Identification

Title

Pan-European map showing relative suitability score for Pile foundations translated from EMODnet Bathymetry water depth (offshore wind)

Alternative title(s)

WD - PF

Abstract

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.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://www.bgs.ac.uk/

name: BGS Homepage

function: information

Unique resource identifier

code

http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608404

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Keyword set

keyword value

EGDI

Geotechnical assessment

Marine geotechnical assessment

Marine geology

Terrain classification

Engineering geology

Foundation investigations

data.gov.uk (non-INSPIRE)

originating controlled vocabulary

title

BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2022

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

NERC_DDC

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-25.0000

East bounding longitude

45.0000

North bounding latitude

67.5000

South bounding latitude

35.0000

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1979

code identifying the extent

BALTIC SHIELD [id=124000]

Extent group

authority code

title

British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1979

code identifying the extent

EUROPE [id=121000]

Extent group

authority code

title

British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1979

code identifying the extent

IRELAND OFFSHORE [id=98583]

Extent group

authority code

title

British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1979

code identifying the extent

NORTHWEST EUROPEAN CONTINENTAL SHELF [id=121700]

Extent group

authority code

title

British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1979

code identifying the extent

UK CONTINENTAL SHELF [id=121701]

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2024-01-23

End position

2025-04-23

Dataset reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2025-04-23

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

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.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

INSPIRE Implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability and harmonisation of Geology

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2011

degree

false

explanation

See the referenced specification

Conformity report

specification

title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-12-08

degree

false

explanation

See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

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.

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

British Geological Survey

full postal address

The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South

EDINBURGH

EH14 4AP

United Kingdom

telephone number

0115 936 3142

facsimile number

0115 936 3276

email address

enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

responsible party role

author

Responsible party

organisation name

British Geological Survey

full postal address

The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South

EDINBURGH

EH14 4AP

United Kingdom

telephone number

0115 936 3142

facsimile number

0115 936 3276

email address

enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

responsible party role

distributor

Responsible party

organisation name

British Geological Survey

full postal address

The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South

EDINBURGH

EH14 4AP

United Kingdom

telephone number

0115 936 3142

facsimile number

0115 936 3276

email address

enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

British Geological Survey

full postal address

The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South

EDINBURGH

EH14 4AP

United Kingdom

telephone number

+44 131 667 1000

email address

enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2025-05-04

Metadata language

eng