PROGRAM AREA 1
|
|
DATA BANKS AND INFORMATION |
| Danish activities |
| Greenland activities |
| International activities |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAMME AREA
GEUS' data collections constitute a national memory of geological, geophysical and geochemical data. These collections represent a huge amount of data gathered over more than one hundred years. They represent an important national investment and they are, to a large extent, irreplaceable. The aim is to keep these data, files and samples in good order, and to further the use of this wealth of knowledge where appropriate. For this reason the use of information technology to facilitate the access to the data is a high priority issue, as is the dissemination of information on data availability.
GEUS is the national centre for geo-data related to water supply, energy, and environment. All kinds of on- and offshore geophysical, geochemistry, geology and technical data, and samples originating from activities related to hydrocarbons, minerals, groundwater, construction and land-use planning are held in the data banks and archives. Special tasks are the data centre functions supporting sectors of the national energy planning, the nation wide groundwater monitoring programme, and provision of national reference centres' services to the European Environmental Agency.
The databanks are consulted by many public agencies and private organisations in Denmark and abroad who need consolidated, quality checked, and instantly available data to establish the best possible and most reliable background for decision making in the field of geology. In this way existing knowledge supports planning of new activities and helps to reduce costs.
The scientific world and the general public are important user groups. Some users do not consult the databanks directly but prefer to benefit from GEUS' experience in finding, collating, and interpreting data.
GEUS' data base concept which aims to give easy access at a meta data level to all data bases held by GEUS is currently developed in the light of the continued development of information technology systems including Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This aim is pursued also at the European level as GEUS contributes to EuroGeoSurveys' GEIXS data base on geo-information that holds meta data from 24 European countries.
GEUS has provided extensive advice and service to the water supply and the energy sectors. Large databases have been constructed and are currently up-dated to new technical standards:
GERDA (shallow geophysics related to water supply and raw materials exploitation).
SAMBA (hydrocarbons).
GIMMEX (Geoscience Information Management for Mineral Exploration in Greenland).
JUPITER (drill data, groundwater chemistry, level and volume together with drinking water chemistry).
For external users PC-Jupiter had been developed - a modern Windows-based programme of drill data.
Digital maps of the quaternary deposits in Denmark, and geological maps of Greenland - also partly digital - have been published. The databank and information systems have attracted some international interest, and GEUS has supported countries in Europe, Asia and Africa in the establishment of such systems as part of institutional building projects funded by Danish aid programmes.
In the field of general communication much emphasis is put on a more efficient and better targeted dissemination of information to defined user groups. The dissemination of information to the general public on geological issues, and on GEUS' activities and results, is a high priority activity. Annually four issues of the popular magazine: Geologi - Nyt fra GEUS (Geology - News from GEUS - in Danish) is distributed free of charge to a large number of interested readers. Selected issues of the magazine are also available in English. Click Popular Science Magazine on the GEUS website. The magazine is used in natural history teaching at many schools. It is also well received by the media, private and public organisations as it offers background information and adds a new perspective to everyday problems such as environmental pollution, water and energy supply.
At GEUS home page (www.geus.dk) you will find current information on the five Programme areas and on GEUS' organisation and accounts. The home page is intended to play a major role in future dissemination of GEUS' information.
Annually about 20 pct. of the budget is allocated to data bank, information technology and information to the general public.
Read more about the programme area in:
- The Annual Reports:
