Formerly
known as the Instituto Geologico y Minero de España (IGME), ITGE is
a public research organization within the Spanish Ministry of the
Environment with a total staff of 400. It was founded in 1849 with
the aims of carrying out research, technological development and technical
assistance in geology, mineral resources, groundwater, natural risks,
geoenvironment and related disciplines in Spain. It is the national
research and information centre on earth sciences and related technologies
and is the equivalent of Geological Surveys in other countries. Included
in its work is the geological mapping of Spain at various scales and
investigation of the relationship between geology and its resources.
Of relevance to DAMOCLES, ITGE studies geological risks, seeks to
understand the causes of catastrophic events associated with these
risks, and provides risk assessments for client organizations. Its
activities additionally encompass the analysis of natural and anthropic
risks, statistics of natural disasters, prevention of natural risks,
theory and forecasting of risks and climatic change
