https://ckan.publishing.service.gov.uk/dataset/51909420-fa99-41b5-adeb-bb85ba443e97/resource/6252069a-ec2e-4dd9-980b-6efd83ad385b
type: Distribution
access URL: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/datasets/superficial-deposit-thickness-model/
description: Resource locator
issued: 2026-07-30T20:41:32.878285
modified: 2026-07-30T20:41:32.844314

British Geological Survey (BGS)
type: Organization

Superficial Deposit Thickness Model (SDTM) version 8
type: Dataset
keyword: Sediments
keyword: Boreholes
keyword: NERC_DDC
keyword: Quaternary
keyword: Surficial geology
description: The Superficial Deposit Thickness Model (SDTM) is a package of datasets which demonstrate the regional variation in superficial deposits thickness across Great Britain. These deposits are unconsolidated sediments which lie on top of bedrock and may include river channel and floodplain deposits, beach sands, talus gravels and glacial drift and large areas of peat. Superficial deposits are of importance for geologists, civil engineers, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists as they are often unconsolidated and, together with other processes, form pathways for groundwater to travel along. Their thickness over much of the country relates to the glacial history of the UK over the Quaternary period. SDTM datasets combine borehole data records and mapped superficial and artificial geology (at 1: 50 000 scale). SDTM comprises four raster layers; • the Terrain Adjusted Model (TAM) • the Observation Driven Model (ODM) • the Rockhead Elevation Model (RHEM) • the Data Distance (DataDist) uncertainty layer These component layers provide the user with 50m x 50m cell size rasterised surfaces of potential superficial sediment thickness distribution across Great Britain as well as information on the distribution of the input data sources. The intended scale of use of this dataset is 1:100,000 with a vertical modelled precision of +/-5m elevation. The dataset is intended for use at national, regional and local scales but not site scales where specific ground investigation works should be undertaken to determine superficial thickness and / or rockhead elevation. An accompanying User Guide (OR25087) can be downloaded from the product webpage https://www.bgs.ac.uk/datasets/superficial-deposit-thickness-model/
issued: 2026-07-23T18:36:44.444137
modified: 2026-07-30T20:41:32.839810
spatial: Location
  geometry: {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[2.6955, 49.8165], [-7.4829, 49.8165], [-7.4829, 60.7850], [2.6955, 60.7850], [2.6955, 49.8165]]]}

Citation Information - Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
type: Distribution
access URL: https://doi.org/10.5285/136bacd3-5074-4370-ad82-e8c06d0719bb
description: British Geological Survey. (2026). Superficial Deposit Thickness Model (SDTM) version 8. British Geological Survey. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/136bacd3-5074-4370-ad82-e8c06d0719bb
issued: 2026-07-30T20:41:32.878286
modified: 2026-07-30T20:41:32.844379