ANNUAL REPORT 2002
|
|
Databanks, information technology and information to the general public |
|
Top marks to www.geus.dk
Throughout 2001 and 2002, GEUS' website has been reorganised to be more relevant and user-friendly. The volume of popular-science material has been increased and gathered together under the menu item "Geologi for alle" (Geology for everyone). A user survey has subsequently been carried out to gather ideas for the continued development of the website. In 2002, the user survey was followed up. The changes include the establishment of a flexible news facility, with facilities for the rapid and targeted communication of news, a mailing list users can subscribe to, and improved navigation. The number of external visits to the website has risen from 108,000 in 2000, to 267,000 in 2002. In 2002, the website scored top marks in the "Best on the Net" evaluation, organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, in cooperation with the National IT and Telecom Agency. |
|
Geophysical data are pouring in
The national geophysical database, GERDA, operated by GEUS, has come into full operation.The database has been under development over the last few years, and during 2002 data have poured in from the geophysical consulting companies. The data come primarily from the counties' groundwater mapping activities and from GEUS' investigations of drill holes. The database can store geoelectric and electromagnetic data and drillhole logs. Both data measurements and geophysical interpretations of the electrical resistances are stored. At present there are approx. 29,000 interpretations in the database. It is particularly the so-called TEM data and logs which have now been loaded into the database, but older Wenner and Schlumberger geoelectric data also exist.The database can also handle the more recent methods such as PACES and MEP. Data are available on the Internet at gerda.geus.dk. With just two or three clicks of the mouse, one can search data on a map, have them displayed graphically, and download them. GEUS is currently in the final stages of uploading geophysical logs from over 400 water-drilling operations carried out over the last ten years. Thus log data in standard LAS format and PDF files of log plots will soon be available. The GERDA database hasbeen developed in close cooperation with the University of Aarhus, Århus County, the Danish Forest and Nature Agency, and the consulting companies. |
|
IT relocation without problems
Preparations for the relocation of GEUS' IT facilities started back in 1997, before the reconstruction of GEUS' new premises at Øster Voldgade had commenced. GEUS was involved in determining the specifications and design of the network at the new premises, so that these fully met the requirements of the institution. IT staff from GEUS carefully monitored work on the network during the construction. This initiative bore fruit, in that it contributed to 22 km of cable being replaced in time because it did not meet specifications. Thorough preparations and plans for the actual relocation of the IT equipment were also necessary during the four-month moving period. Employees needed access to the IT system every day, whether they were sitting in the old or new premises, and regardless of whether the servers, etc. were at one location or the other. GEUS therefore installed new switches etc. everywhere in the network at Øster Voldgade, so that there was a complete local network at both premises throughout the moving period, and the connection between the two addresses handled the traffic throughout the entire period, in part because all the servers were moved over a single weekend, once half of the employees had changed address. |
|
Geology weekend
Many Danes took the opportunity during the last weekend in September to enjoy a nature walk or visit institutions and museums as part of the "Days of Geology" event, coordinated by GEUS and the Danish Forest and Nature Agency. Throughout the country, people from county and municipal councils, forest districts and associations together with producers of raw material, researchers and many others with a knowledge of geology have organised over 60 trips. GEUS directly hosted two events.The doors were opened to the extensive store of drill cores in Rødovre, and to the new premises at Øster Voldgade. On two of the nature walks, residents were told about forest history and geology and were able to participate in a TV safari in the groundwater, in which GEUS' advanced equipment for investigating drillings was demonstrated in a drill hole. |
|
Geological stories for residents and schools
Several natural science articles have been communicated to residents and schools via four issues of the popular-science magazine, Geologi – Nyt fra GEUS. From Greenland came articles about the oldest stones and the oldest signs of life, clear evidence of lightning strikes in the bedrock, and the mechanisms behind a dramatic landslide in West Greenland. From Denmark, the mapping of the Baltic Sea and Denmark's earlier agriculture were described, along with the efforts to designate areas in the country which are sensitive to pesticide leaching. All issues can be read and downloaded from GEUS' web site and the article about the landslide has also been published in Greenlandic in cooperation with Greenland Home Rule. |
|
Environment Portal and Digital Administration
An agreement was made in 2002 with Danish Regions, that the Jupiter database at GEUS would become the groundwater database in the Counties' Environment Portal. Jupiter is the heart of GEUS' environmental information system and contains information about drillings, the quality of groundwater and drinking water, and data about groundwater levels and resources. In cooperation with the Danish Water Well Drillers Association, GEUS has also worked on the development of a new module for Jupiter for digital reporting of drilling data. The work is being done as a project in association with the introduction of Digital Administration in the Ministry of the Environment. |
