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Geo ASty is an evolving research project on urban geochemistry by members of the Laboratory of Economic Geology and Geochemistry, Faculty of Geology & Geoenviornment, University of Athens Greece.
Understanding urban soil geochemistry is a challenging task because of the complicated layering of the urban landscape and the profound impact of large cities on the chemical dispersion of potentially harmful elements (PHE). To begin with, a systematic geochemical soil survey was performed across Greater Athens and Piraeus, Greece.
The initial objectives of the project were:
(a) to produce geochemical maps of the investigated elements within the Greater Athens and Piraeus area,
(b) to discriminate the natural from anthropogenic origin of the chemical elements,
(c) to evaluate the concentrations of PHEs in relation to specific urbanization indicators
This study provided geochemical baseline data for the soil chemical environment of Athens for the first time, directed attention to areas that require a more detailed environmental characterization and formed a reliable scientific data basis for monitoring environmental conditions and human pressures on the urban scale of Athens city.
The Geo ASty website aims to communicate the results of our on going research to all interested parties and the wider public and provide an opportunity for interaction between scientists, local authorities and people interested in the environment of the Greek capital city.