22 November 2004

Premier mapping performance at Wales Millennium Centre

Landmark building added to Ordnance Survey’s most detailed maps

Cardiff’s new Wales Millennium Centre building now takes centre stage on the nation’s most detailed maps – even though it has not yet been officially opened.

Surveyors from national mapping agency Ordnance Survey have used their high-tech measuring equipment to ensure the unique shape of the finished Cardiff Bay building could be set out in fine detail in the most sophisticated computer mapping of the nation – OS MasterMap.

"This is one of the most impressive buildings I’ve ever surveyed," says surveyor Simon James, "the huge building has an uniquely shaped theatre roof; and the exterior of slate, glass and bronze coloured stainless steel really does fulfil the intention of reflecting the industrial and cultural heritage of Wales."                    

The surveyors used state-of-the-art theodolite ‘total stations’ with lasers to measure exact distances, coupled with hand-held pen computers on which the fine details of the building’s shape were recorded. They also locked on to signals from a network of space satellites in the Global Positioning System to ensure the building has been precisely mapped out in relationship to neighbouring developments.

This level of detail is far greater than people expect to find on a tourist or motoring map, but is absolutely essential for many businesses and public services that need extremely detailed mapping of the whole country on a day-to-day basis.

Across Britain, an average of 5,000 updates are made every day to OS MasterMap, from small property extensions to major prestigious new buildings like the new Millennium Centre. The results of the latest survey work can be made available to commercial customers very quickly indeed – sometimes as soon as the next day.

Such detailed mapping is used by organisations such as fire services to pinpoint the scenes of emergencies, solicitors dealing with the buying and selling of property, mobile phone companies to provide the public with location-finding services, and utility companies to track the routes of pipelines and cables.

The Centre's opening celebrations will take place over the weekend 26–28 November 2004, starting with an inaugural televised gala concert starring opera singer Bryn Terfel.

Notes for Editors

• The £106 million Wales Millennium Centre is set to become one of the leading performing arts venues of the world.
• The Centre's facilities include: Donald Gordon theatre seating up to 1,900, Studio Theatre seating 250, Dance Studio, Main concourse with foyer space, Residential accommodation (150) beds for youngsters, Recording Studio, Orchestral rehearsal hall, Shops, cafes and restaurants, Corporate hospitality rooms.
• Wales Millennium Centre has seven resident arts companies: Diversions Dance (contemporary dance company), Hijinx Theatre, Welsh National Opera, Touch Trust (providing touch, movement and music therapy for the profoundly disabled), Ty Cerdd (music information centre), Academi (Welsh literature promotion agency) and Urdd Gobaith Cymru (national youth movement of Wales).
• For further information on the Wales Millennium Centre log on to www.wmc.org.uk or call the ticket and information hotline on 08700 402000

Chief Press Officer - Scott Sinclair

Email: scott.sinclair@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Press Officer - Kate Kemp

Email: kate.kemp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2977

Press Officer - Paula Good

Email: paula.good@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2635

Press Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office Co-ordinator - Pauline Hand

Email: pauline.hand@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2251

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295