Geological heritage database – Geosites points

Vector-type georeferenced database containing information on the location and characteristics of places of particular geological and geomorphological interest, whose value is mainly scientific, landscape and cultural. These places together form a corpus that can be defined as Geosites of the Emilia-Romagna Region, and represent the geological heritage of the territory. The points identify either geosites of limited territorial extent, therefore effectively localizable with a point, or represent the centriid of geosites with the most important area extension (cartographable at 1:5000 scale). The identification of these areas took place with the preliminary analysis of the geological cartography, the study of terrain and the filing of the geological object. The catalogue therefore collects data relating to outcrops, morphologies, caves and springs that during the surveys carried out by the Soil and Seismic Geology Area have returned particularly important and significant data from the scientific point of view. The geosites have been selected, in accordance with Article 3 of Regional Law No 09/2006, those of regional importance, for which it is particularly important to define forms of valorisation and protection. The data collected and structured through the GIS provide information on geographical location, geological characteristics, existing safeguards, for all areas, points and observation routes surveyed. The database also contains photographs, in-depth texts, possible possibilities of use, bibliographical indications and is continuously updated in relation to the evolution of knowledge, the environmental dynamics and the changes induced by anthropogenic actions. The database of Geosites is the basic tool for the identification of places that present aspects of rarity and uniqueness, where there are important evidence of the geological and geomorphological history of the regional territory.