South-Central Section - 54th Annual Meeting - 2020

Paper No. 8-5
Presentation Time: 8:30 AM-5:00 PM

THE IMPORTANCE OF GEOLOGY IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: FAR FROM RHETORIC CLOSER TO REALITY


MARTINEZ-SACRISTAN, Hernando, HMS Latin American Products & Services, The Geology Institute, 59 Independence Way, Jersey City, NJ 07305

An academic exercise conducted in 2019 in order to present an exam for the Green Infrastructure Certification, has shown that geology is very important in this activity. The academic review of the study program establishes the causal hypothesis, "The appropriate natural conditions of a site, allow artificial constructions, improving the cost-benefit ratio for a Green Infrastructure Project. The conference found features such as topographic mapping, geological mapping, hydrology (natural and artificial water cycles), recognition of river basins (river hydraulics, energy dissipation), recognition of hydrogeological basins (groundwater with all the fundamentals). In addition, type of rock, type of soil, erosion characteristics, sediments (size, gradation, mineral composition, hardness, shape, sphericity and roundness, among others). Although these characteristics are in low proportion, sometimes almost imperceptible, they are important in the creation of these green spaces that are so necessary, especially in smaller cities and urban centers, which focuses on a new geological discipline for the study of developments futures. The result of this academic / practical reflection is an invitation for entrepreneurial geologists, especially in third world countries where employment is scarce and scientific research is very little sponsored by governments, as is the case of Colombia in South America.

Key words> Green Infrastructure Certification, Geology, Hydrogeology, Sedimentology, Natural water cycle