Principles for the assessment and mapping of integrated geological hazard in Bulgaria

The territory of Bulgaria is at risk of a number of unfavorable and destructive geological processes and phenomena constituting the geological hazard. The generally high hazard degree necessitates analyzing, evaluation and mapping of the geological hazard and risk processes. Evaluation and mapping of geological risk is the final stage of a long-lasting gathering of information for each destructive geological process. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the principles and order in assessing and mapping the overall geological hazard. Typical hazardous geological processes for the territory of our country are taken into account (active faults, abrasion/sea erosion, erosion, landslides, rockfalls, collapse, swelling, liquefaction of dispersed soils, etc.). A methodological approach is presented to combine all hazardous geological processes into an integrated hazard map. The study presents the results obtained during the implementation of the project “Elaboration of analysis, evaluation and mapping of geological risk” realized in 2016 by a large research team and supported by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works in Bulgaria.