Platform for Atlantic Geohazard Risk Management (AGEO)

The Mining Institute of Scotland (MIS) are pleased to announce their December meeting, a virtual presentation on 11 December will be delivered by Kieran Parker from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland.

Funded by the EU INTERREG programme, the AGEO research project incorporated 13 partners across five countries. The project launched 5 Citizens Observatories to demonstrate how citizens involvement in geohazard monitoring can assist risk prevention and strengthen regional and national risk management systems. The Observatories were designed according to regional priorities, they included Lisbon, Portugal (multi-hazard), Canary Islands, Spain (rockfall), Brittany, France (coastal erosion), Madeira, Portugal (landslides) and Causeway Coast, UK (landslides) with the aim to engage local communities to actively participate in geohazard monitoring and incorporate local capabilities into risk management systems. Experiences gained through the project have been used to formulate recommendations for the creation of future observatories in the response of the widest range of hazards, both natural and human-induced, within the Atlantic Area.

Kieran Parker joined the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) in 2014 and now leads the Abandoned Mine Monitoring Programme and GSNI Geohazard Programme. As Senior Geohazard Geologist his work primarily focuses on hazards associated with mining and land instability, and he acts as a geohazard advisor to the NI government. Prior to 2014, he worked as an exploration geologist within the mineral sector and continues active research in mineral prospectivity.