Jisc geospatial data services, hosted by Airbus Space and Defence Limited, is a platform service consisting of a geospatial data product (GDP) View service, GDP Data Download service and associated Support services.

The View service

• Display GDPs using web map technology via a relevant web map service technology with an easily navigable user interface
• GDPs can be adjusted and interrogated by the user to meet their needs. Users can turn mapping layers on and off, overlay layers and view them side by side for comparison. Any additional attribute information can also be called up
• Users can add their own annotations onto the map with graphics and labels before saving or printing the map view

Airbus' service solution use OpenLayers as the main map viewer component with additional custom extensions and will also reuse existing functionality present in other Geostore® services, in order to provide a modern and responsive user experience available for effective use on multiple devices.

The Data Download service

• Download specific geographically defined sections of the GDPs, in various file formats.
• Download both raster and vector data in a variety of file formats and be presented with relevant license conditions.
• Simple interface for navigation and selection of GDPs for download then specify the precise geographical extent for extraction. Extraction will either be immediate or via download link (for files under 1GB)

This collection for higher education, Research Councils and Affiliate Members includes the Environmental, Ordinance Survey Collection, Geology, Historic and Marine services.

Environmental

Environmental provides Land Cover Map data from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. This is a parcel-based classification of UK land cover derived from satellite images and digital cartography and gives land cover information for the entire UK. Land cover is based on UK Biodiversity Action Plan Broad Habitats.

Land cover is the physical material on the surface of the Earth. Examples include artificial materials such as roads and buildings in urban areas, natural and managed vegetated surfaces and inland water.

Land cover maps have multiple uses. They are used for the management of natural resources, urban planning, carbon accounting and flood risk modelling.

CEH has produced three digital Land Cover Maps which have been successfully used in a wide range of applications over the last 20 years. Details of the three Land Cover Maps and how to access them are provided below:

1. Land Cover Map 2007
2. Land Cover Map 2000
3. Land Cover Map 1990

LiDAR and Coastal Aerial Mapping data included free of charge:

• LiDAR (light detection and ranging) including the Composite Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and the Composite Digital Surface Model (DSM),
• Coastal Aerial Maps including the Coastal Vertical Aerial Photography and Coastal Oblique Aerial Photography

Ordnance Survey Collection

Licensed Data

The Ordnance Survey Licensed Data consists of the following products:

• OS MasterMap® Topography Layer
• OS MasterMap® Integrated Transport Network™ (ITN) Layer
• OS MasterMap® Integrated Transport Network™ (ITN) Layer - Urban Paths Theme
• OS MasterMap Water Network Layer
• OS MasterMap Highways Network
• OS Network Path Network
• OS VectorMap® Local
• OS VectorMap® Local Black and White Raster
• OS VectorMap® Local Colour Raster
• OS VectorMap® Local Backdrop Colour Raster
• 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster
• 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster
• Code-Point®
• Code-Point® with polygons
• Land-Line®
• Land-Line Plus®
• Points of Interest
• OS Terrain® 5
• 1:10 000 Scale Raster (for the period of the Licence Term up to and including 31 March 2016)
• Land-Form PROFILE® (for the period of the Licence Term up to and including 30 September 2016)
• Scotland's Greenspace Map

The Licensed Data also includes:

• Any and all Ordnance Survey Data which is received from a PSMA Member and/or OSMA Member pursuant to Clause 4. (For the avoidance of doubt, such Ordnance Survey Data may be incorporated within and form part of a PSMA Member's / OSMA Member's own data product). Authorised Users shall record full details of any Ordnance Survey Data they receive.
• Any mapping images of Ordnance Survey Data (in digital or hard copy) which are provided by Ordnance Survey to Jisc Collections or Airbus.

OS OpenData

The following datasets constitute OS OpenData datasets and may be included in the Geospatial Service. These datasets, together with any other datasets which Ordnance Survey releases as OS OpenData in the future, are not subject to the restrictions of this EULA, but are licensed under the OS OpenData Licence terms which are available to view (or such other replacement url).

A current list of OS OpenData products is available.

• OS VectorMap® District
• Land-Form PANORAMA®
• 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster
• 1:50 000 Scale Gazetteer
• Boundary-Line™
• Code-Point® Open
• Meridian™ 2
• MiniScale®
• OS Locator™
• OS Street View®
• OS Terrain® 50
• Strategi®

Please note: All geospatial users must be fully registered members of a subscribing UK further higher education institution or Research Council.

Please note that institutions no longer need to hold a current Ordnance Survey Education Copyright Licence.

Please view our FAQ Guide about the Ordnance Survey sub-licence

*Please read the amended model sub licence and the obligations of the EULA appendix very carefully. The OS has recently amended its licence with the whole academic sector, which is now called the Education Service Providers Contract. The Licence FAQ highlights the major changes. The End User Licence Acceptance for each first time user of the service will be enforced.

Geology

Geology can be used for viewing, annotating and printing maps online, and for downloading data for use in GIS software.

