GIS Services and Cartography

In various kinds of environmental studies, a proper Geographical Information System (GIS) is a very powerful tool for creating, manipulating, managing and presenting diverse data. The data is stored in secure and well organized databases with easy access for the Mannvit specialists. Organized data handling in databases is fundamental because enormous amounts of data are collected in the course of our work. GIS is a very good tool to keep things organized and to access data from these databases. Mannvit uses ArcGIS software from ESRI, which is one of the best GIS software systems on the market today.

Project Examples:
EIA/Landscape Analysis
Mannvit has been developing a method to assess impacts on landscapes. This method is similar to what has been done in the UK for over a decade by The Landscape Institude and The Institude of Environmental Management & Assessment (Swanwick & Land Use Consultants, 2002). Figure 1 shows the methodology in our work. When classifying into landscape characters, we focus on specific features which make up the landscape. These features include:

• Geology
• Vegetation
• Hydrology
• Landuse
• Landform

Fig. 1 Main factors in Mannvit EIA methodology

The features above are compared and overlaid in GIS and all the areas are classified into landscape characters. Within each character are some dominant features that define that piece of data specifically. Each character definition is effected by the landform (i.e. mountains, hills or ridges). When the classification process is complete, it is confirmed by conducting a field survey and modifications are made if needed.

Visual Impacts
Part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to try to forecast the visual impact on the environment. ArcGIS is very powerful tool to visualize changes and effects of future structures in the landscape. Here are our main Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) pertaining to a development project's Visual Impact.

• From where are the proposed buildings visible?
• Are they visible from certain location?
• How many structures are visible (such as transmission lines)?

With ArcGIS we can answer these questions with simple maps and “before and after” images.

Geothermal Exploration/Site Location
One part of Mannvit's services is Geothermal exploration and site location for geothermal wells. In this work ArcGIS turns out to be very powerful tool in various kinds of decision making. The ability to compare and overlay geological- and geophysical data from various datasets is a great asset for Mannvit's Geologists and Geophysicists.

When choosing well locations for possible geothermal fields, three parameters are most important:

• Suitable type of bedrock is needed and proved by existing well data
• Areas with fractured bedrock found by seismic interpretations
• Possible geothermal areas with high porosity and high permeability at a favourable depth found by AMT/MT and gravity measurements.

Positive areas based on these three parameters are outlined in GIS. Well sites are then located where positive areas from each parameter intersect. There we can expect to find the most suitable reservoirs for geothermal development.

When well sites are located, Mannvit uses ArcGIS extensions and 3D analysis to create a 3D model to illustrate the layered and fractured crust beneath the outlined well site. The main purpose of this modeling is to help with the well design and determining the exact location and route of the well, as well as the type of casings needed. When the layers of the crust are displayed in 3D, along with fractures, it is easier to see at what depth and at what angle the well penetrates each layer and fracture.