BGS And UKHO To Develop Sea Bed Geology Data Products
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BGS And UKHO To Develop Sea Bed Geology Data Products

British Geological Survey (BGS) and The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) have signed an agreement to work together to produce new digital seabed geological maps covering the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS). The maps will complement existing national geological map products available from BGS and will provide an order of magnitude higher resolution detail of seabed character and bedforms.

BGS and UKHO will combine all their data to underpin new detailed maps of the seabed of the UK Continental Shelf. The geological components of the new maps will be based on seabed samples, boreholes, seismic data, mulibeam and extensive sidescan data held at BGS and UKHO. The project will utilise the detailed bathymetric elevation model produced by SeaZone and will extend to the coastal zone. The new maps are released as an essential reference layer within SeaZone’s marine geographic information product SeaZone Hydrospatial.

The new products will provide the reference information on seabed characteristics that is used as essential input to the creation of marine habitat maps. More accurate, wide-scale and consistent mapping of the seabed is needed to underpin sustainable development of the UKCS and to support marine spatial planning for activities such as marine aggregate extraction, renewable energy development, fishing and coastal defence.

The initial phase of the project is underway and will help refine and develop standards for the interpretation of data and the definition of seabed and coastal zone characterisation. The first areas to be released will cover part of the East Anglian coast out to around 20 km and will be based on analysis at 1:50,000 or larger scales. Future progress on the project will be governed by user demand and the rate of progress will be governed by stakeholder support.

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