The data are collected using commercial contractors and are publicly released. Most of these data have been acquired around the British Isles along offshore profiles designed to cross the likely continuation of major structures known from surface geology on-land. The high quality of the data has been ensured by the use of commercial contractors working to stringent quality control specifications. These show how the major structures formed in the lithosphere control the subsequent evolution on a local scale.
Structures related to previous orogenic events can control basin geometry and infill.
Mapping of the crust has given evidence for the behaviour of major faults at depth and provided evidence to support rheological models of the lithosphere. This information can readily be incorporated into migration imaging and petrophysical models. Geological exposures show complexity at all length scales.