03 November 2003

Schools handed key to digital map of Britain

New developments from Ordnance Survey on show at BETT 2004

A service, giving schools across the country easy access to highly detailed computerised mapping of Britain, is one of a number of initiatives being showcased by Ordnance Survey at BETT 2004.

The mapping agency is working with geographical information systems (GIS) specialists ESRI (UK) Limited to offer the online system – giving teachers the chance to dynamically view OS MasterMap or order mapping, called Land-Line, over the Internet.

"Once ordered, the mapping – which is so detailed, it tracks the alignment of roads and pavements as well as showing the shapes of individual buildings – is directly accessed in a standard web browser or sent to teachers either on CD-Rom or floppy disk, depending on which service they choose," says Elaine Owen, Ordnance Survey's Senior Education Manager. "And they can use mapping of anywhere in Britain – not just their own individual areas.

"That means they can use it in many different ways – not just for local project work but for field trips in both town and country too."

"Digital mapping and GIS can support the national curriculum in so many ways, especially in developing ICT skills across all subject areas. This initiative exploits the web to make these facilities readily available to every school in the country, in a simple way, for the first time," says Roy Laming, Marketing Director of ESRI (UK).

The service is up and running from November, but those visiting Ordnance Survey's stand at C50 will get the chance to see how the service works and try it out – before returning to the comfort of their own schools and using it for real.

Visitors to the stand will also get the chance to try out Ordnance Survey's free interactive web site for children – www.mapzone.co.uk

The mapping agency recently launched its Free maps for schools initiative – a free Explorer map for every Year 7 pupil across Britain (Primary 7 in Scotland) – so the Homework Help area of the web site that gives children, teachers and parents tips to make homework fun should be particularly popular.

Schoolchildren can turn travel writers – through another section of MapZone called Our Favourite Places. Giving children the chance to celebrate the beaches, castles, theme parks and other attractions they most enjoy, it is hoped that Our Favourite Places will become a unique tourism guide to Britain's most child-friendly places – produced by the children themselves.

"Our stand at BETT 2004 should provide visitors with lots to do and see," says Elaine Owen. "We'll be bringing new developments – as well as updates and news about existing initiatives, like our most recent geography teachers' INSET day, held in Newcastle during October. It attracted 125 teachers from all over Scotland and the north east of England.

"The use of GIS in schools is ever increasing and we are keen to encourage that even further by sharing experiences and information with those directly involved – from all quarters of education."

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