---
title: Enviro + Geo Insight - GIS schema: Geology (50k)
description: Data schema for the geology (50k) group of datasets within Groundsure's Enviro + Geo Insight - GIS product
---

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July 29, 2025

# Enviro + Geo Insight - GIS schema: Geology (50k)

## The information below details all definition of each of the layers in the Geology (50k) group within the GeoPackage, defining each data layer, the attributes of the data and their data types, as well as the definitions for any values that use look up tables

### 50k Availability

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Availability\_50K\_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset that provides an indication on the coverage of 1:50,000 scale geology data for each map sheet provided by the British Geological Survey (BGS) across England, Wales and Scotland. Records include; title, confirmation of full, partial or no coverage for the sheet and the individual coverage for superficial geology, bedrock geology, mass movement deposits, artificial ground and the map sheet number.

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| art\_cover | Varchar (5) |
| sup\_cover | Varchar (5) |
| bed\_cover | Varchar (5) |
| mas\_cover | Varchar (5) |
| sheet | Varchar (46) |
| title | Varchar (38) |

### Artificial and made ground (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Artificial\_and\_Made\_Ground\_50K\_BGS

This dataset is produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and details artificial deposits of made, worked, infilled, disturbed and landscaped ground mapped at 1:50,000 scale within Great Britain. Artificial ground can be associated with potentially contaminated material, unpredictable engineering conditions and instability. Records include descriptions of the Lexicon code and Rock Classification Scheme (RCS). 

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage:** England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| lex\_d | Varchar (200) |
| lex\_rcs\_d | Varchar (254) |

### Artificial ground permeability

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Artificial\_Ground\_Permeability\_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset representing the permeability of artificial deposits for England, Wales and Scotland. The permeability data is a qualitative classification of the estimated rates of vertical movement of water from the ground surface through the unsaturated zone of any artificial deposits (the zone between the land surface and the water table). The data is derived from digital geological mapping at a 1:50,000 scale. Records provide details of the flow mechanism (fracture, intergranular, or mixed) as well as the minimum and maximum permeability rate (from very low to very high), however neither of the assigned values takes into account the thickness of either the unsaturated or saturated part of the lithostratigraphical unit.

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| flow\_type | Varchar (254) |
| max\_perm | Varchar (254) |
| min\_perm | Varchar (254) |

 

### Superficial geology (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Superficial\_Geology\_50K\_BGS

This dataset is produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and identifies the superficial geology of Great Britain mapped at 1:50,000 scale. Also known as 'drift', these are the youngest geological deposits, formed during the Quaternary. They rest on older deposits or rocks referred to as bedrock. Superficial deposits were laid down by various natural processes such as action by ice, water, wind and weathering. As such, the deposits are denoted by their BGS Lexicon name, which classifies them on the basis of mode of origin (lithogenesis). Records include descriptions of the Lexicon code, Rock Classification Scheme (RCS) and the two part code to label geological units.

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| rcs\_d | Varchar (200) |
| lex\_rcs\_d | Varchar (250) |
| lex\_d | Varchar (200) |

 

### Superficial permeability (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Superficial\_Permability\_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset representing the permeability of Superficial geological deposits for England, Wales and Scotland. The permeability data is a qualitative classification of the estimated rates of vertical movement of water from the ground surface through the unsaturated zone of any superficial deposits (the zone between the land surface and the water table). The data is derived from digital geological mapping at a 1:50,000 scale (or 1:625,000 where this is not available). Records provide details of the flow mechanism (fracture, intergranular, or mixed) as well as the minimum and maximum permeability rate (from very low to very high), however neither of the assigned values takes into account the thickness of either the unsaturated or saturated part of the lithostratigraphical unit.

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| flow\_type | Varchar (254) |
| max\_perm | Varchar (254) |
| min\_perm | Varchar (254) |

### Landslip (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Landslip\_50K\_BGS

This dataset is produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and identifies mass movement deposits on BGS geological maps at 1:50,000 scale. Mass movement describes areas where deposits have moved down slope under gravity to form landslips. These affect bedrock, other superficial deposits and artificial ground. Records include descriptions of the Lexicon code, Rock Classification Scheme (RCS) and the two part code to label geological units. 

