The BGS has a wide range of datasets and wants to increase access to these by publishing as many as possible under OpenGeoscience. OpenGeoscience is a free service where you can view maps and download data, scans, photos and other information. The services available under OpenGeoscience include:
- the BGS Geology Viewer
- access to over a million borehole scans
- the GeoScenic geological photographic archive, where you can search for and download photos
- published paper maps and sections from 1832 to 2014 and printed publications from 1835 to the present
- the BGS ArcGIS Online Open Data Hub
Terms of use
To encourage the use and re-use of this data we have, wherever possible, made the data within OpenGeoscience available under the Open Government Licence, subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced BGS materials: ‘Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI [year]’.
The terms of use for every product under OpenGeoscience are displayed clearly at the top of every page.
Browse our free data
![UKSO viewer](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/feature_UKSO.jpg)
Map viewers
Data published through map viewers allowing you to reveal more about the ground beneath your feet.
![BGS photo collections](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/feature_photos.jpg)
Photographs and images
Open access to a number of our photo collections, including petrological thin sections.
![BGS Maps Portal](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/scanmapsicon_feature.jpg)
Scanned records
Open access to a number of our digital scan collections, including borehole log scans and published maps.
![OGC Catalogue service for the web](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/feature_CSW.jpg)
Web services and APIs
More of our information is accessible through web services and linked data to encourage developers to use and innovate it within their own systems
![Quarter-inch geological map of England and Wales](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/scanicon.png)
Data collections
Scans, photos and publications that are stored and managed by the BGS
![publications](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/feature_publications.jpg)
Publications
Free-to-view publications produced by the BGS and other bodies whose responsibility was later taken over by the survey.
![Energy](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/feature_energy.jpg)
Map data downloads
A number of our datasets are available for you to download onto your system for your own use.
Need more information?
Related news
![North Sea Transition Authority](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NSTA_image.jpg)
National Hydrocarbons Data Archive files now accessible through the National Data Repository
15/07/2024
Offshore well and survey information held within BGS’s archive have now been transferred to the North Sea Transition Authority’s National Data Repository to enable greater access.
![Technical reports released by BGS. BGS © UKRI](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSSS8523-resized.webp)
BGS’s National Geoscience Data Centre releases over 8000 technical reports
05/06/2024
The technical reports, covering the full spectrum of BGS activities and subjects, were produced between 1950 and 2000.
![P556425](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/P556425-960x645.webp)
Mineral investigation reports released online
07/07/2023
Reports from over 260 mineral exploration projects are now freely available on BGS’s GeoIndex.
![Plant sampling for strontium and sulphur plant analysis. BGS © UKRI.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_20190716_123048_960px.jpg)
Updated biosphere map for the UK released
07/07/2023
The updated biosphere map for the UK will allow users to identify sulphur isotope variations.
![Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2020](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GeoIndex_NSTA.jpg)
A new open dataset to benefit onshore geoscience research
15/06/2023
Data from deep onshore hydrocarbon wells is being released on an open access basis to help meet the UK’s net zero targets.
![Argyllshire sheet 84, solid and drift, 1:10 560, 1914. BGS © UKRI](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/13599901_web-1.jpg)
BGS releases 10K maps through updated maps portal
16/05/2023
BGS releases an updated maps portal, which allows users to view all publicly available maps, and includes 10 000 and 1:10 560 scale maps for the first time.
![GeoScour open dataset](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/feature_GeoScour_open.jpg)
BGS GeoScour Open
The BGS GeoScour Open datasets provide a generalised overview of the natural characteristics and properties of catchment and riverine environments for the assessment of river scour in Great Britain.
![P670837](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/P670837.jpg)
Mining hazard data (not including coal) from BGS
17/05/2022
Great Britain has over 250 000 documented mining sites and the underground voids resulting from past mining activity pose a possible hazard. Knowledge of the distribution of former mining areas will help us to plan for future development and ongoing maintenance.
![Varying glacial deposits at Happisburgh, Norfolk](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Varying-glacial-deposits-at-Happisburgh-Norfolk.jpg)
GeoCoast Open
GeoCoast Open provides a range of historic images and diagrams extracted from our archives, memoirs and other publications, which can provide a reference for coastal change.
![GitHub logo](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GitHub_logo.jpg)
Accessing open source BGS software through GitHub
15/12/2021
BGS is increasingly utilising GitHub to make its software available as open source and encourage collaboration with partners and the wider community.
![GeoClimate UKCP18 Open Data](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GeoClimate_UKCP18_open_thumb.jpg)
GeoClimate UKCP18 Open
Based on higher emissions scenario, provides the most susceptible value for the time periods 2030s and 2070s within the grid cell.
![GeoClimate UKCP09 Open Data](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GeoClimate_UKCP09_open_thumb.jpg)
GeoClimate UKCP09 Open
Based on medium emissions scenario, provides the most susceptible value for the time periods 2030s, 2050s and 2080s within the grid cell.