Geological mapping is the process of collecting geological evidence and carrying out geological reconstruction spread across an area for certain needs. These needs can relate to natural resources, engineering and its application, to environmental analysis in an area.
Why is Geological Mapping important?
Every area we step on has a very complex rock structure and composition of each rock. These rocks are formed or deposited over a long time scale of up to millions of years. James Hutton (1830) put forward the statement Uniformitarianism, namely, “The present is the key to the past”. What we see in the present (landscapes, natural events and so on) is the key for us to know how things happened in the past.
Not every rock can be measured and described easily. To assist with this work, it is necessary to have the analysis and arguments of a Geologist to ensure that the geological elements are reconstructed correctly which will later be displayed in geological maps and reports.
Benefits of Geological Mapping
Here are at least five (5) benefits of Geological Mapping for your industry or business.
- Geological mapping is the basis for searching for natural resources
Natural resources that we know such as Coal, Gold, Tin, Nickel, Iron Ore, and Oil and Gas require special studies to determine the location and distribution of these natural resources. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your neighbor has nickel content under his house and the nickel content spreads to the bottom of your house. An in-depth study is needed to determine the distribution of these resources, which is generally known as the Exploration stage. Geologists can determine where these resources are located based on good exploration rules. Starting from geological mapping or reconciliation, continued with drilling for soil and rock, identifying subsurface layers with geophysical instruments and so on.
- Application of land or areas based on geological aspects
Peat soil will be different from sand soil. The sandy soil in areas on the islands of Java and Kalimantan is different for the spatial planning of a region. This will affect the quality of land in its use for residential, industrial, urban and so on. Apart from analyzing soil and rocks, Geologists can find out whether the groundwater capacity in the area supports the urban planning above it or whether the area is even a flood runoff area which will be detrimental to the development of the urban planning above it.
- Geology to anticipate disasters
Natural disasters are something that absolutely occur due to natural imbalances in the area. Volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, landslides, earthquakes and so on are natural forms of self-balancing due to forces acting from within. Geologists in disasters can generally predict natural events based on geological structure data, stratigraphy, petrography and other geological principles by taking samples and testing soil and rocks in an area.
- Environmental utilization based on geological aspects
Sometimes an area does not have economic minerals or oil and gas. Minimal natural resources do not mean there are no business processes in the area. By knowing the geological reconstruction of an area, it can become a waterfall, beach and so on, which is evidence of geological events that can be directed into becoming a tourist area. We can say that the Ciletuh Geopark (2018), Belitung Geopark (2020), Lake Toba Caldera (2020) and similar tourist attractions are the use of geological aspects in the tourism sector. We must protect the geological riches in nature with geological research and mapping first to validate that the formation of these natural landscapes is natural and not human engineering.
- Geology as the basis for infrastructure
The establishment of a long-lasting building cannot be separated from planning a solid foundation. In further geological mapping, we can carry out Geotechnical Investigation (Soil Investigation) as a basis for planning the foundation of a building that will stand. The planning of a two-story house is certainly different from a 15-story apartment. And it will also be different to determine the excavation and slope of toll road walls and dams. Without studies on geological and geotechnical aspects, it is difficult for engineers to know which actions and plans are appropriate in determining the foundation of a building in that area.
There are still many benefits of geology and geological mapping in supporting the business and industry that you are building. We have the best geologists to help you solve geological problems for both resources and applied geology. With more complete geological data, your confidence in the utilization of an area will be higher and this is a form of efficiency in your cost planning to minimize assumptions that become costs at a later date.
