Urban and environmental issues in East and Southeast Asian coastal lowlands

Abstract

Rau, J.L., 1994. Urban and environmental issues in East and Southeast Asian coastal lowlands. In: E.F.Y. de Mulder (Editor). Engineering Geology of Quaternary deposits. Eng. Geol., 37: 25–29. Rapid progress has been made in the application of geologic principles for land use planning in large Asian cities and coastal areas. The rapid rate of growth of most Asian cities makes it imperative that geoscientists continue to develop thematic maps derived from basic geologic maps at appropriate scales for layman. More work needs to be done to make coastal zone managers more aware of the important contributions that geoscientists can make to the resolution of resource conflicts in the coastal zone. Thematic maps prepared by Geological Surveys for planners have proven useful in a number of countries in East and Southeast Asia. Effective programs for providing all types of geological information to planners have been developed in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A number of countries in South Asia also have produced large-scale geological and thematic maps for land-use planners. Especially good progress has been made in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. India has had an environmental geology programme for over 20 years and the Geological Survey of India has prepared thematic maps for planners in dozens of its larger cities. However, more should be done to show the usefulness of geologic data for planning decisions. Thematic maps prepared by geoscientists are not yet in widespread use in Asia. Geologic maps, for the most part, should be reinterpreted before they can be used by planners and decision makers. More research should be focused on what types of information planners need and how it should be transmitted to them by the Geological Survey. Planners and geologists continue to work in isolation in more than 50% of the Asian countries. Social and economic problems receive far more attention than single geologic events that can destroy a city in a few seconds and take the lives of tens of thousands of people. The author believes, and hopes, that by the year 2000 environmental and urban geology will be one of the highest priorities for Geological Surveys in the region.