Geological heritage database - Points geosites

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 extension, therefore effectively localizable with a point, or represent the centroid 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 cataloguing 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 a scientific point of view. In accordance with Article 3 of Regional Law 09/2006, geosites of regional importance have been selected, for which it is particularly important to define forms of enhancement and protection.The data collected and structured through GIS provide information on the geographical location, geological characteristics and existing protections, in relation to all areas, points and observation routes surveyed. The database also contains photographs, in-depth texts, possible possibilities of use, bibliographic indications and is continuously updated in relation to the evolution of knowledge, environmental dynamics and changes induced by human actions. The database of Geosites is the basic tool for the identification of places that have aspects of rarity and uniqueness, where there are important testimonies of the geological and geomorphological history of the regional territory.