The international consulting Swiss company completed the first stage of research in 22 glacial valleys in Georgia.
Hydrometeorology
The head of the National Environmental Agency, Vasil Gedevanishvili, representatives of relevant services of the Agency and Georgian specialists met with expert Daniel Tobler of the international consulting Swiss company "GEOTEST AG". "GEOTEST AG" is one of the leading companies that has experience in assessing threats and issuing preventive recommendations in almost all countries of the world, including Europe, South and North America, Asia, and the South Caucasus.
This year, the National Environmental Agency signed an agreement with the mentioned company, "GEOTEST AG", within the framework of which a glacial (dangers arising from the glacier) assessment will be carried out in 22 glacial valleys across the country, and based on the remote sensing technology (the latest technology, which involves the analysis of satellite material), the threat caused by ground movement will be carried out. Identifying hotspots as well as areas containing specific risks and, subsequently, setting priorities according to the mentioned risk level in order to plan preventive measures in the risk zones.
At this stage, the company "GEOTEST AG" has completed the first stage of the studies stipulated in the agreement signed with the National Environmental Agency.
"The Swiss company, which, on the basis of the contract, carries out the assessment of the dangers on our glaciers, has completed the first stage of the works. The results were discussed with our specialists. In the near future, all the dangers that are observed on our glaciers today will be identified in more detail and depth. I would like to mention here that, along with full monitoring of the glaciers, it was very important for us to study the Shovi tragedy. We put a lot of effort into preparing a complete, scientifically based conclusion. That is why we involved Swiss experts in the process. On the basis of modern technologies introduced in the world, all processes were identified, calculated, and calculated, which is the basis of the agency's conclusion. The information that was spread in recent days, as if the disaster started 2 hours earlier in Shovi, is based only on assumptions, not on the results of studies, which can be considered an attempt to mislead the public," said Vasil Gedevanishvili, head of the National Environmental Agency.
According to the expert of the "GEOTEST AG" company, Daniel Tobler, in the next stage, all existing or possible landslide processes will be studied, as will the study and characterization of alluvial deposits and the identification of hot spots, which will be carried out in the next 2 months.
"Our main goal is to reduce the real risk that we have in the settlements, to know the critical areas, and then move on to monitoring these hotspots." We will determine this at the end. Shovi is the example we use because it was a real event. And based on the results, we can consider all simulation scenarios and work towards hot spot estimation," said Daniel Tobler.
The meeting was attended by Giorgi Gotsiridze, head of the company "GeoGraphic", who actively cooperates with Swiss experts within the scope of the research. As he noted, the study of glacial valleys, in which the world's leading company "GEOTEST AG" is involved, is an important and timely project.
As part of the expert's visit, a visual inspection and assessment of the glacial valleys from a helicopter is planned, and based on the information presented, together with the specialists of the National Environmental Agency and independent experts, the situation will be analyzed and future activities will be planned.
