iGeology

BGS Technologies — Mobile apps

Please note that, as part of our ongoing programme of application upgrades and redevelopment, the iGeology app was retired on 1 August 2022.

If you are looking for an interactive geological map of Great Britain then you may be interested in one of our newer online map viewers listed below:

  • BGS Geology Viewer is a lightweight viewer designed to provide geology enthusiasts and the general public with bedrock and superficial geology maps of Great Britain
  • BGS GeoIndex, which is recommended for professional users and provides access to a wide range of data, including both borehole scans, fault information and interactive 3D models

For more information about the retirement of iGeology, please refer to our FAQ section below.

iGeology update FAQs

What happened to the the iGeology app?

The iGeology app was removed from the app store on 1 August 2022 and is no longer available to download.

Since 2009, BGS has maintained three core map viewer applications: 

  1. Geology of Britain (classic and 3D versions): a web viewer aimed at the general public
  2. iGeology:  a native mobile app aimed at the general public
  3. GeoIndex: a web viewer aimed at GeoScience professionals. 

In the years since their launch, there have been a number of advancements in both browser and mobile technology. We believe that now is the correct time to consolidate some of these services, and our resources, into a new bespoke map viewer that provides greater accessibility and is available to a wider audience. BGS made the decision to retire both iGeology and Geology of Britain, replacing them with the BGS Geology Viewer, a lightweight web-based application  for general use, and the BGS GeoIndex, a premium map viewer service for professional use. 

BGS host a number of mobile optimised map viewers that offer many of the same features and data as was available in the iGeology app.

The BGS Geology Viewer is a new free-to-use, lightweight viewer, offering access to bedrock and superficial deposit data across most modern browser-enabled devices.

The BGS GeoIndex is a web tool for professional users who need to access BGS data as part of their business requirements, including borehole records, fault information, and interactive 3D models.

The BGS Geology Viewer has been released as a Progressive Web App (PWA) which means that it is a web application with extra functionality. It will not be found in the Apple or Google App stores, but instead accessed via the BGS website.

Visiting the application on a desktop browser you will not notice any difference, however, on a mobile device (iOS, Android) it can be installed onto your device home screen, launches with a splash screen and runs in full-screen mode like a native app. Instructions on how to install the new app can be found on the BGS Geology Viewer page.

The BGSiD system is closed for new registrations and existing accounts will be removed from the BGS servers following the retirement date. 

Data submitted through iGeology will be made available from the BGS website. More details will be available soon.

Not all functionality that was previously available in iGeology will be migrated to the BGS Geology Viewer. We have prioritised the functionality based on the needs of our users, as some elements of iGeology were used less frequently than others. This allows us to focus on the most essential functionality and provide a more streamlined and user-friendly application. 

If you are unable to find the features your are looking for in the BGS Geology Viewer, please try our GeoIndex viewer for professional users.

Our borehole data is available through a number of BGS sources: 

If you require a report generated using licenced BGS data, please contact our enquiries team to ask about available GeoReports

Radon reports are also available from UKradon.org

 

How do I download my iGeology (iOS) in-app purchased reports?

You can download any previously purchased iGeology reports that are available on your local device. To do so:

  • Connect your iPhone/iPad to your computer and launch iTunes
  • Click on the phone icon in the iTunes toolbar
  • In the sidebar select ‘File Sharing’
  • In this box you will see a list of Apps, click on iGeology.
  • On the right will be a folder called ‘myReports’. Click this and then the ‘Save to…’ button
  • Save the folder to your local computer. Your reports will all be in this folder.

Please note that only reports which are downloaded to your iGeology app are available. We are not able to restore previously purchased reports if they do not exist on your local device.

Who can I contact about this change? 

If you have any comments or questions about this change that is not covered by this page, please contact the BGS Enquiries team

What was iGeology?

iGeology was a smartphone app that let you access geological maps of Britain via your smartphone.

You may also be interested in

BGS Geology Viewer available via browser available devices

BGS Geology Viewer

The BGS Geology Viewer has been designed to provide geology enthusiasts and the general public with bedrock and superficial geology maps of Great Britain.

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GeoIndex

GeoIndex (onshore)

Search BGS datasets using GeoIndex, a map-based index of a wealth of information that we have collected or have obtained from other sources.

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