Optical Digital Galactic Plane Surveys and Star-Cluster Science

Over the next few years, the optical surveys IPHAS, UVEX and VPHAS+ will provide complete photometric coverage of the Galactic Plane within the latitude range -5 degrees <b <+5 degrees. Of these surveys, IPHAS is the most complete. Drawing on the work that has already been embarked upon using IPHAS r, i and narrowband H. data, examples of the application of these very wide area surveys to the study of star clusters and the structure of the Milky Way disc are outlined.