An interactive house prices map with OS data
Find out how our guest blogger David Heyman, Managing Director of Axis Maps, created a fantastic interactive house prices map on a day off…
Overseeing the operations of Axis Maps, I don’t get to make maps as much as I’d like. Last week I had a free day, so I figured I’d build a quick interactive map to try out some new tools and techniques for use in our future custom interactive mapping projects, and (data willing) show a new or interesting geographic phenomenon.
Britain’s loneliest OS map
Want to know which OS map gets the least attention? Read on to find out about the most unexplored parts of Great Britain are to be found – we’re ready to reveal some OS secrets!
According to our sales figures for 2017/18, we have been able to publish the top 10 least popular Explorer maps in England, Scotland and Wales.
Meet the team: Teena Munden
We’d like to put some friendly faces to the people working at OS and showcase the wide variety of work we do. As today is the International Day of Charity, we’re starting with Teena Munden, Business Centre Manager and chief fundraiser at OS.
How long have you worked for OS?
I celebrated my 10-year OS anniversary last month!
How long have you been in your current role?
While I have always worked within the business centre, I started out as a Business Centre Executive. Five years ago, I applied for my current managerial role. It felt like a natural progression and, while I was nervous about the increased responsibility, I feel I have thrived as Business Centre Manager. OS has been very accommodating over the years and despite my promotion I was able to continue working part-time to fit in with childcare.
Teena with Solent Mind CEO Kevin Gardner, left and former OS CEO Nigel Clifford, right
Remembering Brigadier Martin Hotine
While 2018 marks the 227th anniversary of Ordnance Survey, lest we forget it is also the 82nd anniversary of the first observations from our ‘hotine’ trig pillar!
If you want to find out who created our well-known trig pillars and the memorial we have for him at our head office, you’re in the right place.
Brigadier Martin Hotine CMG CBE RE was born on 17 June 1898, in Wandsworth, London. He read mathematics at Magdalene College and was then commissioned into the Royal Engineers (RE). Hotine was in the RE for many years and served in both the First and Second World Wars.
OS Open Zoomstack trial so far
Having launched our OS Open Zoomstack trial three weeks ago, we thought now is a good time to reflect on feedback and to offer you some more examples demonstrating how the new dataset can be utilised.
Our charity fundraising so far
Since announcing Southampton Children’s Hospital Charity as our corporate charity, we’ve been busy raising money – over £1800 so far!
We’ve organised an array of fundraising activities including a football tournament, cake sale, World Cup quiz and a charity run. We of course had a map sale too, but we’re sure you knew that! Below are just a few of our highlights.
Pleasure pier quiz
As we begin the summer holidays and the heatwave continues, you may well find yourself heading to a beach with a pleasure pier. But which is the longest pleasure pier in Great Britain?
We’ve come up with the stats for the top 10 longest pleasure piers in Great Britain according to the National Piers Society, and we even have the dates of when they opened and original sizes of the ones which have had extensions.
Our Flying Unit volumes increase as warm weather continues
While we have all been out embracing the heatwave at every opportunity, as a result our Flying Unit has had to contend with a busier airspace. As well as all the air shows at this time of year, when the weather is good, those with PPLs (Private Pilot Licence) are more likely to take to the air.
Despite this meaning they have to be extra vigilant, our Flying Unit has been making the most of this unique weather window with unprecedented results. The best way to demonstrate it is with the below graph. This shows the stark comparison of our flying season volumes against previous years.
OS and Northumbrian Water create pioneering underground map
Last week, the Northumbrian Water Group Innovation Festival took place – and it was a huge success! 510 of the world’s leading businesses and most innovative minds gathered for this event to tackle 13 major social and environmental challenges.
As detailed in our previous blog, our sprint team’s role at the festival was to create the first combined underground map of the region in collaboration with key stakeholders such as utilities, local authorities and partners. The idea was to create a Combined Infrastructure Map (CIM) for Newcastle and its surrounding area including water, wastewater, gas, electricity, telecoms and other underground services.
