INSTITUTION PROFILE
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Mission and functions
GEUS' overall mission is to provide, to use, and to disseminate knowledge of geological materials, processes and relations that is important for the use and protection of geological resources in Denmark and Greenland . Part of this mission is to support administrative and legislative work in Danish Ministries and the Government of Greenland Authority, by providing state-of-the-art geoscientific knowledge of international standard.
GEUS' main tasks are geological mapping, data collection and storage, to carry out research projects, to give advice, and to disseminate geoscientific knowledge.
The activities are organised within five programme areas:
1. Data banks, information technology, and information to the general public
2. Water resources
3. Energy resources
4. Mineral resources and Greenland mapping
5. Nature and climate
GEUS co-operates with numerous scientific institutions and networks, and other organisations around the world, such as Danish and Greenland research institutions and agencies, EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), the Forum of European Geological Surveys (FOREGS), the European Environmental Agency (EEA), and the Far East CCOP (Co-ordinating Committee for Coastal and Offshore Geoscience Programmes in South-East-Asia).
GEUS participates actively in Danish and European Community research and aid programmes in Eastern Europe, and in a number of developing countries in Africa, South America, and Asia.
Organisation
GEUS is governed by an independent Board of Governors composed of representatives from major user groups. Besides co-operating governmental agencies, science and private enterprise is represented together with two representatives appointed by the staff.
GEUS is headed by a managing director and two deputy managing directors. The Survey is organised in a matrix structure with 9 scientific departments and three administrative and supporting units.
The official role and functions of GEUS are laid down in governmental orders, together with the law on research institutions.
GEUS is part of Geocenter Denmark - a mutual co-operation between the following three independent institutions:
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)
Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen
Geological Museum, University of Copenhagen
The aim of the Geocenter is to become a focus of geoscientific research, education, consulting and publishing at high international level. Geocenter Denmark numbers 500 employees and 1000 graduate and PhD-students.
Read more about Geocenter Denmark
Human resources
The staff numbers a total of about 350 full time specialists, technicians and administrative staff. Approximately 200 hold PhD or MSc degrees.
Key personnel groups are currently trained to meet high scientific, technical and administrative standards. This training is linked with a programme for personal development and career planning. Competence profiles for all staff levels and functions have been stipulated. Personal qualifications, performance, development and career plans are discussed at one or more annual interviews with the daily leader and integrated into the competence profile. Heads of departments have annual interviews with the managing director at which occasion staff opinions of the leaders performance are also discussed.
GEUS contributes information and training at candidate and PhD level to the educational sector with a view to future public and private sector needs for qualified specialists. A significant number of PhD and MSc students are trained at GEUS by senior research scientists and a few research professors.
Funding
The survey's annual turnover is approximately 225 million Danish kroner (2001), equivalent to approximately 30 million Euro. Governmental appropriations comprise to ca. 60-65 pct. while other public funding, mainly originating from Danish and international research programmes etc., and commercial consulting work account for the remaining ca. 35-40 pct.
Services
GEUS maintains extensive archives and databanks, and runs highly specialised laboratories to support field activities and integrated services. The laboratories carry out analyses of soil, rock, liquids and gases, together with analyses of the content of fossils and organic components. Technical assistance and integrated services within GEUS' fields of expertise are offered in Denmark and abroad. Based on the close co-operation with Danish Universities and research institutions a full range of laboratory services may be provided.
Archives
Archives provide data bank services including storage, retrieval and presentation of all kinds of geo-data, such as:
- Groundwater data from wells
- Drinking water data
- Test pumping data
- Seismic data and well data from hydrocarbon exploration wells and deep stratigraphic wells
- Cores and cuttings
- Petrophysical logs
- Chemical data on rock samples, liquids and gases
- Geological maps
- Geological, geophysical and geochemistry data from Greenland mineralisations
- Data from Greenland glaciers
Laboratories
GEUS runs highly specialised laboratories to support field activities. The laboratories carry out analyses of soil, rock, fluids and gases, together with analyses of the biological and fossil content of soils and fluids.
The laboratories provide:
- Petrophysical analysis of cores
- Coal petrography
- Stratigraphical analysis; palynological and micropalaeontological analysis
- Precision main element and trace element analysis of rocks
- Inorganic and organic geochemical analysis of sediments, soils, liquids, fluids and light gases
- Advanced clay mineralogy and tunnel microscopy
- Electron microscopy and advanced electron diffraction chemistry
- C-14 dating and CFC-dating of groundwater
- Microbiological analyses of soil and water
Integrated services
Multidisciplinary services offered in Denmark and abroad:
- Geological mapping, research and development
- Project management and supervision
- Technical and laboratory assistance
- Institutional building
- University level education and training
International experience
- Identification missions, pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies
- Project formulation missions
- Sector and sub-sector review missions
- Trouble-shooting, monitoring and evaluation missions
- Complete or partial projects
Security and quality assurance
Confidential data and reports arising from consultant services for the private sector, are held in accordance with Danish law. A high level security system ensures the integrity and confidentiality of all information held by the Survey.
An internal quality assurance system based on ISO 9000 principles is in force for key functions. Formalised quality control procedures are carried out in laboratories and in preparation of reports and publications.
Customers opinion about the services provided by GEUS are continuously measured and analysed by external consultants.
