A proposal for compiling quantitative hydrogeological maps

Abstract

An innovative approach to hydrogeological mapping based on quantitative analysis is shown in this paper. It gives some cartographical solutions for an immediate evaluation of the groundwater resources and their spatial distribution. All relevant aquifers, springs and their regime, geological and structural setting and their hydraulic role should be shown in several understandable and clear hydrogeological maps where all hydrogeological information is reported in detail in the “Hydrogeological experimental Map” composed by a. “Hydrogeological Complexes and Natural Springs Map”, b. “Surface Hydrology Map”, c. “Conceptual Hydrogeological Model” and d. “Hydrogeological sections”. The cartographical solutions adopted for representing all these documents are proposed in this paper. Some graphical solutions have been proposed for improving the Italian official guidelines of hydrogeological mapping at scale 1:50.000, explain the legends symbols and illustrate the structure of a hydrogeological GIS database. An application of this approach has been carried out in north-western sector of Sibillini Mts. (Marche, Italy).