Urban Geoscience

de G. J. H. McCall, E. F. J. de Mulder, Brian Marker

This publication of this book is timely coinciding with the UN conference on urbanisation in Istanbul and the recognition of the increasing environmental problems of urbanisation. AGID working with Cogeoenvironment (a commission of the IUGS) has produced a structured and definitive volume calling on experts in their fields to prepare highly informed chapters. The book covers mineral resources, urban soils, the severe effects of urbanisation on groundwater systems, natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, landslides, subsidence, extraterrestrial impact and radon emanation etc.) man-made hazards (mining-related subsidence, industrial pollution and land contamination, waste disposal problems etc.), land-use planning in urban settings and the effects of urbanisation on the surrounding rural areas, foundation and other engineering problems, the integrity of building materials, and the problems of geoscience education in the urban context. The crux of the subject is proper land-use planning and early access to and use of geoscientific and geotechnical information. This is a book which should be available in all geoscience libraries and will provide a most important addition to the reading of geoscientists, specialists in other disciplines, environmentalists and university students.