When the institute was founded, it focused primarily on physical-geographical and economic-geographical research on separate administrative Georgian districts, and created relevant maps.
Well-known geomorphologists worked at the Department of Geomorphology: Levan Maruashvili, David Tsereteli, Shalva Kipiani, Nicholoz Astakhov, Giorgi Changashvili, Zurab Tatashidze, Demur Tabidze, Igor Bondirev, Ramin Gobejishvili and others.
In October 2009 was restored the "Department of Hydrology and Climatology", with famous scientists Feofan Davitaia, Lev Vladimirov, Mitrofane Kordzakhia, Givi Gigineishvili, Vladimer Gvakharia, Ilia Apkhazava, Sandro Javakhishvili, Nana Bolashvili and others.
[9] From the very beginning the Department of Physical Geography was formed as a Group of Landscape Sciences (David Tsereteli as head until 1962 and David Ukleba until 1973), afterwards it was reformed in a Laboratory of the Landscape Sciences and in 1981 — in the Department of Physical Geography.
Research area of the department is the investigation of natural-territorial complexes (landscapes) of geographical environment, identification of regularity of its origin, structure, development and distribution.
Complex physical-geographical (landscape) research was always properly treated in the scientific activity of the Institute of Geography.
At different times the Department of Physical Geography was led by: David Ukleba, Zurab Seperteladze, Koba Kharadze, Nana Sulkhanishvili, Igor Bondirev, Giorgi Lominadze and others.
At different times the Department of Cartography were led by: Sergi Tskhakaia, Alexander Aslanikashvili, Rostom Chekurishvili, Ioseb Kartvelishvili, Jansug Kekelia.