Fields of research
The safety of infrastructural investments depends largely on a correct recognition of the numerous natural and anthropogenic factors which influence the conditions of the foundation and exploitation of buildings. Presently we participate in deciding the location of future nuclear energy plants and nuclear waste storage sites, in designing underground storage sites for fluid and gas fuel and CO2 sequestration, and in the recognition of engineering geological conditions along the A1 motorway. At our disposal is an engineering geology laboratory and hydrogeological and geophysical equipment.
We define the properties of the building foundation
- We assess the geological engineering conditions for spatial planning and building foundation
- We examinethe physical and mechanical properties of soils;
- We evaluate groundwater conditions in an area;
- We determine the tension of subsoil
- In ground allocated for building purposes, we determine the content of heavy metals, radioactive elements, oil derivatives and many other substances which are toxic to life forms
We assess hazards related to geodynamic processes
- Landslides
- Ground settlement
- Coastal erosion
- Neotectonic movements
- Earthquakes
We study the hydrogeological conditions and hazards resulting from changes in depth of the water table
- We determine the features of water-bearing horizons and the properties of groundwater
- We outline areas at risk of local flooding
- We evaluate the technical conditions of flood embankments
We specify the geological-environmental conditions for the safe location of waste storage sites
- We outline areas for the occurrence of a natural insulation layer of impermebale sediments in the subsurface zone
- We examine the properties of soils for the location of landfill sites
- We assess the risk of pollutant penetration into soil, ground, groundwater and surface water
- We analyse the morphological, natural and legal constraints, as well as those resulting from the forms of land use and development plans
We check the feasibility of safe CO2sequestration in geological structures
- We analyse options of geological CO2 storage in brine water-bearing horizons, in hydrocarbon deposits (with possible assistance in their exploitation) and in unexploited deep coal seams (with possible methane recovery)
- We select the location of underground CO2 storage sites on the basis of geological criteria, the impact on the environment and safety considerations
- We draw up programs of the monitoring of underground CO2 storage sites
We design underground storage sites for fluid and gas fuel
- We assess the feasibility of geological being used for the strategic storage of fluid and gas reserves over a period of several months
- We design the distribution of storage sites in geological structures, their volume and exploitation risks
- We set up guidelines for the monitoring of storage sites
Selected publications
Papers indexed in ISI Journal Citation Reports
2014
GRANICZNY M., COLOMBO D., KOWALSKI Z., PRZYŁUCKA M., ZDANOWSKI A. - New results on ground deformation in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (southern Poland) obtained during the DORIS Project (EU-FP 7). Pure and Applied Geophysics, 2014, 1-14 (doi:10.1007/s00024-014-0908-6)
UŚCINOWICZ S., JEGLIŃSKI W., MIOTK-SZPIGANOWICZ G., NOWAK J., PĄCZEK U., PRZEZDZIECKI P., SZEFLER K., PORĘBA G. - Impact of sand extraction from the bottom of the southern Baltic Sea on the relief and sediments of the seabed. Oceanologia, 2014, 56, (4): 857-880.
2013
GRANICZNY MAREK, DEL VENTISETTE CHIARA, CIAMPALINI ANDREA, MANUNTA MICHELE, CALO FABIANA, PAGLIA LUCA, ARDIZZONE FRANCESCA, MONDINI ALESSANDRO CESARE, REICHENBACH PAOLA, MATEOS ROSA MARIA, BIANCHINI SILVIA, IMMACULADA GARCIA, FUSI BALAZS, DEAK ZSUZSA VILLŐ, RADI KAROLY, KOWALSKI ZBIGNIEW, PIĄTKOWSKA ANNA, PRZYŁUCKA MARIA, RETZO HUGO, STROZZI TAZIO, COLOMBO DAVIDE, MORA OSCAR, SANCHEZ C., HERRERA GERARDO, MORETTI SANDRO, CASAGLI NICOLA, GUZZETTI FAUSTO - Exploitation of large archives of satellite C-band SAR data to characterize ground deformations. Remote Sensing, 5 (8): 3896-3917.
2011
BORKOWSKI A., PERSKI Z., JÓŹKÓW G., WOJCIECHOWSKI T., WÓJCIK A. - Landslides mapping in Roznoś Lake vicinity, Poland, using Airborne Laser Scanning Data. Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, 8 (3): 325-333.
PERSKI Z., BORKOWSKI A., WOJCIECHOWSKI T., WÓJCIK A. - Application of persistent scatterers interferometry for landslide monitoring in the vicinity of Roznow Lake in Poland. Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, 8 (3): 319-323.
ZUBER A., RÓŻAŃSKI K., KANIA J., PURTSCHERT R. - On some methodological problems in the use of environmental tracers to estimate hydrologic parameters and to calibrate flow and transport models. Hydrogeology Journal, 19: 53-69.
2009
L. ZABUSKI, A. WÓJCIK, E. GIL, T. MROZEK, W. RACZKOWSKI - Landslide processes in a flysch massif – case study of the Kawiory landslide, Beskid Niski Mts. (Carpathians, Poland). Geological Quarterly, 53 (3): 317–332.