Geological Surveys

A geological survey is the term used to describe a number of tests that are taken out by geologists on a specific area of ground. The survey here is designed to map out the geological formation and characteristics of the area in question.

Geological surveys have a variety of purposes. They can, for example, tell us what kind of structure or formation the land has and they can identify areas such as natural resources and so on. These kinds of geological surveys are also used to build up in depth geographical models and maps that give us a better understanding of the land that we live in.

A geologist that is carrying out a geological survey will use a variety of methods to complete his/her task. They will, for example, carry out what is often termed a 'walk over' survey where they will assess the land from a surface and visual perspective to see what they can find. They can also use a variety of other methods to assess what is going on underneath the ground such as sinking holes and utilising remote sensing technologies. Other technologies that can also be used here include satellite images and aerial photography.

The term geological survey can also be used to describe a national institution that is responsible for managing the geology of an area/country. The organisation that does this in the UK, for example, is called the British Geological Survey.