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Predictive Seabed Sediments UK v1

The BGS Predictive Seabed Sediments UK v1 dataset includes digital maps of seabed sediment (SBS) composition across the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). The dataset includes one classified SBS map (Folk sediment class; vector), and three percentage-sediment maps (rasters) giving the proportions of gravel, sand, and mud. The dataset is generated using a machine learning algorithm known as a Distributional Random Forest (DRF). The model uses input data to predictively classify what seabed sediments are most likely to be the dominant sediment present. It does so, using more than 38,000 seabed sediment samples (collated from various sources) with measurements of the proportion of mud, sand and gravel from locations across the study area. The predictions are constrained against covariate variables that are known to influence which sediment is most likely to occur. These include bathymetry data morphometric derivatives (at multiple spatial scales), as well as hydrodynamic data layers (currents and tidal). The dataset was reviewed via a qualitative assessment (QA) protocol by subject-area experts (e.g. contrasting with previous mapping, and local examples of higher-resolution data and mapping), and following methodological improvements based on this feedback, updated SBS map products were prepared. The dataset is presented at a national-scale, with a spatial resolution of approximately 110m, covering the UKCS (slightly modified UKCS area based on data availability).

Simple

Date (Creation)
2025-03-31
Identifier
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608434
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South , EDINBURGH , LOTHIAN , EH14 4AP , United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South , EDINBURGH , LOTHIAN , EH14 4AP , United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Maintenance and update frequency
notPlanned Not planned
GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
  • Geology
BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences
  • Citable Data
  • Marine sediments
  • BGS Data Products
  • Continental shelf
  • Sea floor
  • UK Location (INSPIRE)
dataCentre
  • UK Location (INSPIRE)
  • Citable Data
  • BGS Data Products
Keywords
  • NERC_DDC
Access constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
licenceOGL
Other constraints
Available under the Open Government Licence subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced NERC materials "Contains NERC materials ©NERC [year]"
Use constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
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 any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused.
Other constraints
Available under the Open Government Licence subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced NERC materials "Contains NERC materials ©NERC [year]"
Spatial representation type
vector Vector
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Topic category
  • Geoscientific information
Geographic identifier
GB

Date (Revision)
2009

Geographic identifier
UK [id=139300]

Date (Creation)
1979

Geographic identifier
UKM

Date (Revision)
2009

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Begin date
2025
Unique resource identifier
WGS 84 (EPSG::4326)
Distribution format
  • GeoTIFF image (.tif, .tiff) ()

  • GeoPackage (.gpkg) ()

  • ESRI Shapefile (.shp) ()

Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South , EDINBURGH , LOTHIAN , EH14 4AP , United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
OnLine resource
BGS Predictive Seabed Sediments (UK) ( HTTP )
OnLine resource
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

British Geological Survey. (2025). Predictive Seabed Sediments UK v1. British Geological Survey. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/5a74b5aa-ebe2-4079-a870-7f6c34e6ac3d

Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Other
dataset

Conformance result

Date (Publication)
2011
Explanation
See the referenced specification
Pass
No

Conformance result

Date (Publication)
2010-12-08
Explanation
See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF
Pass
No
Statement
The dataset is the result of predictive numerical modelling of seabed sediment composition across the UKCS. The model employs a DRF approach, utilising more than 38,000 sediment samples and a series of physical covariates to help constrain the occurrence and distribution of sediment. Refer to ‘Data Listing’ for sources of the data. The model outputs are both quantitatively and qualitatively assessed and reconfigured based on QA, to produce maps across the UKCS at a spatial resolution of c. 115 m. The data, methods, analysis and map products are further described within the User Guide for the dataset (OR/25/040). The dataset and accompanying reports are credited to Dayton Dove for the project conception, geological QA and selection of model co-variates; Ben Marchant and Matthew Paice (ex-BGS) for modelling, development and refinement; Mary Mowat for data compilation and management.
File identifier
39052b52-a9d5-7611-e063-3050940a58f4 XML
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Date stamp
2025-11-13
Metadata standard name
UK GEMINI
Metadata standard version
2.3
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey
Environmental Science Centre,Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
+44 115 936 3100
Dataset URI
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608434
 
 

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