Developer Partner Programme

Government Isle of Man – information

Sample data

The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea almost equidistant from England and Ireland and about 16 miles from the southern-most tip of Scotland. It has a population of approximately 75 000 people, and measures 32.5 miles (52 kms) long by 13 miles (22 kms) wide and covers an area of 221 square miles (572 sq. kms). An islet known as the Calf of Man, an important nature reserve lies to the south west and a mountain range stretches from north east to south west throughout the island, the highest point being Snaefell at 2034 feet (621 metres).

The Isle of Man is an internally self-governing dependent territory of the Crown, but is not part of the United Kingdom, although the UK is responsible for its external relations. The island elects its own bi-cameral Government, which is called Tynwald.

The Isle of Man Government through the Department of Local Government (DOLGE), is responsible for and consequently owns the large scale mapping of the island. Historically, the survey tasks, and the production of the maps, have been carried out by the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain, (OSGB), under contracts let by DOLGE. OSGB owns the 1:50 000 (Landranger) map of the island.

During the 1980's a complete re-survey of the island was undertaken based on the National Grid, the scales adopted were 1:1 250 for the Douglas/Onchan area and 1:2 500 for the remainder of the island. The re-survey and subsequent production of digital data comprising a total of 724 map tiles was carried out under contract by OSGB.

Since the completion of the re-survey, DOLGE has operated an annual revision programme, based on areas of the island where significant changes have occurred, and in 1996 the contract for the revision work was awarded to BKS Surveys Ltd of Northern Ireland. During the past six years BKS have revised every map tile and also re-surveyed the other major urban areas at a scale of 1:1 250, this now brings the total number of map tiles for the whole island to 787. BKS were also commissioned to produce a 1:10 000 vector dataset (42 digital map units) and a 1:50 000 raster dataset of the island, both products derived from the large scale base mapping.

There is a Pan-government project called MANNGIS. This was instituted in 1992 to ensure a corporate approach to GIS development across all government departments, Utilities and other Statutory Boards. Amongst other things, MANNGIS has been responsible for the development and maintenance of corporate Address, Street and Field Gazetteers for the Island and their derived products.