Scientists at the 51ÁÔÆæ (BGS) have published UK regional hazard maps revealing the most susceptible local authority regions around the country. The maps provide regional decision makers with an overview of the relevant hazards in their local area and provide an important indication of where more detailed hazard data may be required.

The analysis considers the occurrence of eight key geohazards relating to natural subsidence, the presence of the ground-gas radon, and the possibility of legacy mining in an area (excluding coal).

Regions in the south (Devon; Dorset; Hampshire; Kent; Surrey; Wiltshire; West Sussex) and north (Cumbria; North Yorkshire; Northumberland) of England are shown to be the most susceptible, with some regions affected by all eight hazards. The Outer Hebrides and Halton (south of Liverpool) were revealed to be the least susceptible, with exposure to three or fewer hazards.

Various geological properties and processes are associated with each hazard but the majority result in some form of ground movement, causing similar societal impacts and damage to infrastructure and homes. For example, collapsible deposits, compressible ground, running sands and shrink-swell subsidence can all result in damage to roads and pathways, breaks in utility pipes and damage to foundations and buildings. Former underground workings and soluble rocks can both cause larger underground cavities that may be prone to collapse, causing more significant and sudden movement and damage. Radon is the exception; it is a natural radioactive gas that can enter buildings from the ground and can increase the risk to human health where there is exposure to high concentrations.

Figures released by the show thousands of claims relating to ground movement such as subsidence are being made annually, costing millions of pounds to remediate. costs tens of millions pounds a year to repair and there are dramatic examples of and soluble rock collapses causing sudden and catastrophic damage to residential areas. Radon gas is linked to in the UK each year.

It is important to note that there are other active hazards such as river and coastal erosion affecting some local authority regions, not yet included in this study. 

To create these maps, BGS has simplified and summarised its geological information. In this generalised form they give an indication as to which geohazards are most prevalent per region. For a more detailed view of specific areas that are most prone to particular geohazards risks please visit the BGS data product webpages for mining hazards (non including coal), ground instability and radon gas to find out how to access higher-resolution data.

51ÁÔÆæ has compiled its most comprehensive and authoritative datasets in this way to provide the maximum support for a diverse range of stakeholders, ranging from regulators to policymakers and planners.

Presenting the data in this generalised manner provides a quick and convenient indication as to which geohazards are most prevalent by region, informing mitigation strategies and the acquisition of higher resolution data. We would encourage anyone interested in our hazard data to contact us or visit our dataset webpages for more information.

Katy Lee – BGS Product Portfolio Manager

The underlying BGS geohazard datasets from which these statistics are derived are each presented as five susceptibility classes per hazard. The summary maps shown here present statistics relating the upper three classifications which represent areas most likely to be impacted by the respective hazards. For the BGS GeoSure and mining hazard (not including coal) ground instability hazards these upper three classes represent areas where susceptibility to ground instability is possible, probable or known.  The BGS Radon Potential upper three classes cover 95 per cent of homes estimated to be at or above the threshold guideline for radon levels (200 becquerels per cubic metre).

For full details of the classification breakdown, please refer to the respective dataset product user guides:

• 51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure
• Mining hazard (not including coal)

Download the maps

• Geohazard susceptibility in each British local authority
• Most prevalent geohazards per local authority

Further information on the assessed hazards:

If you have any queries about the BGS data available to support hazard susceptibility assessments please get in touch (digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk) or visit our dataset webpages for more information.

The latest release of the 51ÁÔÆæ BritPits dataset covers more than 260 000 mineral workings in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

The data includes active, inactive, dormant and ceased sites, as well as a range of mineral operations including mines, quarries, onshore oil and gas fields, wharfs and rail depots handling mineral products and industrial processes. Each entry describes an onshore mineral working in terms of its name, operational status, geographical location, Mineral Planning Authority, operator, the geology worked and the mineral commodity produced.

This data is of particular value to organisations with an interest in the location of mineral extraction sites and their potential for further use. For example, BritPits data has been supplied to:

• national and local governments, for use in planning and statistical studies
• non-governmental organisations, for environmental and conservation planning
• commercial organisations, for analysis of resource potential and legacy operations

51ÁÔÆæ BritPits is available in three different packages:

Two licenced packages are available in GISand CSV formats.

