The map of the "Soil Regions of the European Union and Adjacent Countries 1:5,000,000 (Version 2.0)" is published by the Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), in partnership with the Joint Research Center (JRC, Ispra). The soil regions map is intended to support the current national mapping activities towards a European 1:250,000 datbase by stratifying similar regional soil associations into a hierarchical concept. Only by stratification, the complexity of soils can be systematically structured so that the complex 1:250,000 legend can be handled in cross-national and contintental-level applications. Soil regions are natural, cross-regional soil geographical units which perform the highest spatial and content-based aggregation of European soils. They represent the frame conditions for soil development at the landscape level. The soil regions are presented at scale 1:5,000,000. Thus, its borders are highly generalized. Because of its low resolution, the map units absorb atypical soils and associations of soils, which are only described in higher resolution soil maps. The delineation of the soil regions is expected to be refined (and probably improved by its content) during the actual 1:250,000 mapping process. Thus, updating can be expected in the future. Currently, the soil regions map is the only graphical soil representation in Europe which has been developed using fully comparable and harmonized basic data at the continental level (climate, hydrography, relief, geology, vegetation): the interpretation of this input data, and the utilization of expert knowledge (including the interpretation of regional soil maps) has been done using one common methodology, developed and applied consistently throughout the whole mapping area by an experienced international soil mapper (Dr. Reinhard Hartwich, former member of BGR, and co-author of the 1998 Manual of Procedures). The methodology is extensively described in the Explanatory Notes (German), and in the revised Manual of Procedures which is expected to be completed soon. It is highly recommended to apply and interpret the map using the map comments and descriptions as provided in the explanatory notes (German: Hartwich et al. 2005; English: revision of the Manual of Procedures, initial version: Finke et al. 2001).

The map of the "Soil Regions of the European Union and Adjacent Countries 1:5,000,000 (Version 2.0)" is published by the Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), in partnership with the Joint Research Center (JRC, Ispra). The soil regions map is intended to support the current national mapping activities towards a European 1:250,000 datbase by stratifying similar regional soil associations into a hierarchical concept. Only by stratification, the complexity of soils can be systematically structured so that the complex 1:250,000 legend can be handled in cross-national and contintental-level applications. Soil regions are natural, cross-regional soil geographical units which perform the highest spatial and content-based aggregation of European soils. They represent the frame conditions for soil development at the landscape level. The soil regions are presented at scale 1:5,000,000. Thus, its borders are highly generalized. Because of its low resolution, the map units absorb atypical soils and associations of soils, which are only described in higher resolution soil maps. The delineation of the soil regions is expected to be refined (and probably improved by its content) during the actual 1:250,000 mapping process. Thus, updating can be expected in the future. Currently, the soil regions map is the only graphical soil representation in Europe which has been developed using fully comparable and harmonized basic data at the continental level (climate, hydrography, relief, geology, vegetation): the interpretation of this input data, and the utilization of expert knowledge (including the interpretation of regional soil maps) has been done using one common methodology, developed and applied consistently throughout the whole mapping area by an experienced international soil mapper (Dr. Reinhard Hartwich, former member of BGR, and co-author of the 1998 Manual of Procedures). The methodology is extensively described in the Explanatory Notes (German), and in the revised Manual of Procedures which is expected to be completed soon. It is highly recommended to apply and interpret the map using the map comments and descriptions as provided in the explanatory notes (German: Hartwich et al. 2005; English: revision of the Manual of Procedures, initial version: Finke et al. 2001).

The map series General Geological Map of the Federal Republic of Germany 1:200,000 (GÜK200) is the result of cooperation between the State Geological Surveys of the Federal Republic of Germany (SGD), the Geological Surveys of neighbouring countries and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). The GÜK200 displays the surface geology of Germany and adjacent areas of neighbouring countries on 55 map sheets. The map sheets show the regional dissemination of more than 3800 geological units. The geological units contain information on stratigraphy (age), genesis and petrography (composition) of the rocks. Each printed/scanned map sheet contains one or several geological cross-sections which give an insight into the subsurface. The digital data of the map series are stored separately for each map sheet. According to this geological units/polygons, their boundaries, tectonic linear elements and, if present, ice sheet boundaries are saved as a discrete layer in a shapefile for the single map sheets. The attributes of the geological units contain information – like in the printed map sheets – on stratigraphy, genesis and petrography of the rocks.

