Abstract Geological survey was first set up in Malaysia in 1903 mainly to facilitate tin mining activities that were started in the 1820s. Nevertheless, upon merging with the Department of Mines to form the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG), and also in order to meet the changing national needs, the new department has become increasingly relevant to a wide range of important national issues that help improve the well-being of society and contribute to the socio-economic development, an aspect that this paper describes. The changing role of the department is well reflected by the department being listed as a member of more than 57 technical committees in the country in the field of land-use planning, groundwater-resources management and mitigation of hazards. As we advance into the future, the department needs to ensure it is capable of rendering a more holistic service covering a wider spectrum of geological and geoscience activities to cater for the ever-increasing demands from society, industries, stakeholders and the government. For that reason, the Geological Survey Act, 1974 is being revised to beef up and provide the necessary jurisdiction in line with the duties, responsibilities and roles played by the JMG.

Abstract The China Geological Survey (CGS) is affiliated to the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, and is responsible for the unified deployment, organization and implementation of basic, public and strategic geological surveying and mineral exploration, providing basic geological data and information for economic and social development, and responding to public demands. Over the past 20 years, the CGS has been focusing on the national key development strategies and undertaking geological surveys to support the nation's resources and energy security, regional economic development, disaster prevention and mitigation, poverty alleviation, and other related undertakings. Specifically, the CGS has been playing a role in the following areas: assessment of mineral resources, energy resources, urban geology and geo-environment, as well as offering update and application of geodata for public and several other services.

Abstract The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and SE Asia (CCOP) is an intergovernmental geoscience organization based in Bangkok, Thailand. CCOP currently comprises 15 member countries in East and SE Asia; it has provided venues for various geoscientific programmes and activities in the region for over 50 years. At its inception, CCOP conducted work in geological surveys, exploration and technological cooperation in the extraction of off-shore petroleum and mineral resources in the region. In response to the needs of member countries, CCOP projects have become increasingly diverse over time, especially in the areas of groundwater resources, geohazards, global climate change and urban geology. Facing the imminent fourth industrial revolution, CCOP compiles, manages and utilizes large amounts of data collected and accumulated by its member countries, and increasingly focusses on data sharing, education and capacity building. With the vision of becoming a premier intergovernmental Earth science organization in East and SE Asia, CCOP's mission is the application of Earth science to make significant contributions to the economic development and sustainable environmental management of its member countries, enhancing their quality of life. To fulfil this mission, CCOP has developed four strategic foci: (1) outreach; (2) cooperation and partnership; (3) knowledge enhancement and sharing; and (4) data and information. Organization and management of CCOP are governed by a steering committee formed of permanent representatives from the 15 member countries and guided by recommendations from an advisory group comprising representatives from cooperating countries and organizations. The steering committee considers and endorses projects and activities planned and proposed by the technical secretariat, which oversees the management of the organization, implementing all approved plans for the benefit of all member countries as well as cooperating countries and organizations. CCOP has played important roles in providing venues for activities and collaboration on various Earth science topics, including energy and mineral resources, groundwater, geohazards, global climate change, urban geology, geoscience big data, education and outreach. CCOP also publishes regular and special publications describing its activities. In the future, CCOP will encourage non-members in the region to join as official member countries, and will further strengthen its network by conducting joint Earth science research projects with cooperating countries and organizations. CCOP will also pursue sustainability in research by establishing a system to continually nurture new Earth scientists. Furthermore, CCOP will build a cooperative network with geoscience communities in other regions to promote a sustainable Earth.

Abstract This guidebook chapter outlines a walking tour that provides an introduction to the geological, archaeological, and historical setting of Pittsburgh, with an emphasis on the use of local and imported geologic materials and resources in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The focus is on downtown Pittsburgh, the low-lying triangle of land where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers join to form the Ohio River, and Coal Hill (Mount Washington), the escarpment along the Monongahela River to its south. Topics include the importance of—and concomitant effect of—historic coal use; use of local and imported geologic materials, including dimension stone used for buildings and gravestones, and chert used for gunflints and millstones; the frontier forts built at the site; and the ubiquitous landslides along Coal Hill.

Abstract We have investigated two buildings covered with Zsolnay glazed architectural ceramics in Budapest (Hungary), one located in the densely built-up area of the city centre with a high traffic rate and one in a city quarter with moderate traffic and more open space. A black crust layer, containing a large amount of artificial particulate matter with different size and chemical composition, was observed on the ceramic material of both buildings, whereas weathered glaze was detected only on the ceramics of the building situated in the city centre. In this paper, our goal is to reveal the role of the particulate matter in the degradation of architectural ceramics. For this reason the attic dust and settled dust from the roofs of the studied buildings were collected. In the attic dust, besides the natural particles of geological origin, three types of artificial particles typically with spherical shape (spherules) were also distinguished: aluminosilicate (two subtypes), carbonaceous, and iron-rich fly-ash. The appearance of gypsum crystallites around the particulate matter in association with all spherule types suggests that the particulate matter greatly contributes to the degradation process.