Event organised by ICE
A geological hazard or geohazard is an adverse geological condition capable of causing widespread damage or loss of property and life. In Northern Ireland a range of geohazards are known to cause disruption and damage to existing infrastructure. When planning new or upgrading current infrastructure, it is essential that the potential for geohazards, be they natural or anthropogenic, be explored. Once identified geohazards can be either eliminated or mitigated. Northern Ireland’s geological complexity determines the range and distribution of geohazards encountered. In addition to this geological complexity, climate change is bringing, for example, more adverse weather conditions and a rising sea level, which can only exacerbate geohazards. The first half of this event will feature Prof.
Mark Cooper (GSNI chief geologist of Northern Ireland) who will give an overview of the bedrock and superficial geology of Northern Ireland. He will then describe a range of landslips, their drivers, and impacts on infrastructure.
Mr Kieran Park (senior geohazards geologist) will then discuss the broader spectrum of geohazards that manifest in Northern Ireland. In addition to landslips, these can include subsidence due to natural and man-made voids (cave and mines), compressible ground (sleech and peat), and flooding and coastal change. He will then describe the range of GSNI datasets and products than can help to identify geohazards. Examples will include the recently published Belfast Engineering map, Peat Slide Risk Assessment, and Developing in Areas of Abandoned Mines guidance.
GSNI would like to take this opportunity to hear back from ICE/GSL members on the geohazard challenges they encounter, and what datasets or products they would like to see produced to aid identification, prediction and mitigation. To achieve this a short questionnaire will be shared at the end of the event.
Our aims are to improve knowledge and understanding of the Earth, to promote Earth science education and awareness, and to promote professional excellence and ethical standards in the work of Earth scientists, for the public good.
Geological Survey of Northern Ireland
chief geologist
Professor Mark Cooper PhD, CGeol joined the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) in 1996 on completion of his research doctorate at University of Liverpool. He is currently the GSNI chief geologist and has a broad understanding of Northern Ireland geology in its all-Ireland, UK and international contexts.
Mark is chartered through the geological Society of London and is a member of the Northern Ireland chapter committee. He also sits on the RIA committee for geography and geoscience.
He currently holds an Adjunct Professorship at TCD and is a part time lecturer with Belfast Metropolitan College.
His publications include around 55 peer-reviewed, high impact papers and book chapters, and 30 geological reports, maps and models covering a wide range of geological subject areas.
Active areas of research include structural geology, magmatism and geochemistry, mineralization, groundwater, geothermal and carbon capture and storage.
Geological Survey of Northern Ireland
senior geohazard geologist
Kieran Parker joined the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) in 2014 and now leads the Abandoned Mine Monitoring and GSNI Geohazard programmes.
As senior geohazard geologist his work primarily focuses on hazards associated with mining and land instability, and as a geohazard advisor to government he sits on the Northern Ireland Mines Oversight Committee, the Off-shore Renewable Energy Forum, and Earth Observation Steering Group.
He has, and continues, to work on a variety of multi-disciplinary geohazard projects both locally and internationally.
Kieran has developed guidance for planning developments in areas of abandoned mines and contributed to GSNI’s peat slide risk assessment advisory guidance for the Planning Authority.
Prior to 2014, he worked as an exploration geologist within the mineral sector and continues active research in mineral prospectivity.
Other active research areas include earth observation, geothermal energy, coastal change and marine.
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