APPLIED THEMATIC GEOLOGICAL MAPPING IN CENTRAL WALES, UK

Following growing recognition that a lack of applied geoscience information severely limits the ability of planners and engineers to manage natural hazard and resource issues, in 2000, the devolved Welsh Assembly Government commissioned a set of applied thematic geological maps from the British Geological Survey covering areas undergoing current survey. For each area, a total of six thematic maps were produced through interpretation and interrogation of the geological mapping and associated data; each map designed to address specific planning and landuse issues. In essence, the lithostratigraphic units that are used to build a conventional geological model were re-classified and grouped according to appropriate physical properties and processes.

The simplified Superficial Materials and Bedrock Materials maps provide information on the gross characteristics of deposits and allow planners to easily assess their spatial distribution.

The Inferred Mineral Resources map shows the range of resources present within the map area, as well as the location of active and abandoned mineral workings. These aid effective mineral planning policies which require safeguarding areas of mineral resource do against developments that would hinder their future exploitation.

The Engineering Geology map provides information on ground conditions and contains an appraisal of the various superficial and bedrock units, including information on their engineering properties and behaviour in the context of excavations, foundations and their suitability as fill.

The Landslide Susceptibility map shows the potential susceptibility of an area to natural slope instability. This map allows the non-specialist user to quickly make a general assessment of the potential for slope instability over a wide area to inform appropriate development and design.

The Riverine Deposits map depicts the extent of fluvial deposits as a flood proxy map. Although this interpretation does not include consideration of hydrologically modelled flood prone areas, they are useful in indicating the location of previously flooded areas.

It is anticipated that these will inform the development of a series of pan-Wales, GIS-based geoscience products used to underpin an evolving and sustainable Welsh Assembly Government national planning policy.