Science & Research

Applied geology

Hydrogeological research and mapping

The CGS Hydrogeology Group is a multidisciplinary group of hydrogeologists with a wide range of experience and skill in regional groundwater research in the Czech Republic. The main fields of expertise include:

• regional hydrogeological mapping, the compilation of different types of hydrogeological maps (e.g. basic hydrogeological and hydrochemical maps, groundwater dynamics maps, vulnerability maps), and complementary explanatory notes or hydrogeological studies
• groundwater resources assessment and mapping
• estimation of regional groundwater dynamics and borehole hydraulics, development of new methods for pumping tests
• assessment of urban, industrial, and agricultural groundwater pollution
• estimating the aquifer properties of regional hydraulic parameters
• assessment of water quality, mineral water analysis
• research of groundwater quality and hydrochemical processes, the implementation of EU groundwater protection policies and directives
• groundwater protection strategies (hydroecological mapping, different sorts of vulnerability maps)

Geological hazards

The problems of rock avalanches and landslides, triggered by different processes, comprise a major part of the activities of the CGS engineering geologists. Their research activities have resulted in the recommendation of mitigation measures after the catastrophic flooding in the CR as well as in the risk assessments of volcanic and seismic hazards in the Central America. Slope deformation projects started in 1997 when the flood triggered many landslide movements in Moravia.

The recent subproject „Documentation and mapping of slope deformation in the Czech Republic“  (ISPROFIN n. 215124–01) was established for years 2004–2007. This special research project is striving to summarize and evaluate as much information as possible on the physiographic settings and mechanisms of landslide phenomena in the model areas of Mladá Boleslav, Most, Teplice, Vsetín and Zlín districts. Thousands of landslides have been documented, special research, georadar profiles and boreholes have being conducted. Special maps of stability conditions provide the primary basis for producing simple graphical prediction maps of landslide susceptibility (landslide hazard).

The results of the program are used towards the elaboration of a project concerning mitigation measures, a Portal of geohazards is being prepared for the CR.

High level waste deposition

Since 1991 the CGS has participated on the "National High Level Waste Repository Development Project” financed by the Czech Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (RAWRA). Following a series of pilot studies, which included primary selection of twenty seven suggested geological localities, CGS's long-term research activities has begun on a granitic massif in the Melechov test locality. The recent stage of research encompasses a complex of detailed geological, geophysical and geochemical research, including boreholes and related tests. This complex of detailed research is undertaken with the aim of the definitive test-polygon location.

Geological storage of CO2

Czech Geological Survey by its participation in the international projects GeoCapacity and CO2NET-EAST has become a research pioneer in the field of geological storage of CO2, not only within the CR but also among research institutions in new EU member states of Central and Eastern Europe. The CGS’ part of work is mainly focused on assessment of the CO2 geological storage potential of the country and on case studies for selected suitable geological structures.  

Advanced Remedial Technologies and Processes

Technical University Liberec, Aquatest plc and Czech Geological Survey initiated the establishing of the Research Centre of "Advanced Remedial Technologies and Processes". Since the beginning of 2005, the establishment of the workplace has been started with a main focus of the study of natural processes with a connection to creation of engineering geological systems for a complex assessment and subsequent reduction of interference in environment by the industrial impact. Czech Geological Survey is responsible for the RS´s rock environment session.

Geophysical  database

Czech Geological Survey and Miligal, s.r.o., in coorperation with the CGS - Geofond, has started in September 2006 the works within the international project GEOMIND co-financed by the EC in the EU programme eContentplus. The main goal of the project is to provide a detailed view of geophysical databases, administered by different organization from participating countries, using different standards and languages, and to create an unified integrated gephysical informaton system on Internet which enable the subsequent involvment of other European data sources.