The full dataset includes all the entries of the BGS BritPits database, including historic sites. This data is also available for specific mineral planning areas (MPAs). The full dataset is available as a GIS or CSV format and can be accessed as a Web Map Service (WMS) layer or via the .

The AID data package is a subset of the full dataset and includes only the active, inactive and dormant mines and quarries (around 5200 entries).

Index level information is available to view via the BGS GeoIndex and access as a WMS link under the Open Government Licence (OGL). This is based on the full BritPits dataset but contains index-level information only on the name, status and location of the working. More detailed information on commodities, MPAs, operator, etc. are reserved for the licensed version.

Further information is available through the 51ÁÔÆæ BritPits dataset page or by contacting the digital data team.

Groundwater flooding occurs when the water table rises to meet the ground surface. This hazard often goes unnoticed because it commonly occurs alongside river and surface water flooding, but it can substantially exacerbate the effects of flooding events.
Without dramatic images of burst river banks or breached sea defences, groundwater flooding rarely makes the headlines, yet in England and Wales it is estimated that groundwater flooding accounts for on average £530 million in damage per year. This represents 30 per cent of the total national annual economic loss due to flooding (Allocca et al., 2021).

A significant contributing factor to the high costs associated with groundwater flooding is the effect on underground infrastructure, such as basements and buried assets. Generally, the water table response to rainfall is much slower than rivers. Persistent rainfall over weeks and months can raise groundwater levels to a tipping point, where even a short period of low-intensity rainfall can unexpectedly trigger a flooding event. The mechanics of groundwater flooding also result in flood water lingering for longer than other forms of flooding as the water table slowly recedes, causing an estimated 2.5 times greater damage than those incurred from other flood types (Allocca et al., 2021).

The 51ÁÔÆæ Groundwater Flooding Susceptibility dataset highlights which areas of England, Scotland and Wales are most susceptible to groundwater flooding, based on geological and hydrogeological conditions at a 50 m resolution. Models of groundwater flooding originating from both superficial and bedrock aquifers are combined creating zones of susceptibility which are classified as:

• the potential for groundwater flooding to occur at surface
• the potential for groundwater flooding of property situated below ground level (basements, etc.)
• limited potential for groundwater flooding to occur
  

A complementary dataset providing a measure of confidence in the susceptibility classification (based on the hydrogeological setting) is included, which considers the groundwater flooding mechanism, susceptibility class and locations of previous groundwater flooding. The data is recommended as a screening tool for scoping and planning rather than for site-specific risk assessments.

Feedback from existing data users demonstrates the wide-ranging applications of this data:

• desk-based scoping studies by environmental and engineering consultants
• informing local planning authorities and property developers when compiling local development plans
• informing lead local flood authorities compiling their strategic flood risk assessments
• assessing infrastructure networks and assets, such as rail lines, highways and water treatment facilities, for susceptibility to groundwater flooding
• research by conservation and academic institutes
• informing water companies of areas that may be affected by planned reductions in groundwater abstraction activities
• informing climate reports for Ministry of Defence sites  

Many home insurance providers do not provide cover for the effects of groundwater flooding and ensuring awareness of an area susceptibility to this hazard is an essential component of any property conveyancing report.

A more granular view of groundwater flood risk can be gained by combining this data with other information such as elevation, previous instances of groundwater flooding, rainfall, property type, and land drainage information. A number of 51ÁÔÆæ data resellers have used the BGS Groundwater Flooding Susceptibility dataset alongside some of our other datasets to develop their own flood modelling tools, predicting groundwater flood risk at a finer scale.

Contact

If you would like to discuss how this data can support your organisations groundwater flooding decision making please get in touch with the digital data team (digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk).

About the author

The (FCERM) research and development programme areas of interest launched at the beginning of May 2024. Following this, we are highlighting the BGS datasets that can support coastal researchers and practitioners facing adaptation challenges at the coast.

As a result of the complex interaction of natural properties and processes, a range of geohazards converge at the coast and make it a hotspot for financial and societal costs. One such example of these issues is demonstrated by the plight of Fairbourne, a village in west Wales that is . The third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) has highlighted that all four UK nations are  and the UK lacks national ‘projections of risk to the viability of coastal communities, either from erosion or catastrophic flooding’.

