dataset · United Kingdom
BGS geological maps Web service
This Web service provides layers which are spatial indexes to the coverage of BGS (British Geological Survey) geological, geophysical, and hydrogeological maps from various different map series held by BGS in the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC). The layers include the spatial footprint of each map, and metadata including the map title, map series, nominal survey year, copyright year, scale, base material, colouration, the availability of an image, and, if available, a link to an image of
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Licence: ["The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in an
Evidence quality: 45.6
Listed in data.gov.uk public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- spatial footprint of each map (index layer) · map title · map series · nominal survey year · copyright year · scale · base material · colouration · image availability · link to map image where available
- Coverage docs-verified
- United Kingdom (dataset extent lat 47.41 to 63.91, lon -25.14 to 3.41) · 1830s onwards, from start of systematic geological survey to more recent BGS mapping
- Update frequency docs-verified
- asNeeded
- Access docs-verified
- Restricted reuse: NERC copyright; no reproduction or transmission without prior permission from the copyright holder (BGS IPR Manager). Free or paid status not stated; no auth listed.
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Desk study: locating historical BGS geological map sheets covering a site · Hydrogeological review: identifying legacy hydrogeological maps across a catchment · GIS overlay: indexing historical map footprints against a project boundary
- Audience llm-inferred
- geotechnical engineers · hydrogeologists · engineering geologists · GIS analysts · planners
Limitations
- Constraints docs-verified
- Maps are historical and not the same as the latest BGS digital geological mapping · Use is at the user's own risk; no warranty on accuracy or suitability (per docs) · Index layers only: the maps themselves are not included in the layers, only links where an image is available · Copyright restrictions on reuse apply
Evidence
- https://arcgis.bgs.ac.uk/arcgis/services/SDDS/BGS_Geological_Maps/MapServer/WMSServer?service=WMS&request=GetCapabilities&
- https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/976a034f-4118-4873-bd87-4e0e6a972ed4/bgs-geological-maps-web-service1
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.