Italian hydrogeological maps

Abstract

The paper gives an overview of conceptual aspects associated with regional-scale hydrogeological maps and their coverage of the Italian area. Often, the contents of the captions accompanying plates are different from one another, depending on the aim that their authors pursue. But too often, the styles of the map legends are subjective. The introduction of Geographic Information Systems has permitted to create map products and databases, which can be easily updated. However, the use of these techniques affects the graphic choices made in these products. The Authors of this paper hope that, after years of standstill, the debate over the conceptual aspects concerning the contents of hydrogeological map legends will be resumed, in the line with the tradition started by CARLO FELICE BONI. Maps which support groundwater management policies should report the results of quantitative studies on water withdrawals, releases of more or less clean waste waters and depletion of aquifers. But the symbolic elements used to describe these subjects should be harmonised in the maps to make them more readily understandable.