Existing methodologies for assessing national coastal erosion vulnerability often fail to consider how the localised properties and structures of geological deposits can affect coastal change when combined with coastal processes. For example, the (NCERM) for England and Wales states, ‘Details of geologically complex areas known as “complex cliffs” are, in general, not included within the dataset due to the inherent uncertainties associated with predicting the timing and extent of erosion at these locations.’

51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast

51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast aims to plug this data gap by providing a suite of nationally consistent geological properties data that can be used by stakeholders as key components within a coastal modelling environment.

51ÁÔÆæ launched GeoCoast in 2022. It is an integrated geographical information system (GIS) package of datasets designed to inform and support coastal management, planning and adaptation around Great Britain. GeoCoast is based on the outputs of numerous research programmes, stakeholder advice and data analytics and provides sufficient data for users to analyse and assess a range of coastal risks.

GeoCoast Premium

GeoCoast Premium is a licenced package that identifies coastal properties at a 50 m scale and consists of three layers:

• erosion susceptibility
• coastal properties
• groundwater flooding zones

Erosion susceptibility

The first layer provides an erosion susceptibility assessment of the coastal stratigraphy. Our regional geology experts considered the 3D geological ‘stack’ of rock types on the coasts of Great Britain, providing unique insight that is not always available from 2D geology maps.

Each rock type in the stack is scored based on a series of geological properties:

• type of discontinuities
• material strength
• permeability

A total score is calculated per rock type and a worst and mean erosion susceptibility score provided for the entire stack. Scores are also classified from ‘low’ to ‘high’, with special consideration given to the rock type at the bottom of the stack as this is most likely to interact with wave action and tidal processes.

Additional information is provided on:

• cliff profile
• complexity of the geological structure of the stack
• whether there have been any previous landslides mapped at this location

This is repeated every 50 m around the high-water line of mainland Great Britain. Projected rates of erosion calculated by the NCERM project are also provided for England and Wales.

Coastal properties grid

The coastal properties grid provides information on a wider coastal range, covering the foreshore and backshore region. Using the data to consider Fairbourne as an example, the grid provides a condensed version of the erosion susceptibility assessment.

Projected coastal inundation extents consider sea level projections from UK Climate Projection (UKCP) 18 under the RCP 4.5 emissions scenario. These projections offer a worst case, undefended view of coastal inundation and therefore do not account for any engineered defences.

The susceptibility of the underlying geology and observed ground motion data have been used to calculate subsidence rates for the entire foreshore and backshore area. It is also available as a potential percentage volume reduction.

The coastal zone has been classified by coastal type.

Groundwater flooding zones

The third component of GeoCoast Premium is the groundwater flooding zone. This layer allows for coastal inundation and groundwater flooding to be considered in tandem as groundwater flooding can exacerbate and prolong coastal flood events and have a particular impact on buried assets such as utilities and foundations. In this layer, a current view of coastal inundation susceptibility is considered rather than a projected view.  

This data highlights some 133 km² of coastline classed as ‘high susceptibility to erosion’ with a further 195 km² in the ‘moderate to high susceptibility’ class. Even if defences are maintained, this is a staggering amount of coastline under threat and there are some 30 000 properties within 25 m of potentially highly susceptible coast. Counties such as Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Norfolk and Lancashire are particularly affected.

GeoCoast Open

GeoCoast Open data is freely available on the and for download. This package provides a range of historic images and diagrams extracted from our archives, memoirs and other publications that can provide a reference for coastal change. It also contains a detailed suite of statistical data based on the GeoCoast Premium datasets. These include, for example, percentage of a shoreline management plan area or local authority coastline at threat from inundation and percentage of coastline with high susceptibility to erosion. In addition, there is a tool to compare or share best practice at a regional scale and streamline the consideration of multiple underlying datasets through a simple, high-level scheme, presented as domains.

A series of are available for seven coastlines of natural importance demonstrating the attribution and application of the datasets. For more information, please visit the 51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast web pages or do not hesitate to get in touch (digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk).

