Recent media coverage

We closely monitor and evaluate all media coverage of Ordnance Survey. News and features about our activities regularly appear in national, local, trade and consumer press. We also receive a significant amount of coverage on television and radio, and an ever-increasing amount of on-line media mentions.  

This is an overview of Ordnance Survey media coverage during March 2008:

Corporate issues

The Observer praised Ordnance Survey as “the world’s leading mapmaker”, praising our work in data collection and the development of digital mapping. 

Geomatics World published a feature by David Holland from our Research Labs on automatic change detection in our data collection work. The article described how we have been moving from periodic, cyclic revision towards more automated processes informed by aerial imagery.

The launch of our platform for web 2.0 developers, OS OpenSpace, was reported in Geomatics World and UK Press Gazette and on ZD Net. 

GeoInformatics reported on an “inspired presentation” by Ordnance Survey’s Director General and Chief Executive Vanessa Lawrence at the geospatial intelligence conference DGI Europe. Her subject was the importance of geographic information underpinning decision making.

Guardian Technology reported on the government’s response to a study into the economics of trading funds such as Ordnance Survey. The article quoted the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform as saying: “The underlying principle will be that information collected for public purposes will be made available at a price that balances the need for access while ensuring customers pay a fair contribution to the cost of collecting this information.”

In a news story and editorial comment, Geomatics World covered the publication of a select committee report on Ordnance Survey which looked at issues such as licensing.

Spatial News and GISUser.com were among the websites to preview the forthcoming GEO-8 conference at which Ordnance Survey will be discussing developments with our GPS positioning infrastructure, OS Net.

The Hampshire Chronicle and Southern Daily Echo reported that Ordnance Survey has raised more than £21,000 for the Naomi House children’s hospice through various fundraising activities.

DirectionsMag.com reported on an Ordnance Survey agreement that ensures the UK’s legal deposit libraries can continue to hold annual snapshots of our OS MasterMap digital mapping of the whole of Great Britain.

Commercial

GeoInformatics reported on the use of data from OS MasterMap Address Layer 2 in a management application from the software developer Cadcorp.

Business Weekly (Eastern England) ran an interview with Dr Mike Sanderson, managing director of 1Spatial, who discussed how the company’s software technology complements Ordnance Survey digital mapping.

The Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph, Mobile Digest, Bike Biz and BikeRadar.com all reviewed the latest version of the GPS unit Satmap Active 10. There was praise for the unit’s “pinpoint accuracy” and inclusion of “unsurpassed Ordnance Survey mapping”.

Public sector and utilities

Our work with local authorities to incorporate more information on recommended freight routes into our road network data was highlighted in the Huddersfield Examiner.

Our press release on the use of OS MasterMap in a system designed to help utility companies co-ordinate streetworks was carried on GISUser.com.

Spatial News reported thatCardiff Council is using our mapping data to help improve the management of education services and school transport. 

Consumer

The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show was featured across print and broadcast media. Trail magazine described it as an “essential diary date” for anyone who loves the outdoors. In its Traveller section, The Independent listed the show as “destination of the week” while The Times rated it number one in a series of top five events. ITV Central West News carried an interview with mountaineer and TV presenter Bear Grylls who opened the show. The show was also highlighted in the Sunday Telegraph, Health & Fitness, on BFBS armed forces radio, the Outdoor Station and OutdoorsMagic websites and BBC Radio 2’s Steve Wright in the Afternoon show. Regional print coverage included stories in the Solihull News.

Wanderlust magazine and PublicTechnology.Net both praised our recent podcasts offering tips on how to read an Ordnance Survey map.

BBC History magazine reported that English Heritage is to launch an online service giving local historians access to detailed maps of the locations of archaeological and historical sites. To prepare for launch, the team behind the service analysed tens of thousands of Ordnance Survey aerial photos.

The Worcester News recommended the use of OS Explorer Maps for countryside walks over the Easter period.