Dr Martin Smith is the Science Director of BGS Global Geoscience, and will be giving the keynote lecture at our upcoming conference (tickets still available).
Urbanisation: Managing the Subsurface
Urbanisation and smart phones increasingly define our society and interaction with the environment around us. Both are expanding rapidly and represent major opportunities and future challenges for today’s geological survey. As we evolve from traditional geological map making, and utilise 21st century technologies in the observation, capture, management, delivery and visualisation of our geoscience, the challenge for the geologist is to make their data and understanding of the sub-surface, previously locked in a geological map, visible, accessible and interoperable. For developed nations with resources to mine their archives, capture paper records, embrace GIS and build web portals this can be achieved. But can we transfer our toolkits and know-how to the developing world? In this talk I will explain the new BGS approach to international work focused on the geology of cities, how we can manage and deliver subsurface geology and how web based applications are changing the way we interact with geological data. The subsurface need no longer be, out of sight- out of mind. I will use examples from both modern and historical cities and highlight that when we make our science and data accessible it underpins and sustains the urban environment by enabling informed use of scarce resources, improved planning decisions and mitigation of geohazards.
About Martin
Dr Martin Smith was appointed in 2013 to lead the newly formed BGS Global Geoscience programme. A graduate of Aberdeen University he holds a PhD in tectonics from Aberystwyth University. He previously led the UK Geology and Landscape programme with responsibility for onshore surveys, provision of advice to government, and the implementation of digital and 3D modelling systems. He previously served as Chief Geologist, Scotland and as Head of Station for the Edinburgh office. Between 2008 and 2012 he was responsible for BGS CCS related activities in Scotland and a founding member of the Centre for Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage.
As a survey geologist he has led research and training projects in basement and volcanic terrains in the Scottish Highlands and in Kenya, Egypt and Morocco and has research interests in faulting, basement reactivation, shear zones and rift tectonics. A Chartered Geologist, he is currently engaged in expert technical advice on major infrastructure projects.
