The present state of the remote sensing applications to geological sciences in Greece

This paper describes the Greek University Departments and Government Institutes involved in the remote sensing application to geological sciences. Consequently, it reviews the geological-remote sensing investigations that have been carried out by the researchers of the above Departments/Institutes during the last 10 years The majority of the Greek geological remote sensing researches have taken place in two remote sensing units, installed in the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) at Athens and in the Geology and Physical Geography Department, at Aristotle University, Thessaloniki In the IGME, the research was orientated to map and study lineaments related to faults, geological structure and/or hydrogeology, mineralization, in various areas in Greece, by the use of visual image analysis of LANDSAT (MSS, TM) data and partly by the use of SIR-A data In the Department of Geology-Physical Geography, the research was firstly orientated to land systems mapping (land classification and land evaluation), delineation of drainage systems, in various Greek territories, by the use of visual image analysis of LANDSAT (MSS, RBV, TM) and SPOT (PA) stereopairs. Recently, the research has been orientated to geomorphological and tectonic (lineaments) mapping because the major structural and geomorphological elements are well displayed on certain digitally enhanced LANDSAT/TM and SPOT/XS, imageries, and partly on SIR-A imageries The above reconnaissance maps are of considerable interest because they provide the framework for future construction of the same scale (1:250000-1:125 000) various detailed thematic maps (especially in identified critical areas) by geologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, mineralogists, geophycists, seismologists and other geo-scientists.