The map series General Geological Map of the Federal Republic of Germany 1:200,000 (GÜK200) is the result of cooperation between the State Geological Surveys of the Federal Republic of Germany (SGD), the Geological Surveys of neighbouring countries and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). The GÜK200 displays the surface geology of Germany and adjacent areas of neighbouring countries on 55 map sheets. The map sheets show the regional dissemination of more than 3800 geological units. The geological units contain information on stratigraphy (age), genesis and petrography (composition) of the rocks.

The IHME1500 v1.2 is a vector dataset resulting from the digitisation of the 25 published map sheets of the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe at the of scale 1:1,500,000 (IHME1500). The dataset was extended for five unpublished, digitised IHME1500 map sheets to achieve full map coverage. It consists of selected features of the IHME1500 with the following content: - Aquifer types (area): Distinction of six types of aquifers according to their productivity and void types. - Lithology (area): Lithological classification of the aquifers at five aggregation levels. - Seawater intrusion (area): Areas with salination of groundwater caused by sea water intrusion. - Tectonic fractures (line): Geological lineaments assigned to the five classes of known or supposed faults or overthrusts and boundaries of fractured belts in Iceland. The IHME1500 v1.2 includes a correction of inconsistencies of the printed map sheets and was spatially adjusted to an up-to-date topographic base. The IHME1500 is a hydrogeological map series consisting of 25 published map sheets with explanatory notes that covers the European continent and parts of the Near East. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are the project coordinators, supported by the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW). Each sheet consists of contributions by the respective countries represented in the map, which were harmonised across borders. The map series including the explanatory notes can be used for scientific purposes, for large-scale regional planning and as a framework for detailed hydrogeological mapping.

The Geological Map of Germany 1:1,000,000 (GK1000) represents the geology of Germany and adjacent areas. The Quaternary units of Northern Germany and the Alpine foreland are described by their genesis.The older sedimentary rocks are classified by age (stratigraphy); igneous and metamorphic rocks are classified by their composition (lithology).

The 1:5 Million International Geological Map of Europe and Adjacent Areas shows the pre-Quarternary geology of Europe onshore and offshore. In addition to the geology attributed by age, petrography and genesis, also magnetic anomalies, tectonic structures, metamorphism and – in the offshore areas – information about the continental/oceanic crust and the continental margin, are shown. The map was developed by BGR under the umbrella of the Commission of the Geological Map of the World (CGMW) and in cooperation with geological surveys organisations of 48 countries and more than 20 research institutes. For detailed information about the 'IGME 5000: More than just a map – A multinational GIS Project' please visit the IGME website.

The Geological Map of Germany 1:1,000,000 (GK1000) represents the geology of Germany and adjacent areas. The Quaternary units of Northern Germany and the Alpine foreland are described by their genesis.The older sedimentary rocks are classified by age (stratigraphy); igneous and metamorphic rocks are classified by their composition (lithology).

The IHME1500 v1.2 is a vector dataset resulting from the digitisation of the 25 published map sheets of the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe at the of scale 1:1,500,000 (IHME1500). The dataset was extended for five unpublished, digitised IHME1500 map sheets to achieve full map coverage. It consists of selected features of the IHME1500 with the following content: - Aquifer types (area): Distinction of six types of aquifers according to their productivity and void types. - Lithology (area): Lithological classification of the aquifers at five aggregation levels. - Seawater intrusion (area): Areas with salination of groundwater caused by sea water intrusion. - Tectonic fractures (line): Geological lineaments assigned to the five classes of known or supposed faults or overthrusts and boundaries of fractured belts in Iceland. The IHME1500 v1.2 includes a correction of inconsistencies of the printed map sheets and was spatially adjusted to an up-to-date topographic base. The IHME1500 is a hydrogeological map series consisting of 25 published map sheets with explanatory notes that covers the European continent and parts of the Near East. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are the project coordinators, supported by the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW). Each sheet consists of contributions by the respective countries represented in the map, which were harmonised across borders. The map series including the explanatory notes can be used for scientific purposes, for large-scale regional planning and as a framework for detailed hydrogeological mapping.

The 1:5 Million International Geological Map of Europe and Adjacent Areas shows the pre-Quarternary geology of Europe onshore and offshore. In addition to the geology attributed by age, petrography and genesis, also magnetic anomalies, tectonic structures, metamorphism and – in the offshore areas – information about the continental/oceanic crust and the continental margin, are shown. The map was developed by BGR under the umbrella of the Commission of the Geological Map of the World (CGMW) and in cooperation with geological surveys organisations of 48 countries and more than 20 research institutes. For detailed information about the 'IGME 5000: More than just a map – A multinational GIS Project' please visit the IGME website.