Nine of BGS primary datasets will now be included as open data in the . This development will enable customers to access and combine OS and BGS data on a single platform, making it easier than ever to create value from geospatial data.

The inclusion of datasets will introduce OS Data Hub users to a selection of the detailed data that is available from BGS. The datasets will provide access to large-scale overview maps of ground hazards where there could be, for example, landslides. The maps can inform further assessment and highlight potential hazards that either need to be regraded or investigated in more detail.  

I am delighted that we have extended the OS Data Hub to include data from the 51ÁÔÆæ. Ordnance Survey is constantly looking to provide a greater and richer variety of data to customers whether above or below ground, so adding the BGS datasets — which is a first for us — will extend our offering to our customers significantly. As we explore this new territory for the OS Data Hub, we really hope to encourage other third parties to collaborate with us and for new and existing customers to explore the new data available to support their own challenges.

John Kimmance, OS Managing Director of National Mapping Services.

We are excited to continue to build our relationship with Ordnance Survey as a Geo6 partner and make nine primary BGS datasets available to users via the OS Data Hub. The OS Data Hub presents a superb opportunity for new, differing user communities to access BGS geological data and we are eager to see what impact this will bring.

Garry Baker, director of µþ³Ò³§ÌýInformatics.

 

This new collaboration has been funded by the Government Office of Technology Transfer , which supports public sector organisations to explore or further develop new and innovative uses for their knowledge assets. This followed engagement with OS and BGS customers, which showed potential benefits to both public and private sectors from greater access to geological data.

The nine datasets

51ÁÔÆæ Geology 625k

Bedrock geology showing rock type and lithology for the UK, which could be used by academic institutions to understand geological presence at regional and national levels. The data could also be used to work out the percentage geology type in counties or regions of the UK or, by pairing with a digital terrain model, to understand how the geology influences the shape of our landscape.  

51ÁÔÆæ Mining Hazard (not including coal) 1 km hex grid

A national-scale summary of the presence of mining and an indication of the level of hazard associated with old workings, generalised into a hexagon cell, this provides an overview of the likelihood that mining has occurred in a locality. This will be valuable to local authorities to identify potential threats and whether additional investigation is required in planning developments in these areas. Polygon data is available from BGS as a licensable data product providing more detail.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure 5km hex grid

Used to inform potential regional ground instability issues and which types of instability might be present, for example:

• collapsible deposits
• compressible ground
• landslides
• running sands
• ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô
• soluble rocks 

This could also be used by local authorities to understand the types of hazards that may be present in areas when considering planning applications and any need for extra investigation that could use the BGS GeoSure data suite for each hazard type.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoClimate UKCP18 Open

Shrink–swell national datasets show potential change in subsidence due to changes in climate. They have been developed by combining long-term UK Climate Projection (UKCP) scenarios for rainfall and temperature changes with the geotechnical properties of the ground, to identify areas projected to experience the largest increases in susceptibility to subsidence over the next century. The data could be used by lenders, insurers and large UK companies that require a screening tool to assess their potential future exposure to subsidence and the need for large UK private companies to adhere to climate change reporting requirements. Further investigation can be undertaken with the BGS GeoClimate UKCP18 premium data.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast Open

This dataset contains a detailed suite of statistical data based on the underlying datasets (BGS GeoCoast Premium). These include, for example, the percentage of a county at threat from inundation and the percentage of a county’s coastline having high susceptibility to erosion. In addition, there is a tool to compare or share best practise at a regional scale and streamline the consideration of multiple underlying datasets through a simple, high-level scheme, presented as domains. The data is of particular use for coastline planning when assessing risk to assets and infrastructure.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoScour Open

This provides a generalised overview of the natural characteristics and properties of river areas for the assessment of river sediment. This could help local authority planning by identifying the potential risks associated with flooding. The same can be said of asset owners and the potential for mitigation measures if assets such as bridges could be affected. Further investigation can be undertaken with the BGS GeoScour Premium data.

51ÁÔÆæ Hydrogeology 625k (digital hydrogeological map of the UK)

Indicating aquifer potential in generalised terms using classifications defining flow based upon the geology, the data will be of use to hydrogeologists and groundwater management specialists who require a national understanding of groundwater flow to aid water management strategies.

