HYDROGEOLOGICAL AND ENGINEEERING GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Hydrogeological Research

Hydrogeological researches represent one of the backbones of the Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology and most of the researchers participate in them. Researches are related to the fundamental project of Croatian Geological Survey - The Basic Hydrogeological Map, and to the numerous projects (scientific, commercial and international). The major goal is a planning of every project (regardless of the source of funding) in the way of producing data useful for Basic Hydrogeological Map and scientific publications and/or doctoral dissertations.

Hydrogeology as science studying groundwater (their origin, occurrence, dynamic and usage) is a part of Croatian geological Survey almost from its founding. Over the time, group organization and her number has changed. New methods has been constantly implemented and today we can say that hydrogeological researches are on high scientific and professional level.

Since the Republic of Croatia is divided into two completely hydrologically different parts - karst Dinarides and the Pannonian part, most of the researchers has specialized in work in one of them. Depending on the types of projects, we have different research perimeters - from regional studies to very detailed researches in large scales. Recently, more attention is given to systematic and long term researches, groundwaters samplings and monitoring. Hydrochemical laboratory is fully integrated into hydrogeologists everyday work and is used in almost all projects. Specialized professions such as geophysical research, Digital Photogrammetry in Rock Engineering, Remote sensing with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and speleological research (important in karst hydrogeology) are more integrating.

Among the various research processes, hydrogeologists often work on: sanitary protection zones studies, hydrogeological microzoning, parts of environmental impact studies, bases for construction projects with very high experience of work on drainage of linear infrastructure facilities and hydrogeological researches on hydroelectric power plants designing, groundwater flows tracing, exploration of deep and shallow hydrothermal resources, searching for new and studying of existing reserves of water for drink, irrigation and other purposes, researches of quality and hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of water, pollutants in groundwater, groundwater geohazards, landslides and other instabilities researches, production of GIS projects and various cartographic bases.

Flow measurements on Gacka springs

Flow measurement

Artesian well sampling near Slavonski Brod