dataset · United Kingdom

Permeability dataset for Great Britain (Superficial)

The data comprises a GIS layers representing the permeability of Superficial geological deposits for Great Britain. The permeability data has been derived from DiGMap-GB (Digital Geological Map Data of Great Britain), and therefore reflects the scale of DiGMap-GB. For the majority of the Great Britain, the scale is 1:50,000, however in areas where the geology is not mapped to this scale, the next best available scale, 1:625:000, is used. The data is updated annually, or after a major new release

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Source details

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: 46.4

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: permeability indices (maximum and minimum) per superficial geological unit · predominant groundwater flow mechanism (fracture or intergranular) per unit
Coverage docs-verified: Great Britain
Resolution docs-verified: Source map scale 1:50,000 for most of Great Britain; 1:625,000 where geology is not mapped at 1:50,000 (docs write it as 1:625:000)
Update frequency docs-verified: Annually, or after a major new release of DiGMap-GB
Formats docs-verified: ESRI Shapefile · MapInfo TAB
Access docs-verified: Free for internal use; licensed for commercial use (licence terms not stated in docs; NERC/BGS copyright, no reproduction without permission)

Useful for

Use cases llm-inferred: Infiltration and SuDS feasibility screening from superficial permeability at desk-study stage · Preliminary groundwater recharge and pollutant-pathway context for FRA or site investigation scoping · Geotechnical desk study overlay of permeability for superficial deposits · Drainage strategy: identifying low- versus high-permeability ground for surface-water disposal options
Audience llm-inferred: hydrogeologists · drainage engineers · geotechnical engineers · flood consultants · GIS analysts

Limitations

Constraints llm-inferred: Permeability indices do not account for the thickness of the unsaturated or saturated part of the unit · Scale varies: 1:50,000 for most of GB, 1:625,000 where geology is not mapped at the finer scale · Metadata extent (latitude 53.49 to 51.64, longitude -2.00 to 1.84) does not cover all of Great Britain; check coverage before relying on it · Commercial use requires a licence; the page's Licence field reads 'Not set' · Metadata dataset reference date (creation) is 2005-07-29 · Vector only (shapefile and TAB); no raster or API access is documented · Desktop GIS recommended for display

Evidence

Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.