CURRENT GEOLOGICAL MAPPING

Geological maps are a fundamental element in subsurface studies

Despite the advance of new technologies, fieldwork is and will remain a fundamental tool to learn about the geology of a location. For over two centuries, geological mapping has remained a fundamental discipline, the mainstay of most subsurface studies (applied for resource prospecting, land use or infrastructure planning and environmental studies).

Geological maps are developed from data interpretation

Geological maps have been designed right from the beginning as documents interpreted through database analysis. New technologies facilitate the work with much higher volumes of information. This support allows the manipulation of significant amounts of data, analysing it quickly and generating maps and semi-automatically developed products. For this reason, for the last 20 years and especially the last decade, some professionals have incorporated these tools into their workflow.

There are few standardised methodologies and tools

Despite the tools available and the experience gained in the field of earth sciences, there are few standards, making knowledge transfer and information use difficult. Fieldwork is one example of this lack of standardised methodologies and tools.

Geological criteria are very important in the development of geological models consistent with basic data

Regarding modelling, it is a fact that new tools facilitate representation. Still, the usability of a model depends on the quality of the content. Immediacy often leads to shelving geological criteria, which tends to lead to a lack of rigour. A case in point is the recent implementation of 3D representation systems that offer enormous potential for geological analysis: in many cases, especially if there are no fundamental geological criteria, models are generated that are not consistent with the input data.

At escOrsa, we believe that knowledge must be combined with global expertise

At escOrsa, we believe that specialisation should be complemented with teamwork skills and a general knowledge of other disciplines, eschewing the traditional approach in geology of isolated pieces of knowledge that are impermeable to other disciplines. Our challenge is to continue developing teams that include professionals with fieldwork and geological synthesis experience who are also skilled in the use of information systems.