51ÁÔÆæ/UKHSA radon data: Indicative Atlas of Radon

A simplified version of the radon potential dataset with each 1 km grid square being classed according to the highest radon potential found within it. The UK Health Security Agency recommends radon levels should be reduced in homes where the annual average is at or above 200 becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m³). Local authorities can use this data as a screening tool for identifying areas that require further investigation with the detailed radon potential dataset.

51ÁÔÆæ Soil Parent Material Model

Parent materials (underlying geology) provide the basic foundations and building blocks of a soil, influencing texture, structure, drainage and chemistry. This model details the distribution of physiochemical properties of the weathered and unweathered parent materials of the UK to help identify soils and landscapes sensitive to erosion or deficient in nutrients and is useful for farmers and crop scientists.

Other BGS data products

These open datasets can also be accessed via our website as part of our wider suite of data products. The data is accessible in a variety of formats and via different platforms including the BGS GeoIndex map viewer and web map services. Some of the datasets also have a premium version which can be licensed. For more information about our data products please contact the digital data team (digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk).

From 1 April 2024, BGS will apply a 5 per cent increase to its direct licence fees for all data products. This means that any direct licence issued or renewed on or after 1 April 2024 will reflect this increased price. Existing data licensees will not be affected until such time as their licence is next due for renewal, after 1 April 2024.

51ÁÔÆæ has not increased its data product licence fees for many years: this 2024 increase takes into account inflationary and cost pressures faced by BGS, including increased staff costs, and follows a review of Office for National Statistics guidance with regard to inflation and price indices. Going forwards, BGS will undertake annual price reviews and will communicate any future licence fee changes (from 2025) as appropriate.

If you have any queries regarding this matter, pleasecontact the IPR digital teamÌý(¾±±è°ù»å¾±²µ¾±³Ù²¹±ô°ª²ú²µ²õ.²¹³¦.³Ü°ì).

Financial stress tests

The have been designed to ensure that banks, insurers and lenders are resilient enough to cope with severe economic conditions. In 2021 the 2021 Climate Biennial Exploratory Scenario (CBES) was carried out to test resilience against physical risks associated with different climate change scenarios.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoClimate is our flagship climate change geohazard dataset which assesses the susceptibility of lithologies to shrink-swell subsidence considering different climate change scenarios.This allows organisations to assess their portfolios for potential future ground instability risks and develop mitigation plans accordingly.

In 2021, BGS GeoClimate utilised UKCP18 climate projection data to offer susceptibility projections for RCP8.5. In order to better support future stress testing and policy changes BGS is developing an additional BGS GeoClimate update which deploys EURO-CORDEX climate simulations to deliver shrink-swell subsidence susceptibility projections. This will include data for RCPs 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5. (Keep an eye out for our upcoming product launch and blog post aimed at demystifying climate projections.)

Conveyancing regulations

Earlier this year the Law Society for England and Wales announced , which placed the onus on solicitors to ‘advise on physical climate risks and how they impact real estate ownership and use’. BGS GeoClimate can play a key role in advising conveyancers and property search companies on potential future subsidence threats.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast is a coastal geohazard data package containing future coastal inundation scenarios and an assessment of the erodibility of the GB coastline. With sea levels predicted to rise into the future BGS GeoCoast is a powerful tool to satisfy policy requirements and identify properties which are likely to be impacted by these geohazards in the future. BGS GeoCoast has been specifically designed to be integrated with shoreline management plan areas to support local authorities in implementing their region-specific policies.

National adaptation planning

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ran a consultation period from December 2022 to March 2023 regarding proposed changes to the . BGS responded to this consultation, a component of which focused on tackling climate change. The consultation made little mention of geohazards but stated that ‘Any changes needed for adaptation in the National Planning Policy Framework will include considering any changes required to reflect the third National Adaptation Programme, governments policy response to the latest assessment of UK climate risk.’ Defra has since published the (NAP3), which identifies 61 climate risks and opportunities, including geohazards such as:

• groundwater flooding and scarcity
• coastal erosion
• subsidence
• aquifer contamination from saltwater intrusions
• threats to soils and agricultural productivity
• river erosion.

