UK Shelf Seabed Rock Outcrop Predictions with Confidence Scores

A Random Forest model combined with expert interpretation predicts rock at outcrop or subcrop across the UK shelf area. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee produced this shapefile, which includes a confidence score field and manual amendments for Welsh waters from February 2018. Three individual JNCC reports detail the semi-automated mapping methodology for different sea regions.

Use Cases

• Marine habitat analysis based on the ROCK_TYPE field distinguishing surface rock from sediment-covered rock.
• Assessing prediction reliability for planning based on the CONF_TOTAL confidence score field.
• Reviewing expert-driven data modifications using the provided audit dataset of manual changes.
• Modeling seabed geology using predictor variables like bathymetry, roughness, slope, and hydrodynamic data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Includes a documented audit trail of expert-led modifications to the model output.
• Final confidence scores are based on a three-step assessment method (JNCC Report 591).
• Methodology is detailed across three published JNCC reports (569, 592, 609).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Manual edits are specific to Welsh waters (February 2018), potentially creating regional inconsistency.

Provenance

Source

Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), with contributions from BGS and Cefas.

Collection Method

Semi-automated approach using a Random Forest model on bathymetric, geological, and hydrodynamic inputs, followed by expert interpretation.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-14 09:48:06.550442; freshness should be verified.

Geography

United Kingdom shelf area, including the English Channel, Celtic Sea, North Sea, Irish Sea, Minches, and western Scotland.