The British Geological Survey (BGS) has unveiled a package of geographic datasets to support management of the national coastline.
Named GeoCoast, the dataset provides information on the morphology, behaviour and vulnerability of the coastline, underpinned by its geology and its coastal context, such as shape, profile and height, and particularly coastal erosion, inundation and potential subsidence.
Some of the data is free to use under the Open Government Licence, while other elements require paid access.
BGS said that local authorities are among the organisations that could find the dataset valuable to support efforts in coastal management.
It is planning to formally launch the dataset at a webinar on 27 April.
Geohazard link
“BGS GeoCoast offers anyone with assets or an interest in the coastline around Great Britain access to easy-to-use datasets linked to geohazard data,” it said.
“This allows users to interpret potential interdependencies in terms of erosion and future flooding with respect to climate forecasts, habitat and other vulnerabilities.
“As GeoCoast represents the natural geological coastline as if no coastal defences or made ground are present, the datasets are of particular value in areas where coastal defences are no longer maintained or have never been apparent.”
