GeoInforM - Integrating Geological Information in
City Management to Prevent Environmental Risks

GeoInforM addresses the complex issue of protecting environment in the densely populated Baltic Sea region, to be more exact, in the fast-developing megapolis of St. Petersburg. Fast economic development inevitably increases anthropogenic pressure on the environment and may bring higher risks of environmental detriment and disasters. Subsoil/geosphere of St. Petersburg is one of the most critical and vulerable components of the city’s environment.

Therefore, the main objective of GeoInform is to contribute to the protection of the Baltic Sea environment by establishing the system for preventing risks and deterioration of the geosphere of St. Petersburg in the conditions of its dynamic development. Target group of the project includes the authorities responsible for the protection and sustainable management of subsoil resources, their users and general public concerned about the good quality of life in the large city.

In Russia the implementation of such projects on the regional level has become possible since recently, after new responsibilities were delegated from the federal to regional level. Nowadays St. Petersburg, like other regions (‘subjects’) of the Russian Fedration, has under its jurisdiction the function of subsoil management and protection. In order to perform it efficiently St. Petersburg needs:

1. to collect hydro-geological information dissipated between different institutes and organizations;
2. integrate it into the user-friendly and comprehensive system, which includes databases and modeling tools for decision-making in spatial planning;
3. educate decision-makers and other target groups on its application.

More specifically, GeoInforM will introduce the practice of using geological information in the spatial planning decisions. By this the decision-makers will be able to reduce environmenmtal risks resulting from geologically unjustified siting of industrial companies, sub-surface oil and gas storages, as well as pipes and other communication lines laid in deep strata.

Of special importance is the adoption of European experience in using the groundwater flow model (GWFM) in the decision-making. Groundwater aquifers are the most important and vulnerable source of water, which, if neglected and not properly protected, can become the source of pollution.

Another project output is the enhanced information availability both for different branches of city administration and NGOs, companies and general public.

The following project activities are foreseen in order to achieve these challenging objectives:

• Technical and administrative experience is exchanged between St. Petersburg and cities of the partner-countries. This is performed by sharing information during trainings, workshops, study visits and e-mail exchanges. Of greatest value for St. Petersburg is the information on geological control and licensing, geological information formatted for making decisions about urban environment planning and development, solutions on the geological information management.
• Demand on geo-information is estimated by interviewing. All available data are collected from different sources and integrated within the user-oriented databases and maps. Needs of different authorities are studied.
• Tools and methodologies for analyzing and using the geological information are developed. Geological data will become compatible with other information resources used in urban planning and environmental protection. For that outputs of another Life project, InfoCosM, are used (LIFE04 TCY/ROS/051). Its meta-information system (MIS) will incorporate geological data.
• The project will develop new technical and management tools to be used by different authorities of St. Petersburg for the risk management, geological control and licensing – i.e. will make the environmental protection and territory management of St. Petersburg more efficient.
• The new decision-making instruments will be available not only for a narrow circle of professionals. ‘Training of trainers’ principle is implemented in the project. St. Petersburg executives will learn how to use, manage and develop the information system. This knowledge will be shared and adapted for specific needs of end-users.
• Results of the project will be disseminated on a demonstration CD and Geological Atlas of St. Petersburg, also at the final international seminar.

The following results are produced in the course of project implementation:

1. Geological data are retrieved from different archives and digitalized. Available digital hydro(geological) maps are verified.
2. The available geological information is analyzed and systematized. 3. Decision-making database is established, which uses the geological information.
3. The structure of Regional Geological Information Base for St. Petersburg is developed.
4. Groundwater Flow Model (GWFM) for the region of St. Petersburg is integrated into the Regional Geological Information Base.
5. Map of geological risks for the region of St. Petersburg is integrated into the Regional Geological Information Base.
6. 7. The scheme for maintaining and updating the Regional Geological Information Base compatible with the regional licensing and geological control systems is installed.
7. Geological maps and databases are integrated into the decision support system using GIS and MIS developed within InfoCosM project. User’s tools for working with geological maps and databases are developed.
8. The Information system users are trained.
9. A better access to the geological information is provided for the general pubic, decision-makers and potential investors.
10. Decision-makers have new technical tools and information resources for efficient work.
11. Environmental protection and impact reduction measures are made more efficient.

Materials published on the site will inform its visitors on the GeoInforM implementation progress, its main events and achieved results.