Many Uses For A Geologic Map

By Douglas Lee


Typical everyday maps are useful for understanding distances between cities and planning a trip. Beyond this, their use is limited. A geologic map, however, has many uses because the information presented is valuable to city planners, construction industries, governments, landowners, and more. The information provided shows rock formations above and below the surface, fissures, mineral sources and other information that is used in many industries.

Building a highway requires a geological survey in order to understand the land the road will be built upon. Without this information, the road would easily fall apart, crack, or buckle due to shifting rock or sandy areas that were not understood prior to construction. Major construction companies often hire or have a geologist on staff to read the maps and adjust the trajectory or type of materials needed for a long lasting road.

One of the features provided is the location of groundwater. Desert areas especially need this information in order to locate aquifers and dig wells to provide water to a small community or individual landowner. In cases where there is a lot of water, construction companies need to know where the water table rises to avoid building in unstable areas.

Finding a place for disposal is a benefit. The location of landfills and other disposal sites need to be far away from water aquifers and groundwater locations. This is to make sure the toxic waste does not infect the water that people would use on a daily basis.

Locating tectonic plates is part of the building and planning process. Not only can a state help plan for safe building, but they can also avoid situations altogether by refusing permits for drilling and blasting in a zone that would cause earthquakes. They can also see changes over time and predict possible earthquakes in the future.

Coal, copper, and other mining companies use the data to help determine where and what to mine. They can also find ways to mine in a safe and environmentally clean way by creating systems to avoid chemicals flowing to a local river or water supply by using the data to locate the aquifers and water sources for communities nearby.

Timber companies also benefited by being able to use the surveys generated for the maps to get a count of the trees in an area. From here, they can produce the lumber, paper, and other products we use daily. With the soil and ground information, they are also able to work with environmental concerns to regrow and replace the trees that have been used for everyone's benefit.

Local, state, and federal governments are able to use the information provided to work on plans for underground utility lines, sewage systems, and a number of other services that are buried for a city or larger area. By reading the information and planning appropriately they can avoid future disaster by building in the right place and the right ways to ensure safety is a priority.

Travel maps are very useful and have served people well for hundreds of years. The more in-depth information found in the surveys provides companies and cities with the best information to provide services and build projects that serve everyone every day. They can do this safely by using the data provided.




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