monitoring Unit for Structures). Together with the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology, the SGSS is carrying out the integration of the National Seismic Network in Emilia-Romagna.

Hydrogeological risk 

• Landslide inventory map 1:10000 (published 2003)
• IFFI project (Inventory of Italian landslides)
• Updating of maps and state of activity of landslides throughout the provinces of Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena for the transitional Plan for the Hydrogeological Balance of the River Po. In partnership with the provincial authorities, municipal authorities and central and peripheral technical services of the Region. The revision of remaining cartography is currently in progress.
• Cataloguing of historical landslides in partnership with the Italian National Research Council - Institute of Research for Hydrogeological Protection in the Po Basin (CNR-IRPI) of Turin.

Coast

In order to create a support tool for integrated management of coastal defence systems, the SGSS has collected all data pertaining to the coastal area in a Geographic Information System, connected to a database that will be constantly updated and made available on-line to all interested technical surveys.
In collaboration with both public bodies and research institutes, the SGSS has also launched numerous projects, including:

• an analysis of historical evolution of morphologies and the use of coastal land;
• a study of the impact of climatic changes;
• an experimental morphodynamic map;
• a georeferenced catalogue of coastal defence systems and an experimental classification of coastal areas under threat from natural hazards.
• remote sensing of the coastal area using the "Lidar" system aimed at the creation of a high resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM), in conjunction with the Cartographic Institute of Catalonia.

Education

The SGSS is committed to an information campaign, for both public administration technicians and professionals, on the use of geological and soil maps, thematic maps derived from these and their applications. The SGSS organizes numerous conferences and seminars which provide the public administration and research bodies with a forum for comparison and discussion on Earth Science related matters, both at national and international level. Among these, the "European Congress on Geoscientific Cartography and Information Systems ", organized in partnership with the Geological Surveys of Bavaria and Catatonia, has now reached its fifth edition and become an established international meeting. The SGSS strives to educate the public at large through its website http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/geologia and several other media, including:

• maps of geological-environmental itineraries
• documentary videocassettes on the soil and landslides
• the creation of special trails aimed at educating the public on the most interesting geological aspects of Emilia-Romagna
• an educational CD called "Planet Earth"
• publication of a series of books entitled "Water and Earth (Acqua e Terra)", on the main geo-environmental themes
• publication of a series of information leaflets on the work of the SGSS.
• Project to survey and catalogue the geological heritage of the region in order to identify significant geosites which deserve to be safeguarded and valorized.

 Documents