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| lex\_d | Varchar (200) |
| lex\_rcs\_d | Varchar (250) |
| rcs\_d | Varchar (200) |
| lex\_rcs | Varchar (12) |

### Landslip permeability (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Landslip\_Permeability\_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset representing the permeability of mass movement deposits for England, Wales and Scotland. The permeability data is a qualitative classification of the estimated rates of vertical movement of water from the ground surface through the unsaturated zone of any landslip deposits (the zone between the land surface and the water table). The data is derived from digital geological mapping at a 1:50,000 scale. Records provide details of the flow mechanism (fracture, intergranular, or mixed) as well as the minimum and maximum permeability rate (from very low to very high), however neither of the assigned values takes into account the thickness of either the unsaturated or saturated part of the lithostratigraphical unit.

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| flow\_type | Varchar (254) |
| max\_perm | Varchar (254) |
| min\_perm | Varchar (254) |

### Bedrock geology (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Bedrock\_Geology\_50K\_BGS

This dataset is produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and identifies the bedrock geology of Great Britain mapped at 1:50,000 scale. The bedrock meaning the main mass of rocks forming the Earth whether exposed at the surface in outcrops or concealed beneath superficial deposits or water. The bedrock geology of Great Britain is very diverse and includes three broad classes based on their mode of origin: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. Records provide details of the two part code to label geological units, the maximum geochronological time, descriptions of the Lexicon code and Rock Classification Scheme (RCS).

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| description\_agg | Varchar (250) |
| max\_age | Varchar (32) |
| min\_max\_agg | Varchar (120) |
| lex\_rock | Varchar (12) |
| lex\_rcs\_d | Varchar (254) |
| lex\_rcs | Varchar (200) |

### Bedrock permeability (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Bedrock\_Permeability\_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset representing the permeability of bedrock for England, Wales and Scotland. The permeability data is a qualitative classification of the estimated rates of vertical movement of water from the ground surface through the unsaturated zone of any bedrock (the zone between the land surface and the water table). The data is derived from digital geological mapping at a 1:50,000 scale (or 1:625,000 where this is not available). Records provide details of the flow mechanism (fracture, intergranular, or mixed) as well as the minimum and maximum permeability rate (from very low to very high), however neither of the assigned values takes into account the thickness of either the unsaturated or saturated part of the lithostratigraphical unit.

**Geometry: **Polygon

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| flow\_type | Varchar (254) |
| max\_perm | Varchar (254) |
| min\_perm | Varchar (254) |

 

### Bedrock faults and other linear features (50k)

#### Layer name: Geology\_50K-Bedrock\_Faults\_and\_Linear\_Features\_10K\_BGS

This dataset is produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and identifies linear features at the ground or bedrock surface mapped at 1:50,000 scale. Features are either observed or inferred, and relate primarily to bedrock. 

The linear features are organised into seven main categories;

- Rock - marker beds with distinct physical characteristics or fossil content 
- Fossil horizons - prolific fossil assemblages which can help establish stratigraphy
- Fault - bedrock fractured and displaced by a large scale process
- Fold axis - where strata are bent or deformed due to changes or movement of the earth's surface creating heat and pressure to reshape and transform the original horizontal strata
- Mineral vein - concentrations of crystallised mineral occur within a rock
- Alteration area - zones of change to pre-existing rocks via heat and pressure
- Landform - a surface form feature e.g. drumlins.

**Geometry: **Line

**Coverage: **England, Scotland and Wales

**Schema: **

| **Column name** | **Data type** |
| --- | --- |
| gs\_id | Integer |
| category | Varchar (32) |
| feature\_d | Varchar (100) |
| lex\_rcs\_d | Varchar (254) |
| lex\_rcs | Varchar (200) |

 

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