Use and protection of karst caves

This course is part of the programme
Karstology (Third Cycle)

Objectives and competences

The goal of rationally planning the use and protection of karst caves depends on knowledge of karst caves and the karst in general. This course first summarizes and reinforces knowledge of cave characteristics, the types of caves, their morphological, hydrological, geological, and microclimate characteristic, their contents (alluvia, flowstone), their location in the aquifer, and their development and presents a history of the use and protection of caves. This knowledge student uses in planning the use of caves for scientific research directed toward acquiring basic knowledge of the karst and its development (cave laboratories, regular measurement of the properties and quality of water, microclimate indicators), the use of caves in the exploitation of karst aquifers for drinking water supplies, the use of caves for education (education trails), and the use of caves for tourism. The knowledge is also applied to the protection of caves as an important part of our natural heritage and to legislation related to planning interventions in karst areas (roads, larger earthworks, quarries) and to opening caves for tourism.

Prerequisites

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Content

Introductory presentations
Karst caves and aquifers
• Caves as an important part of the natural heritage
• Use of karst caves
• Protection of karst caves
Identification of the characteristics and special features of karst caves
Use of karst caves
• History of the use of caves
• Scientific research
• Educational use
• In water supply systems
• Tourism
Protection of karst caves
• Methods of tracking changes due to human influences (measurement of various indicators, hydrology, microclimate)
• Legal protection of karst caves
• Protection of caves during various interventions
• Protection of caves opened for tourism

Intended learning outcomes

Student basic knowledge about karst caves, their shape, content, processes and factors of their shaping and development connect with knowledge about human impact and tourist visit. Student upgrade cognitions in ability of autonomous and reasonable planning and use of karst caves.

Readings

  • Culver, D. C., B. Debevc, M. Knez, G. Kovačič, A. Kranjc, J. Mulec, T. Pipan, M. Prelovšek, N. Ravbar, A. Semeja, T. Slabe, S. Šebela, N. Zupan Hajna (2012): Krasoslovje v razvojnih izzivih na krasu 2, gradnja, turizem, ekologija, varovanje; Karstology and Development Challenges on Karst 2, construction, tourism, ecology, protection.- Založba ZRC, p. 199. Catalogue
  • Educating for Sustainable Tourism, Proceedings of the International Conference held in Slovenia, September 17-24, 1992, 1992.
  • Gams, I., 2004: Kras v Sloveniji v prostoru in času. - Založba ZRC, p.515, Ljubljana. Catalogue
  • Geotechnical and Environmental Applications of karst Geology and Hydrology. Proceedings of the Eight Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karsts, Louisville/Kentucky/1-4 April 2001, Balkema, 2001. Catalogue
  • Gillieson, D., 1996: Caves: processes, development and management.- Blackwell Publishers, Oxford & Cambridge.Catalogue E-version
  • Grimes, K.G. & Hamilton-Smith, E. & Spate, A.P: Southeast Karst province of South Australia, Australian Caves & Karst Management Association, 1995.
  • International Symposium on the Exploitation and Protection of Karst and Cave Scenic Tourist resources, Aug. 22-26 1994, 1994.
  • Knez, M. & T. Slabe, 2002: Karstology and the Opening of the Caves during Motorway Construction in the Karst Region of Slovenia.- Implication of Speleological Studies for Karst Subcidence Hazard Assessment, International Journal of Speleology 31, 159-169. E-version
  • Monitoring of Karst caves, 2002: Acta carsologica 31, Ljubljana. E-version
  • Prelovšek, M., N. Zupan Hajna (eds.), 2011: Pressures and Protection of the Underground Karst.- Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, p. 194. E-version
  • Use of Modern Technologies in the Development of caves for Tourism, 2002.- 4th International ISCA Congress, Postojna, 21st 27th October 2002, Postojna.
  • Selected articles from relevant Slovene and foreign professional journals.

Assessment

To sit the examination, students must actively participate in the seminars and complete a short seminar assignment. 50/50

Lecturer's references

Full Professor of Karstology.

Bibliography:

https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20211120_230302_a2912867.html

KNEZ, Martin, GABROVŠEK, Franci, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PERNE, Matija, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, TURK, Janez, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Krasoslovno načrtovanje proge drugega tira med Divačo in Črnim Kalom. V: PELKO, Nataša (ur.), ERČULJ, Mateja (ur.), POTISK, Tjaša (ur.). Drugi tir : nova železniška proga Divača-Koper. Ljubljana: 2TDK, družba za razvoj projekta, 2023. Str. 56-63, ilustr., zvd. ISBN 978-961-96474-0-0. [COBISS.SI-ID 182365187]
BLATNIK, Matej, CULVER, David C., GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, LIU, Hong, MAYAUD, Cyril, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, SHAW, Trevor R., SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), OTONIČAR, Bojan (urednik), PETRIČ, Metka (urednik), PIPAN, Tanja (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Karstology in the classical karst. Cham: Springer, cop. 2020. XII, 222 str., ilustr., zvd., graf. prikazi. Advances in karst science. ISBN 978-3-030-26826-8. ISSN 2511-2066. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26827-5. [COBISS.SI-ID 17912067]
KNEZ, Martin, SLABE, Tadej, URUSHIBARA-YOSHINO, Kazuko. Lithology, rock relief and karstification of Minamidaito Island (Japan) = Litologija, skalni relief in zakrasevane [!] otoka Minamidaito (Japonska). Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2017, letn. 46, št. 1, str. 47-62, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/2022/4745, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v46i1.2022. [COBISS.SI-ID 41879085]
KNEZ, Martin, SLABE, Tadej, GABROVŠEK, Franci, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, KRANJC, Andrej, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PERNE, Matija, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, BOSÁK, Pavel, PRUNER, Petr, LIU, Hong, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Cave exploration in Slovenia : discovering over 350 new caves during motorway construction on classical karst. Cham [etc.]: Springer, cop. 2016. XIII, 324 str., ilustr. Cave and karst systems of the world. ISBN 978-3-319-21202-9. ISSN 2364-4591. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-21203-6. [COBISS.SI-ID 38828077]
GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin (avtor, urednik), KOGOVŠEK, Janja, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PERNE, Matija, PETRIČ, Metka (avtor, urednik), PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, SLABE, Tadej (avtor, urednik), ŠEBELA, Stanka (avtor, urednik), TURK, Janez, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. The Beka-Ocizla cave system : karstological railway planning in Slovenia. [S. l.]: Springer, cop. 2015. ilustr. Cave and karst systems of the World. ISBN 978-3-319-04455-2, ISBN 978-3-319-04456-9. http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-04456-9, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-04456-9. [COBISS.SI-ID 37815597]