The use and value of urban geology in Canada: A case study in the NationalCapital Region

In response to a request to increase its activities in environmental geolog y and to collaborate with the provinces, the Geological Survey of Canada (G SC) initiated a project in 1993 to provide geoscience information for urban and regional planning and development in eastern Ontario and western Quebe c. Prior to the launch of the project, representatives from various levels of government, private consultants, environmentalists. universities and the general public were invited to a forum to discuss the need for and usefuln ess of urban geological information. The participants confirmed the importa nce of urban geological information and supported a co-ordinating role for the GSC. Following this forum Natural Resources Canada's Audit and Evaluation Branch undertook an impact study that examined the usefulness and value of benefi ts of basic types of geoscience information in urban and regional planning and development. The evaluation study of the National Capital Region Projec t determined that geoscience documents are used extensively and provide an authoritative standard for work. They are particularly useful in preliminar y project planning, geotechnical engineering for major facilities, environm ental impact assessments, public safety planning, and as a multi-disciplina ry research tool and field guide. The estimated value of benefits includes a 5%-20% reduction in the cost of civil/ environmental engineering design a cid planning study work, and considerable monetary savings in derived or in direct benefits, amounting to annual savings of several million dollars. Re cent technological advances increase the possible range of applications, es pecially for those who have traditionally been users of geological maps.