A TWO-YEAR project carried out by Southampton-based Ordnance Survey has shown that integrating land mapping, marine charts and geographical information around Britain's coastline would greatly improve coastal management.

The idea would make it highly advantageous to both public authorities and businesses, and could save millions of pounds in costs.

The project involved a trial period of unifying the digital mapping of the land, sea and geology of southern England, including Shoreham in West Sussex to Lyme Regis in Dorset, the Isle of Wight, and areas of coastline around the Firth of Forth in Scotland and Milford Haven (Wales).

Ordnance Survey, the UK

Hydrographic Office and the British Geological Survey (the three partners behind the Integrated Coastal Zone Mapping Project) are all seeking funding to create nationally consistent data of the entire 18,000 kilometre coastline of Britain.