2009 Highlights
 

Mapping our seabed
INFOMAR, the nearshore programme of seabed mapping being undertaken jointly with the Marine Institute, had another successful survey season during 2009. Designed to create integrated knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological resources of our extensive seabed, INFOMAR worked to help delineate new candidate marine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in Ireland’s offshore and mapped within the Shannon Estuary SAC in collaboration with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The RV Celtic Voyager completed surveys in Dingle Bay and along the coastlines of Wexford and North Dublin in support of maritime safety and biological heritage objectives.

The RV Keary, a cost-efficient inshore survey vessel, was commissioned during 2009 and commenced surveying in Dublin Bay. It undertook collaborative surveys in the Irish Sea in conjunction with energy and biological heritage interests. INFOMAR became a partner in two EU-supported projects, GEOSEAS (FP7) and EMODNET (DG Mare), which will deliver new and efficient datasets.

2009 marked ten years of eventful seabed mapping and this milestone was recognised at the Seabed 10 conference in October which reviewed the progress and impact of this work to date.

Energy and Climate Change
While many GSI projects create datasets which support the development of green energy (including geothermal energy), there is an increased focus on assessing the potential for carbon-capture-and-storage (CCS) in geological formations beneath our seabed and coastal regions. Such permanent storage of carbon dioxide emissions from point sources (especially coal-fired power stations) is widely seen as an essential technology to facilitate our transition to a “green energy” economy while meeting our obligations on greenhouse gas emissions.

During 2009 GSI cooperated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a project designed to assess the carbon storage potential, based on a suitable saline aquifer, in the vicinity of Moneypoint Power Station, County Clare. The project concluded that subsurface geological formations here have inadequate permeability and porosity to support a storage site. GSI and Petroleum Affairs Division (PAD) were among the partners in a project proposal designed to assess the carbon storage potential in the Kinsale Gasfield. The proposal passed the first screening in the application for EU funding at the end of 2009. The importance of international cooperation involving CCS was recognised through a project based in the Irish Sea and jointly undertaken with PAD, the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI). The initial phase of work will construct a 3D model of the subsurface of this region as a basis for identifying potential target sites and it is scheduled for completion in 2011.

GSI supported the development of CCS-related policy and regulation through its participation in a European Commission process on implementing Directive 2009/31/EC (on the geological storage of carbon dioxide), an Inter-Departmental Committee on CCS and a European-wide CCS network supported by an FP7 Coordinated Action. GSI is organising a conference on CCS jointly with the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and GSNI which will be held in Dublin Castle in March 2010.

Mine Remediation
A major consultancy study was completed in 2008 on the management and remediation of the now-closed mining operations at Avoca. GSI prepared recommendations based on its conclusions for consideration and responsibility for this activity passed to the Exploration and Mining Division (EMD) of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

A study of historic mine sites was undertaken in cooperation with the EPA to assist in Ireland’s compliance with Directive 2006/21/EC (on the management of waste from extractive industries). The first volume dealing with water and land contamination, with all sites ranked on a priority basis, was completed during 2009 and the second, which considers the physical hazards and safety of these sites, will be completed in 2010.

Clean Water Supplies
The national mapping programme for groundwater protection continued on schedule during 2009 and supported by the National Development Plan (NDP). Field work for Phase 1 Counties (Dublin, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Sligo and Westmeath) was completed in 2008 and the resulting maps were produced in draft in 2009. Meanwhile field work was successfully finished for Phase 2 Counties (Carlow, Limerick, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford) during 2009. The resulting maps delineate the extent of groundwater resources in these counties and, crucially, highlight those areas where groundwater is vulnerable to contamination. In addition draft reports were produced for four source protection zones around significant public water supplies in County Louth.

GSI continued to support the EPA on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) through the provision of data and expertise. The emphasis during 2009 was on delineating source protection zones around WFD monitoring points, with GSI updating its Groundwater Recharge Map for Phase 1 Counties and evaluating recharge in complex karst areas. GSI contributed to two successful training courses in 2009, one on source protection zone delineation held in cooperation with EPA and the Institute of Geologists of Ireland. The second course, organised by FÁS and relating to on-site wastewater management, was attended by one hundred participants from local authorities, health boards and consultancies.

A baseline study of the status of the soils of Dublin city was started and involves considerable stakeholder consultation. This is the SURGE project, undertaken in conjunction with the Geological Survey of Norway and is part of a European-wide initiative. Its results will be available in 2011.

Assisting key infrastructure
Several GSI projects, mostly NDP-funded, currently assist infrastructure development by providing geoscience information on ground conditions that helps to minimise construction costs and reduces delays. The Dublin Geourban Project is creating a 3D model of the city’s subsurface which will be an important contribution for future transport projects. A range of software options were tested during 2009 and involved data from the Dublin Port and immediate city centre area.

