OR/16/004 Modelled volume, purpose and scale

Barron, A J M. 2016. GSI3D model metadata report for HS2 Area 3 (Newton Purcell to Thorpe Mandeville). British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/16/004.

This model is of the bedrock, natural superficial deposits and artificially modified ground geology of an area along the proposed route of the High Speed Rail link between London and Birmingham (HS2). This is one of nine models along the proposed route (Areas 1 to 9). It covers the section of the HS2 route between Newton Purcell in Oxfordshire and Thorpe Mandeville in Northamptonshire, including a buffer 5 km wide (Figure 1), in common with the eight other HS2 models. The bedrock geology of this section of the route comprises Lower to Middle Jurassic strata, together with superficial deposits of glacigenic and fluvial origin. It is suitable for use at scales between 1:100 000–1:10 000, down to a depth of 30 m below OD.

Prior to the modelling work, an assessment of the quality and availability of the digital geological linework and existing 3D models of the whole HS2 route between London and Birmingham was undertaken (Barron et al., 2012). As a consequence of this review, the geological mapping of this sector was deemed to be adequate, dating from the 1950’s to the 2000’s. Thus this 3D model is based on geological line work from existing 1:10 000 and 1:50 000 scale DiGMapGB data.

Figure 1 Location of the Area 2 model outlined in green.
The proposed route of HS2 is marked by a blue line. BGS 1:50 000-scale maps in red. National Grid 1:10 000 maps in grey. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2014.