What a Geologist May Do When the Geological Heritage Is in Danger?

Abstract

In Turkey, extensive and fast housing works put in danger large surfaces of geological outcrops. These activities provide housing to citizens, but the lack of sensibility to the geological heritage notion among construction-related institutions and the very high speed of the process result in the lost or degradation of geological exposures in a few months. In a hopeful case when a geologist comes to understand the situation and is able to work, we propose a simple method, based both on a classical approach such as lithological and structural observations in such places, and a new approach, that of taking high-resolution photographs, by hand cameras but also if possible by drones in order to enable tridimensional (3D) reconstructions of the site for geological discussions, after surface modifications. We present a case from Miocene andesitic rocks near the Yapracık town, a new district of Ankara having recently experienced extensive housing with approximately new 9000 houses and 40,000 residents. Since the Ankara city expands outside, areas nearby to housing locations may be candidates to new modifications for recreational areas or even new housing sites. In our method, we propose to save high-resolution pictures and associated 3D reconstructions with their geological interpretation together with classical field notes in a directory to be used in case where geological exposures may suffer modifications. With new technologies in data storage, geologists are able to save considerable data that may serve to transfer to future generations some characteristics of the geological heritage.