Pan-European map showing relative suitability score for Pile foundations translated from EMODnet Bathymetry water depth (offshore wind)
WD - PF
Pan-European water depth suitability map, derived from EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) Bathymetry data, showing the relative suitability for offshore wind pile foundations. The relative scoring system is from 0 (null) and 1 to 5 (i.e., high to low suitability, respectively), resulting in regional water depth suitability map for pile foundations. Null values represent hexagons that extended too far inland (e.g. estuaries) and thus don’t overlay the bathymetry map, however are kept in for information. A score of 5 (low suitability) is given to values >=0 and over 80 m. A score of 3 is given to 60-80 m. A score of 2 (higher suitability) is given to 10-50 m. The scoring system is a relative suitability scale, defined by BGS (2014), a commercial project undertaken with The Crown Estate. The original water depth (EMODnet Bathymetry) data has been translated into Hex maps due to the various data resolutions of the bathymetry datasets. Hex maps permit spatial screening of suitable license areas over vast areas and provides the end-user with an understanding to the level of uncertainty regarding the final maps. This pan-European digital GIS product is produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and forms part of a series of maps that define domain parameters related to marine geotechnical conditions, focusing on water depth and suitability for foundation installation. Water depth is a critical parameter influencing the selection and design of foundation systems for offshore infrastructure. Water Depth is a domain-type to support early-stage site assessment, engineering design constraints and risk evaluation processes in offshore development projects. The data is useful for marine spatial planners, wind farm developers, and research institutions who would like to understand the suitability of different foundation types for various water depths at a regional scale.
dataset
name: BGS Homepage
function: information
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608404
eng
geoscientificInformation
publication
2008-06-01
EGDI
Geotechnical assessment
Marine geotechnical assessment
Marine geology
Terrain classification
Engineering geology
Foundation investigations
data.gov.uk (non-INSPIRE)
revision
2022
NERC_DDC
-25.0000
45.0000
67.5000
35.0000
creation
1979
BALTIC SHIELD [id=124000]
creation
1979
EUROPE [id=121000]
creation
1979
IRELAND OFFSHORE [id=98583]
creation
1979
NORTHWEST EUROPEAN CONTINENTAL SHELF [id=121700]
creation
1979
UK CONTINENTAL SHELF [id=121701]
2024-01-23
2025-04-23
creation
2025-04-23
notPlanned
Creation of ‘H3’ hexagon grids, which is a global grid system for indexing geographies into a hexagonal grid (https://h3geo.org/). 6—Hexagons used for regional maps, with an average area of 36.129062164 square kilometers. Aim of hexagon conversion: Each hexagon to summarise the percentage of each hexagon taken up by lower, medium, higher complexity (and null), with the accompanying attributes that went into determining that level of complexity attached to each portion of the hexagon. Bathymetry map methodology: • Exported the hexagon grids (H3 hexagons, resolutions 6) that intersect with the EEZ, using Select by Location and then exporting the selected hexagon cells as a new shapefile (Bathymetry_H3_hex_res6). • The bathymetry layer had to be converted to an integer raster (as opposed to floating point) to be able to use the zonal statistics tools. • Used Zonal Statistics as Table tool (Spatial Analyst > Zonal Toolset) with the following settings: 'Auto detect' for percentile interpolation type. • Then water depth maps using the EMODnet Bathymetry layer was provided for Suction Buckets, Piles, Gravity-based structures and Floating wind farms. The method involves selecting each class of values in the table above and giving them their associated score. NB: The bathymetry map provides water depths as negative values i.e. -15 = 15 m below mean sea level, therefore the ranges in the table above are referring to negative values in the GIS data. To make processing simpler, all positive values in the GIS data were first given a value of -9999, then the whole field was multiplied by -1 to make all valid water depths positive. The MIN field was used for water depths as this contains the deepest values.
publication
2011
false
See the referenced specification
publication
2010-12-08
false
See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF
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.
British Geological Survey
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South
EDINBURGH
EH14 4AP
United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
author
British Geological Survey
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South
EDINBURGH
EH14 4AP
United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
distributor
British Geological Survey
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South
EDINBURGH
EH14 4AP
United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
pointOfContact
British Geological Survey
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South
EDINBURGH
EH14 4AP
United Kingdom
+44 131 667 1000
pointOfContact
2025-05-04