51ÁÔÆæ has compiled a and covers a host of geohazards, focusing on those identified by NAP3.

These include groundwater vulnerability datasets for England, Wales and Scotland and 51ÁÔÆæ GeoScour , a national river erosion susceptibility data package which identifies river beds and banks prone to erosion that is a valuable tool for any forward-looking assessment of threats to riverside assets and infrastructure.

More information

Although this is by no means an exhaustive list of either the evolving policies across all UK sectors or the BGS geoscience and datasets available to support their implementation, we hope that this has provided a useful insight into how BGS data holdings can be applied. If you would like to find out more or have a specific query please see our 51ÁÔÆæ geohazards and climate change position statement, which provides a review of current BGS geohazard-related activities that consider our changing climate within a UK context. You can also get in touch with the digital data team (digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk).

About the author

Many towns, cities and major infrastructure corridors in the UK are founded on clay-rich soils, especially in the south-east of the UK including much of London. Differences in the properties of underlying geology and regional climate across the UK result in localised changes in susceptibility due to ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô subsidence (Jones and Jefferson, 2012; Jones et al., 2020). It is predicted that climate change will also have a significant effect on the magnitude and frequency of ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô subsidence incidents.

Outlined here is the full range of BGS ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô subsidence data products, which are designed to offer complementary assessments of susceptibility at a range of scales for a range of different uses and users. These include:

General users:

• 51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure
• 51ÁÔÆæ GeoClimate Shrink–swell

Specialist users:

• 51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Insurance Product
• 51ÁÔÆæ Property Subsidence Assessment
• 51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Extra Shrink–swell 3D
• 51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Extra Shrink–swell Subsurface

The importance of BGS datasets

It is important to understand where ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô hazard might be present to assess, adapt and mitigate for it. Natural ground instability may lead to financial loss if it is not correctly identified and infrastructure constructed accordingly.

This suite of data products from the UK premier geoscience institute can support the identification of this geohazard and the implementation of preventative measures, the cost of which may be very low compared to the cost of the repair following ground movement.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure

What is it?

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure comprises natural ground stability data and consists of six data layers, including ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô. Each layer is a national hazard susceptibility map for the following ground instability hazards:

• collapsible deposits 
• compressible ground
• landslides 
• running sand 
• ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô subsidence 
• soluble rocks 

What information does it provide?

This dataset shows areas of susceptibility for each hazard on a scale of A to E (low to high susceptibility) along with a class description. A free, open-source version of the BGS GeoSure datasets is available as a 5 km hex grid, which provides a generalised, national to regional overview of hazard susceptibility.

Coverage

• Great Britain

Suitable uses

This dataset can be used to assess the potential presence of geohazards that might affect low-rise buildings, and for the identification and classification of those geohazards.

Users could include:

• architects and surveyors
• developers
• home owners
• insurers and loss adjusters
• local government and regional planners
• solicitors

51ÁÔÆæ GeoClimate Shrink–swell

What is it?

51ÁÔÆæ GeoClimate Shrink–swell comprises national datasets showing potential change in subsidence due to changes in climate for the next century.

How is it different to GeoSure?

GeoClimate provides added detail for the potential effects of climate change. This is demonstrated through a number of different climate scenario thresholds.

What information does it provide?

and groundwater models are combined with GeoSure Shrink–swell hazard maps to model future ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô susceptibility for two time periods: 2030s (2025 to 2035) and 2070s (206 to 2075). GeoClimate provides a ‘hot spot’ map of susceptible areas, which can inform mitigation strategies, prioritise works and aid risk reduction.

An assessment of the likelihood to experience an increase in susceptibility is provided for three scenarios for each time period. These represent wetter, drier and average future climate conditions, and convey the variation and uncertainty within the scenario modelling. This allows the user to consider the best- and worst-case scenario according to their needs.

A difference map is also provided to allow for comparison, detailing the relative change in GeoClimate classification compared to a modelled baseline period.

An open version of GeoClimate is freely available and consists of the average scenario for future climate conditions for the two time periods, provided on a 2 km grid.