Geology gives access to the main onshore and offshore geology products along with some groundwater and rock information data:

• 1:10,000 scale Geology (DiGMapGB-10)
• 1:25,000 scale Geology (DiGMapGB-25)
• 1:50,000 scale Geology (DiGMapGB-50)
• 1:250,000 scale Geology (DiGMapGB-250)
• 1:625,000 scale Geology (DiGMapGB-625)
• 1:250,000 scale Offshore Geology (DigRock250 and DigSBS250)
• Onshore Boreholes Index (SOBI)
• Lexicon of Named Rock Units
• Soil Parent Material Model
• Superficial Deposits Thickness Models
• Geological Indicators of flooding
• Permeability Indices

Geology allows users to view the onshore geology products as well as view British Geological Survey images of geological features, of rocks, fossils and the BGS at work. The maps can be customised, annotated and printed up to A0 with a legend.

Additional Data

Airbus can also provide the following Lithoframe 3D model data from the BGS; LithoFrame is a new concept to produce models of Britain's subsurface geology, they are the 3D equivalent of the geological map:

• LithoFrame 1M - nationwide for use at a scale of 1:1 000 000 for onshore Britain. It shows the most significant stratigraphic divisions (e.g. base Carboniferous, top of major intrusive bodies) and major faults in a single model, down from the ground surface to the base of the Earth's crust (40 km).
• LithoFrame50 (area of London) will be modelled at the formation level (e.g. base London Clay Formation, base Harwich Formation) and will reach around 1 km in depth
• LithoFrame10 (area of Glasgow) is the highest resolution, with a focus on well-characterised and relatively shallow superficial deposits including, where appropriate, the subdivision of artificial ground, flood plain, and river terrace deposits.

1:250,000 scale themes (GB coverage - vector data), solid geology, drift deposits (if BGS digitisation programme is complete), 1:50,000 scale themes (GB coverage - vector data), solid geology, drift deposits, mass movement, artificial ground. DiGMapGB-625 - 1:625 000 scale data. Digital onshore geological maps at 1:625 000 scale covering Great Britain are available for download. Bedrock geology and superficial deposits themes are made available. KML files are also available.

The BGS lexicon of named rock units

The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units is a relational database which holds definitive and readily accessible information about all geological units used in BGS maps and publications. Lexicon entries include rock unit name, map code, parent rock units, lower and upper boundaries, thickness, geographical extent and bibliographic references. The Lexicon adds value to the geological digital maps and support documentation.

Lithoframe 3D model data

The 3D model data shall be added to the Licensed Work from time to time as and when supplied by the Licensor to the Licensee.

LithoFrame is a new concept to produce models of Britain's subsurface geology; the 3D equivalent of the geological map.

Models are systematically developed at a range of resolutions:

• LithoFrame 1M - nationwide for use at a scale of 1:1 000 000 for onshore Britain. It shows the most significant stratigraphic divisions (e.g. base Carboniferous, top of major intrusive bodies) and major faults in a single model, down from the ground surface to the base of the Earth's crust (40 km).
• LithoFrame50 (area of London) will be modelled at the formation level (e.g. base London Clay Formation, base Harwich Formation) and will reach around 1 km in depth
• LithoFrame10 (area of Glasgow) is the highest resolution, with a focus on well-characterised and relatively shallow superficial deposits including, where appropriate, the subdivision of artificial ground, flood plain, and river terrace deposits.

  This data will be supplied as ESRI shapes and grids. The shapes will give the horizontal extent of each modelled unit, the grids will give elevations of top and base of each modelled unit.

• GSI3D software and sample data (which is also available for down from the following site www.gsi3d.org/downloads)

Delivery formats:

• ESRI Shapefile format
• MapInfo MIF/MID format
• JIDI Images consisting of the British Geological Survey images (of geological features, of rocks, fossils and the BGS at work)
• DigRock250 (1:250,000 scale offshore bedrock geology),
• DigSBS250 (offshore 1:250,000 scale seabed sediment data)
• DiGMapGB-625 - 1:625 000 scale data

  Digital onshore geological maps at 1:625 000 scale covering Great Britain are available for download. Bedrock geology and superficial deposits themes are made available. KML files are also available.

  Historic

  Historic provides access to the valuable historic Ordnance Survey map collection online. The maps are digital scans of Ordnance Survey paper map sheets including:

  • all available County Series maps at 1:2,500 and 1:10560 scales published between 1843 and 1939
  • all available National Grid maps at 1:1,250, 1:2,500 and 1:10560/10,000 scales published from 1945 and before the introduction of the Ordnance Survey's digital Land-Line product in the 1990s
  • all available Town Plans at 1:500, 1:528 and 1:1,056 scales published from 1848 and 1939;

  Users can view maps through their web browser, save maps for printing and download the historic map data for use in geographical information systems.

  The content has been purchased in perpetuity, but a fee applies for access via the Airbus platform.

  Marine

  • Marine Themes Vector
  • Marine Themes Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
  • Raster Charts eXcluding Land (XL)

  The full features catalogue is available.

Subscription information

By subscribing to this resource, you will be accepting the licences for Environment, Geology, Historic, Marine and Ordnance Survey at the same time. Please also note that in addition to institutions accepting the terms of the new sub-licence agreement, all end users will be required to agree to the terms of use for each collection when they register online.

There is a risk free trial for the service until 31 Jul 2019. From August 2019 until July 2020 the service is available as a no cost optional service*.

*Beyond July 2020, this will remain a no cost optional service as long the current VAT arrangements for Jisc continue. If Jisc's VAT position changes and the service is no longer a cost free optional service from 2020/21 and beyond, the Institution shall have the right to terminate this Sub-Licence during the Subscription Period.