Mission

The Czech Geological Survey (CGS), the history of which has started in 1919, has evolved during almost 90 years of it‘s existence into an internationally recognized research institute covering a wide range of geo-scientific topics and services both in the Czech Republic and overseas. The Czech Geological Survey collects and assessed information about the geology of the Czech state territory and provides it to state authorities for their politic, economic and environmental decision-making. The main fields of expertise include geological mapping and research,  study of mineral resources and their economic potential, mining impact assessment, geochemistry, environmental studies, applied geology, hydrogeology and natural hazards, geo-data management and GIS. 

Czech Geological Survey has been commisioned with the function of the state geological survey on the Czech territory by the Ministry of Environment according §17 of the CNC Law  No. 62/1988 Sb., about geological works. The CGS is the only institution the mission of which is the systematic research of the geological composition in the extent of the entire territory of the Czech Republic – oriented basic research, applied geological research and production of basic geological, thematic and special-purpose maps of the Czech territory. The geological mapping is a principal tool of this research being conducted applying methodology which covers all available modern methods of a wide scopes of geosciences.

The other CGS activities include:

• research, utilization and protection of natural mineral resources considering the preservation of an ecological balance of environment and human activity
• collecting, management, evaluation and dissemination of geological information
• expert support for decision-making in the state and public interest affairs
• provision of the special importance archive 
• function of archival, documentation, information and study center for administration of geological information about the Czech Republic territory
• acquisition, permanent storage, professional processing and access provisioning of results of geological works with the aim of its utilization by the professional public
• projecting, conducting and assessment of geological works for the purposes of the state including the submision of public contracts
• research and expert operation in the area of geohazards and environmental loads
• pursuit of probational laboratories, development of laboratory and analytical methods of organic and anorganic geochemistry, securing of the accreditation for chemical analytics of rock, soils and water samples
• management and permanent actualization of geological databases, administration of archive and geological library, development of modern methods of digital cartography and GIS technologies
• publishing activities focused namely on geological map production from the territory of the Czech Republic and maps derived from them, furthermore professional and popular science geological publications and methodological manuals from the applied geology domain in the framework of the state geological survey activity
• international cooperation with foreign institutions, participation in international programmes and projects and implementation of the Foreign Development Cooperation projects of the Czech Republic
• cooperation with universities and research institutes in scientific education of researchers, in promotion of natural sciences and environmental protection
• education and promotion of geosciences

The Czech Geological Survey provides comprehensive, impartial and up-to-date expertise on technical, economical, organisational and scientific issues. An essential part of all projects are capacity building and institutional strengthening activities. Modern information technologies and an effective data management system are routinely used within the CGS and IT specialists support all phases of the projects. The realised knowledge transfer has been contributing to sustainable utilisation of natural resources in partner countries, enhancement of their economic growth, effectiveness of public policies and quality of life.

 Within the Development Cooperation Programmes the CGS has carried out a number of projects in Africa (Burkina Faso, Namibia, Zambia), Asia (Afghanistan, Mongolia, Vietnam) and Latin America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru). In the mining sector, the completed projects focused on identification and assessment of mineral resources of selected areas including mineral exploration, assessment of prospecting results, technical and economical evaluation and mitigation of environmental impact.

The Czech Geological Survey is a state research institute supervised by the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic. CGS is a member of many international organization and associations as EuroGeoSurveys, ICOGS, FOREGS, GIC and CGMW.