Coverage

• Great Britain

Suitable uses

GeoClimate is of use to a broad range of market sectors dealing with resilience to future climate change including:

• heritage
• infrastructure operators
• local authorities
• planning and development
• utilities

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Insurance Product

What is it?

The 51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Insurance Product (GIP), designed specifically for use in the insurance sector, is an index-level assessment of the potential for a geological deposit to create financial insurance loss due to natural ground movement.

What information does it provide?

GIP incorporates the combined effects of the six BGS GeoSure hazards on (low-rise) buildings and links these to a postcode database. This database contains a normalised hazard rating for each of the six hazards (that is, each hazard has been balanced against each other). Full vector data is available for property assessment, whilst a combined unified hazard rating is available for each postcode in Great Britain.

Coverage

• Great Britain

Suitable uses

This dataset was developed for the insurance sector to quantify ground instability susceptibility in a way that is comparable between hazards and considers the potential effect on a building. It is also applicable to other financial sectors, such as banking or mortgage providers, for quantifying susceptibility of asset portfolios.

51ÁÔÆæ Property Subsidence Assessment

What is it?

51ÁÔÆæ Property Subsidence Assessment (PSA) offers property and postcode-level assessments of ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô susceptibility, considering the potential influences of geological and building characteristics.

How is it different to GeoSure?

PSA focuses solely on the ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô subsidence hazard, providing a higher resolution, specialised assessment. It considers key influencing factors (building characteristics; tree proximity) in its assessment. It is complemented by BGS GeoSure and the BGS GeoSure Insurance Product, which provide assessments of susceptibility for a much broader range of ground instability hazards.

What information does it provide?

This dataset uses a combination of geology, tree location and building characteristics to assess ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô susceptibility. These factors are combined to calculate a subsidence hazard score at the building and postcode scales. A recent BGS blog outlines the features of this dataset in greater detail.

Coverage

• England and Wales

Suitable uses

PSA includes a risk element for the housing stock at postcode and building level, making it ideal for use in the property report and insurance sectors.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Extra Shrink–swell 3D

What is it?

The 51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Extra Shrink–swell 3D dataset identifies the ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô potential for subsurface or concealed deposits in the London area.

How is it different to BGS GeoSure?

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure provides information on ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô hazard susceptibility in the shallow subsurface (upper 5 m). The 3D model data provides additional information at greater depth, to 20 m.

What information does it provide?

Plasticity ranges in line with GeoSure A to E ratings are applied to data extracted from the London 3D geological model and provided in GIS format. The product identifies areas of potential ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô hazard, in 3D space, down to 20 m in the London Lithoframe area of Great Britain. Shrink–swell/plasticity is provided on a 50 m grid at various depths below surface (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 and 20 m) but can be varied depending on need.

Coverage

• London and the Thames Valley

Suitable uses

This product is designed for the ground engineering markets and infrastructure sectors. Operators for infrastructure such as deep cuttings, tunneling, deep foundations for major construction projects, etc. will find this detailed information useful at a planning stage.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Extra Shrink–swell Subsurface

What is it?

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Extra Shrink–swell subsurface provides information on ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô potential for shallow subcrop (up to 10 m) clays.

How is it different to BGS GeoSure?

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure provides ²õ³ó°ù¾±²Ô°ì–s·É±ð±ô±ô hazard susceptibility for the upper 5 m of geology only. BGS GeoSure Shrink–swell Subsurface provides a deeper assessment of susceptibility, found beneath other deposits, at a much coarser resolution.

What information does it provide?

This product extends the BGS GeoSure Shrink–swell values into the shallow subsurface, providing information for the eight major clay formations across Great Britain that are underneath another solid formation and therefore hidden from the surface. These are analysed up to 10 m depth for deeper foundation structures.

Coverage

• Partial Great Britain coverage (limited to the main clay formations)

Suitable uses

51ÁÔÆæ GeoSure Shrink–swell Subsurface is suitable for screening and desk-based assessments of:

• construction of deep foundations, basements and other such large infrastructure
• infrastructure networks (road and rail)
• utility development
• scoping for civil engineering projects

Contact

If you have any questions or would like to discuss which of these datasets is best suited to your needs, please email the digital data team (digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk).

References

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