The properties and resources team publishes a broad range of geological data and information for all stakeholders. Our portfolio includes all digital mapping relating to the description of the main lithological, geochemical and geophysical characteristics of UK geology, as well as covering aspects of engineering behaviour and resource potential.
Our product development centres on updating the extensive, supporting databases relating to geotechnical, geochemical and geophysical properties of rocks and soils. This includes looking at novel spatial modelling techniques, as well as the development of work flows to improve data ingestion and publishing.
The team is responsible for:
- BGS Geology 10, 50, 250 and 625 digital geological maps
- BGS Civils suite of civil engineering information
- G-BASE stream sediment and soil maps
- Radon map and methane/CO2 map of Great Britain
- BritPits archive of surface and underground mineral workings
- Marine geology datasets
- Soil Parent Material Model and associated data of the UK Soil Observatory
- Superficial deposit thickness models and related Quaternary heterogeneities
Product development is focused on meeting the needs of stakeholders. We do this by working collaboratively with users across industry, government and academia to develop answers to their specific problems. Examples of these can be seen in our case studies pages for the utilities sector.
The team are also working to upgrade our systems and methods, to enable more data to be gathered from a wider number of sources, collated with more automation and released in a wider range of outputs.
Case studies
The team has worked with numerous clients in the utilities and transport sectors to assess the impact of geological environment on buried or on-surface infrastructure assets. Much of the research has focused on determining if assets are being unduly compromised by their environment or are in need of specific maintenance to mitigate local environmental conditions. Many of the projects also included an assessment of likely changes arising from climate variability.
All geological materials change through time. Units that are youngest, or closest to the ground surface, are subject to constant changes in moisture, stability (subsidence; heave; weathering; erosion) and solar gain. These factors are compounded by the fact that the assets themselves may influence their environment by introducing changes to local drainage, heat-profiles, stray currents and ground stability (loading; voids).
These studies have used a range of geostatistical methods to model spatio-temporal correlations and uncertainty.
Systems and methods
The properties and resources team use a wide range of GIS systems (e.g. ESRI; QGIS; MapInfo) and bespoke tools (including R and in-house Python scripting) to build and maintain the main products. We have a small number of additional projects that consider novel techniques for spatial analysis to either develop new mapping outputs or assess spatial correlation of geological features with other datasets.
Find out more about our research
![Image from BGS Geology of Britain Map](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Digital-Feature2.jpg)
Digital geoscience
The BGS is a data-rich organisation. Our data science and data infrastructure are fundamental to our future research and underpin our strategic challenges.
![Arsenic Enrichment SW England](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Arsenic_enrichment_feature.jpg)
Mapping with machine learning
Recently there has been a trend towards the collection of ever-more quantitative data, as exemplified by the Tellus projects.
Case studies
![Earthing](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Earthing_trench_feature_power.jpg)
Power networks
BGS worked with National Grid to undertake a screening exercise to identify potential geological and flooding hazards that might impact their network.
![Pitting and perforation of cast iron](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Perforation_cast_iron_feature_networks.jpg)
Water networks
Water companies manage extensive networks of pipes for water supply and sewerage and over time, these pipes can fail, resulting in leakage to the surrounding soils.
![Geochemical domains](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Geochemical_domains_HS2_feature_transport.jpg)
Transport networks
Major transport projects create and utilise excavated materials to create underpinning infrastructure (in the form of tunnels, cuttings and embankments).
![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.
![GitHub logo](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GitHub_logo.jpg)
Update released for BGS open-source database software, ETL Helper
09/07/2024
The software tool helps simplify the process of data transfer into and out of databases.
![Screenshot of the AGS4 file utilities tool and API with map markers over the UK.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ags4-file-utilities-and-api.webp)
Update to BGS’s AGS file utilities tool released
19/06/2024
BGS has released significant updates to its online tool for validating geotechnical data held as AGS files. The update includes improvements to the tool’s user interface and the ability to convert AGS data into MS Excel files.
![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.
![Map showing rock type and lithology](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/data-from-bgs-geology-625k.webp)
BGS announces collaboration with Ordnance Survey
29/05/2024
Ordnance Survey and BGS have teamed up to add a range of geological data products to the OS Data Hub, making it easier for users to access and use geospatial data.
![Debris flow susceptibility model GlenCoe. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2022.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Debris-Flow-Susceptibility-Model_GlenCoe.jpg)
BGS data product licence fees to rise
01/03/2024
New direct licence fees to be introduced from 1 April 2024.
![Subsidence warning notice, Arvalee © Kenneth Allen cc-by-sa/2.0. Geograph Britain and Ireland](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/geograph-6428042-by-Kenneth-Allen.jpg)
Evolving policies in the face of climate change: BGS data can help
25/08/2023
Climate change is increasingly recognised as a major challenge for organisations, with the need for adaptation driving a wave of policy updates and reforms across multiple sectors. BGS data holdings are relevant to many of these changes and the following examples outline how these data packages can be applied.
![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.
![landscape-devon](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/landscape-devon-960x645.jpg)
New report on the National Land Data Programme published
06/06/2023
The report, based on pilot projects across the UK, explains how spatial data and modelling can support better decisions on land use.
![A woman carrying a notebook examines a piece of rock core](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/P994447-1-960x640.jpg)
AGS file utilities tool: production release
16/05/2023
BGS’s online tool for validating AGS files against the official AGS data format rules and its own NGDC data submission requirements goes live.
![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.
![BGS' Edd Lewis, presenting BGS' new API release at the ASGS Geotech conference, April 2023. Photo: Ricky Terrington BGS](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/API_image.jpg)
Improvements to borehole delivery
25/04/2023
BGS releases improvements to its borehole layer on the GeoIndex, which makes access faster and improves quality.