THE APPLICATION OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE TO WARFARE: EXAMPLES FROM 1800 TO THE PRESENT

Geology has played a role in the outcome of battles and wars since ancient historical times. Long before geology became a formal science in the 1800’s, geologic principles, such as the importance of topography, water resources, maneuver routes and battlefield selection, have been a part of military thinking and planning. In the 1800’s, however, geologic science was proactively used in the planning and execution of warfare.

Key examples over time are illustrated using a combination of geologic maps, period topographic maps and photographs from personal battlefield visits.

These data illustrate the changing impact of new technologies on warfare and their application by engineers and geologists. For a start, topographic mapping was used during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, but more widely applied during the American Civil War and afterwards as U.S. Army expeditions mapped the Western frontier.

New technologies coincided with World War I and World War II and many nations employed civilian and uniformed geologists for air photo interpretations, studies of landing sites and river crossings. The Korean War and the Cold War created new challenges for geologists, with the need to monitor nuclear detonations, design deep shelters and understand arctic ice processes.

More recently in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has relied on detailed digital terrain analysis to assist “boots on the ground” commanders, along with development projects like potable water, roadway planning and the understanding of geologic risks, such as earthquakes.

In the future, geologists will continue to play a role in military planning using emerging technologies to assist with the understanding of strategic to tactical-level factors that are important to military leaders.