A new online mapping service has been launched by The British Geological Survey (BGS) which features archival geological maps from throughout the UK, including historical maps and more recent surveys.
The BGS writes:
The British Geological Survey (BGS) has today released high resolution scans of over 6000 geological maps which were previously published on paper. The ‘BGS Maps Portal’ provides free to view small and medium scale maps produced by the BGS since geological mapping began in 1832. The Maps Portal includes the recent 1:50,000 mapping of England, Wales and Scotland, geochemical and geophysical maps and also historical maps. The maps and sections will be of interest to anyone who has a passion for geology as well as academics and professionals.
With the rapid progress of technology, BGS is at the forefront of change in the way geological data is collected and presented. Traditionally, geological surveys focussed on the geology of the solid subsurface and produced paper geological maps. Today the BGS strategy is to continuously monitor geological processes and develop 3-Dimensional digital geological models. Outputs from these are already becoming available such as the iGeology and iGeology 3D mobile apps and the Geology of Britain viewer. To distinguish between the older paper maps and the new digital products, the BGS is releasing the Maps Portal which contains high resolution scanned images of over 6000 of the paper-based maps that are free to view.
Paper copies of maps that are still in print will be available for purchase through the BGS online shop or through BGS map resellers. BGS will continue to reprint popular titles and offer a ‘Print- on-Demand’ service for out of print maps. Digital copies of the scanned maps and sections are also available for purchase.
Professor John Ludden, Executive Director of the BGS, said ‘BGS is increasingly moving to full digital delivery of its maps and this step allows downloads of our highest resolution map products created and developed over 180 years that have underpinned the economic development of the UK’.
Key maps released:
- Geological Survey of England and Wales 1:63,360 geological map series [Old Series]
- Geological Survey of England and Wales, New Series 1:63,360/1:50,000 geological map series
- Geological Survey of Scotland 1:63,360/ 1:50,000 geological map series
- Geological horizontal and vertical sections for England and Wales and Scotland
- 1:25,000 Classical areas of British geology
- 1:250,000 UTM Series. Geological maps of the UK and continental shelf areas also Gravity and aeromagnetic variants
- Geological map of England and Wales. Quarter-inch series 1:253,440. Old Series and New Series
- Geological map of Scotland. Quarter-inch series 1:253,440
- Regional geochemical atlases
- Hydrogeology maps
- A range of non-series maps
View the maps portal on the BGS website