Sourcing convenient and suitable aggregates is an essential requirement for infrastructure projects and is the basis for the ongoing Aggregates Potential Mapping. During 2009, mapping of granular (sand and gravel, as distinct from crushed bedrock) potential resources was completed for Counties Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Offaly and Sligo. Continued disruption in 2009 to road and rail services due to landslides drew attention to the negative economic impact of even relatively minor events. Landslide susceptibility mapping in the greater Dublin and Cork regions is intended to highlight areas at most risk and during 2009 the inventory and air photo interpretation components were completed in addition to a considerable portion of the field validation. As a result a substantial number of past landslides have been discovered and will be added to the national landslides database. A Landslides Workshop in April 2009 was attended by 90 delegates, reflecting the strong interest in this work.

GSI provides support for the planning process by responding to notifications on environmental impact statements and planning applications. Inputs on geological heritage and geotechnical conditions are consistently required. The number of notifications totalled 185 during 2009, about 50% of the level in 2008 (357 notifications) and reflecting the recent slowdown in construction.

Supporting the Smart Economy
A knowledge-based economy flourishes when databases and research both contribute to an effective technical infrastructure which has potential to stimulate new enterprises. GSI has substantial databases on the onshore and offshore of Ireland and it makes these available free of charge and in easily accessible format in order to maximise their use by the widest range of users. Our website statistics validate that this is happening. To facilitate a fuller appreciation of landscape by users, a 3D visualisation suite is now functioning in Beggars Bush and it has the potential for a wide spectrum of applications. GSI is a partner in the ISDE (Irish Spatial Data Exchange) metadata browser, launched in 2008, and which won the e-Government Award for the best 2009 cross-agency entry.

Our databases are important foundations for geoscience research in Ireland and Northern Ireland; for example, more than 50 postgraduate theses have been based on our data. The Griffith Geoscience Research Awards Scheme, designed to enhance national research capacity, is currently funding research in key areas such as CCS, groundwater and seabed resources, including how climate change will impact on them. Monitoring indicated that research progress was generally satisfactory during 2009. An independent mid-term review of one contract was undertaken, while another was successfully concluded.

GSI is a designated centre under the National Archives Act and during 2009 a consultant commenced the task of ensuring that satisfactory arrangements are in place for managing archives in GSI.

Disseminating our message
It is important that the community understands the value of our geological resources and the contribution that they make to economic development. This ensures nationally that significant investment is made in the geoscience sector, that there is an adequate intake of high-quality students on geoscience courses and there is widespread appreciation of the value of geological heritage. GSI undertakes outreach and educational activities in support of this objective.

GSI activities continued to generate public interest, with their level of print media coverage maintaining that of 2008. 40% of the coverage related to seabed activities, while heritage and outreach each accounted for close to 20%.

GSI experienced a 24% drop in the level of public queries answered in 2009 compared to 2008 and such a decline is in line with expectations according as website activity increases. However website activity also saw an apparent decline in 2009, of 43% relative to 2008, but this seems largely due to changes in the way activity is recorded.

GSI published three newsletters on its website during 2009 - one issue each of Geology Matters (the GSI Newsletter), the Groundwater Newsletter (targeted at water supply stakeholders) and Planet Earth (the final newsletter for International Year of Planet Earth, IYPE).

GSI, in cooperation with the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, National Museum of Ireland and PAD, hosted a popular geoscience stand at the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in January. A special prize to mark IYPE was awarded. GSI organised The Erratics Essay Competition (for Transition Year students), the Cunningham Awards (for best field mapping projects at undergraduate level) and the du Noyer Photo Competition.

In partnership with GSNI, GSI managed the Geoparks Ireland Forum as an important networking venue for those involved, or aspiring to become involved, in Geoparks. It also supported developments at individual Geoparks. GSI and GSNI are facilitating an ongoing evaluation of the potential to establish a segment of the International Appalachian Trail on the island of Ireland.

North-South geoscience cooperation
Significant achievements have resulted under the Framework for Scientific Cooperation (November 2007) between GSNI, BGS and GSI. Some key examples in 2009 were:

  • Energy/climate change: BGS, GSNI and GSI have commenced constructing a 3D model of the subsurface beneath the Irish Sea as a first phase in assessing its CCS prospects.

  • Infrastructure/Hazards: Following earlier collaboration on landslides, a successful 2009 seminar on recent landslides research was attended by 80 stakeholders.

  • Heritage/Outreach: The Geoparks Ireland Forum was established as a valuable networking event for Geoparks stakeholders. Posters on “Climate through time” and “Building Stones” were published. The former was widely distributed and it is planned that the latter will be also.

    • New Products
    Among its 2009 products, GSI published (jointly with others in many cases) Bedrock Sheet 28a, Monaghan (GIS version); guides to geological heritage of Sligo and Cooley-Gullion-Mourne; posters on building stones and climate change; and newsletters on IYPE, groundwater and GSI activities.

    Strategic Context
    “Geoscience - Towards a Smarter Economy”, published jointly by RIA, GSNI and GSI at the end of 2009, describes how the geoscience sector can contribute to economic recovery and describes a vision of the sector in 2020.

    The GSI strategic priorities were regularly reviewed in the context of limited resources and the need for increased efficiencies during 2009. GSI is committed to delivering its key priorities with maximum impact, while inevitably rationalising its output of lower priority services and products.

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