The Handling of Hazard Data on a National Scale: A Case Study from the British Geological Survey

Abstract

This paper reviews how hazard data and geological map data have been combined by the British Geological Survey (BGS) to produce a set of GIS-based nationalscale hazard susceptibility maps for the UK. This work has been carried out over the last 9 years and as such reflects the combined outputs of a large number of researchers at BGS. The paper details the inception of these datasets from the development of the seamless digital geological map in 2001 through to the deterministic 2D hazard models produced today. These datasets currently include landslides, shrink-swell, soluble rocks, compressible and collapsible deposits, groundwater flooding, geological indicators of flooding, radon potential and potentially harmful elements in soil. These models have been created using a combination of expert knowledge (from both within BGS and from outside bodies such as the Health Protection Agency), national databases (which contain data collected over the past 175 years), multi-criteria analysis within geographical information systems and a flexible rule-based approach for each individual geohazard. By using GIS in this way, it has been possible to model the distribution and degree of geohazards across the whole of Britain.

Soil impacts on UK infrastructure: current and future climate

“…The quantification of uncertainty is paramount in the utilisation of geohazard models in infrastructure risk management (Royse, 2011). Sanders and Phillipson (2003) agreed, but suggested that uncertain predictions will prevent regulators from making significant adaptations.…”

The application of componentised modelling techniques to catastrophe model generation

“…The costs and impacts of just groundwater flooding events in the UK are significant and almost certainly underestimated (Green et al, 2006, Royse 2011 because unlike surface water flooding, groundwater floods tend to be longer-lasting, typically remaining for the order of weeks or months. Groundwater flooding can be defined as flooding caused by the emergence of water originating from subsurface permeable strata (Cobby et al 2009).…”

Soil geohazard mapping for improved asset management of UK local roads

“…Highway engineers and asset managers often have a civil engineering background, and many posses only general knowledge of earth sciences, geology and geotechnics. Clear spatial information which describes the risk of hazardous ground conditions, without the need for geological interpretation, is therefore potentially of great benefit to practicing engineers (Royse, 2011). Thematic soil-related geohazard maps, derived through reinterpretation of traditional soil maps and fusion with meteorological data, can provide decision makers with a clear view of the potential hazards affecting their assets.…”