# Geological Survey of Israel

> government organization in Jerusalem, Israel

**Wikidata**: [Q7065244](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7065244)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geological_Survey_of_Israel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/geological-survey-of-israel

## Summary
The Geological Survey of Israel (GSI) is a government research institute located in Jerusalem, Israel, dedicated to geological research. Founded in 1949, it operates as a government agency focused on conducting systematic geological investigation and generating new knowledge in the field of geology.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1949
- **Location**: Jerusalem, Israel
- **Coordinates**: 31.772049 latitude, 35.224812 longitude
- **Type**: Research institute and government agency
- **Field of Work**: Geology
- **Aliases**: GSI, The Geological Survey of Israel
- **Website**: http://www.gsi.gov.il/eng/
- **GRID ID**: grid.452445.6
- **ROR ID**: 058nry849
- **GND ID**: 503785-2
- **VIAF ID**: 150093883
- **ISNI**: 0000000123589135
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n80057066
- **Ringgold ID**: 61244
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Commons, English, Hebrew, Russian
- **Wikidata Description**: Government organization in Jerusalem, Israel

## FAQs

### What type of organization is the Geological Survey of Israel?
The Geological Survey of Israel is classified as both a research institute and a government agency. As a research institute, its primary purpose is to conduct geological research, distinguishing it from universities that balance teaching and research missions.

### Where is the Geological Survey of Israel located?
The Geological Survey of Israel is located in Jerusalem, Israel, at coordinates 31.772049 latitude and 35.224812 longitude.

### When was the Geological Survey of Israel established?
The Geological Survey of Israel was founded in 1949, the year after Israel's establishment as a state.

### What is the difference between the Geological Survey of Israel and a university geology department?
Unlike university departments that combine teaching and research functions, the Geological Survey of Israel exists specifically to conduct geological research without the obligation to grant degrees or provide undergraduate education.

## Why It Matters
The Geological Survey of Israel serves as Israel's primary government institution dedicated to geological research and investigation. As a specialized research institute, it concentrates resources and expertise purely on geological inquiry, free from the teaching obligations that characterize university departments. This focused mission enables the organization to pursue long-term, systematic geological studies essential for understanding Israel's natural resources, seismic hazards, groundwater systems, and mineral deposits. Since its founding in 1949, the GSI has functioned as critical national infrastructure for generating geological knowledge that informs government policy, urban planning, resource management, and environmental protection across Israel.

## Notable For
- Being Israel's dedicated government geological research institute since 1949
- Operating as a standalone research organization focused exclusively on geological investigation
- Dual classification as both a research institute and government agency
- Presence in four Wikipedia language editions (Commons, English, Hebrew, Russian)
- Extensive cataloging across major library and knowledge systems worldwide
- Recognition by international research identifier systems including GRID, ROR, and ISNI

## Body

### Overview and Classification
The Geological Survey of Israel operates as a research institute—an organizational form distinct from universities and commercial entities. While universities balance teaching and research missions, the GSI exists specifically to generate new geological knowledge through systematic investigation. The organization holds formal classification as both a research institute and a government agency, positioning it within Israel's public sector research infrastructure. Its primary field of work is geology, encompassing the study of Earth's physical structure, substance, history, and processes.

### History
The Geological Survey of Israel was established in 1949, making it one of Israel's early governmental scientific institutions. Its founding coincided with the formative period of Israel's state infrastructure, reflecting the recognized importance of geological surveying and research for the newly established nation. The organization has operated continuously since its inception, building institutional knowledge and research capabilities over more than seven decades.

### Location and Facilities
The Geological Survey of Israel is headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, at geographic coordinates 31.772049 latitude and 35.224812 longitude. This Jerusalem location places the institute within Israel's capital city and central governmental district. An image of the facility is available through Wikimedia Commons, documenting the physical presence of the research institute.

### International Research Identifiers
The Geological Survey of Israel maintains extensive registration across international research identification systems. It holds a Global Research Identifier Database (GRID) ID of grid.452445.6, a Research Organization Registry (ROR) ID of 058nry849, and a Ringgold ID of 61244. The organization is also registered with the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) system under the identifier 0000000123589135.

### Library and Cataloging Records
The institute appears in major library authority files and national cataloging systems worldwide. These include the Library of Congress Authority ID n80057066, the German National Library GND ID 503785-2, the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) ID 150093883, and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France ID 118646356. Regional library systems also catalog the organization, including BIBSYS (Norway) with IDs 98042457 and 9074107, NUKAT (Poland) with ID n2002055936, Libraries Australia with ID 5357756, and the Share Catalogue (Italy) with author ID 318009.

### National Library of Israel Records
The Geological Survey of Israel holds multiple records within Israel's national library infrastructure. The current National Library of Israel J9U ID is 987007256832305171, while the legacy National Library of Israel ID is 000000964. The organization also appears in the RERO (Swiss library network) legacy system with ID A000091725. The French IDREF system contains two entries: 113662793 (listed as "Geological Survey of Israël") and 026389614 (listed as "Israël. Geological survey").

### Digital Presence and Online Resources
The Geological Survey of Israel maintains an official website at http://www.gsi.gov.il/eng/, providing public access to its research activities and publications. The organization has documented presence across multiple Wikipedia language editions, including Commons, English, Hebrew, and Russian, with a total of four sitelinks. The English Wikipedia title for the organization is "Geological Survey of Israel," and it maintains a dedicated Commons category under the same name. A photographic image of the institute building is available through the Wikimedia Commons file path "המכון_הגאולוגי.jpg". The organization is also indexed in the Yale LUX linked data system with ID group/de0c60b8-fe64-4a86-8bd9-b0caec97f13d.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. ROR release v1.19