Our GeoDataViz team’s favourite maps of 2020
In terms of news, 2020 has been an interesting year to say the least. We have seen a lot of maps, charts and data visualisations to support these news stories and, as you’d expect, the most common topics covered have been Covid-19 and the US Presidential race.
Here in the OS GeoDataViz team, we love how maps can draw you into a news story and keep you engaged as you scroll through the narrative. For the second year in a row, we’ve compiled our favourite geo data visualisations of 2020 (please note this list is not exhaustive!).
The first 3 entries to this year’s list include maps and visualisations that have been made to report on a news item. Each story is important, but they are not related to Covid-19 or the Presidential race. We think it’s fair to say these have been covered enough already this year, so for this reason we have chosen not to include any in today’s list.
Time is running out to save the last of the world’s rainforest, Bloomberg
This news story from the team at Bloomberg uses a range of maps to support its narrative. It’s a chilling tale that charts tree loss in Brazil between 2000 and 2019 and the animated maps that are used to highlight the problem work magnificently. They are subtle and impactful with some beautiful labelling and annotation.
Comparing the past to the present with the new OS Maps API layers
As a Map Curator at the National Library of Scotland, Chris Fleet oversees the historical maps website https://maps.nls.uk. In this week’s #OSDeveloper blog, Chris offers us insight into his experience of the new OS Data Hub in the form of a guest blog…
We were keen to get our hands on the new OS Data Hub maps API layers when these were launched on 1 July. For the last ten years, the NLS has been happily using OS OpenData as a modern map layer in our maps website viewers, but the new OS Maps API layers have a number of advantages over these.
The GeoDataViz team’s favourite maps of 2019
Mappy New Year! 2019 was a great year for cartography, especially geo data visualisation. We loved seeing such amazing maps and visuals being produced by some very talented people, and the standard just seems to be getting better and better. Inspired by all the brilliant work we’ve seen, we thought we’d pull together some of our favourites. There are too many to include so this list is by no means exhaustive, but we hope you enjoy our picks.
Surfing Saco Bay, Margot Carpenter
Created by independent cartographer Margot Carpenter, this stunning map depicts Maine’s Saco Bay. The detail is incredible, and we love how the map focuses on the bay’s underwater topography and wave dynamics and how they fuel the bays amazing surfing conditions. There is also a beautiful compass rose that illustrates wave height and a visualisation depicting how bathymetry and waves create surf!
Help us shape future OS OpenData formats – take part in our trial
Calling all OS OpenData users!
Have you struggled to get to grips with GML? Have Shapefiles left you feeling positively un-shapely? Do you dream of a Dump file? Maybe you get giddy over a GeoPackage? Then you may want to take part in our OS OpenData trial that’s being announced at FOSS4G in London today…
Annotations: adding narrative to your maps
What is an annotation?
Annotation:
“a note by way of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram.”
Synonyms: notation, comment, footnote; commentary, explanation.
Sometimes referred to as data labels or captions, annotations are often added to charts to add an extra layer of useful information for the reader. Think of it like using a highlighter on a block of written text. We can purposefully guide our readers to view certain aspects of the data that are important.
Why are they so useful?
Annotations can help:
New OS Explorer OL maps now available
The latest revision of the OS Explorer OL maps is now available! These maps are designed to help you make the most of your time in the British countryside, whether you are walking, cycling, running, riding or anything else.
The new releases come with a mobile download included with each map. This allows you to get a copy of your paper map on your Android or Apple device. The map is saved to the device memory, so will work even when you have no mobile phone signal, and includes useful features like pinpointing your location, route recording and a compass.
Use OS Maps online for free
Updated March 2020.
Over the last 12 months we have continued to develop our online mapping system, OS Maps. With some great basic features and advanced options for subscribers, it’s probably one of the best tool for planning off-road activities available.
Now available in your web browser and as an app for Android and Apple phones and tablets, you can view and print maps OS maps for free, plan routes, discover routes created by others, check weather and much more.
The lines on the face of GB revealed by OS
Did you know that the OS computer vaults hold a staggering 450 million geographical features across Great Britain which form the master map of the country? Our surveyors and aircraft are constantly revealing the changing look of GB and to keep up OS make 10,000 changes a day which all feed into our range of paper and digital map products.
We’ve been busy working on a number of new OS OpenData products, including OS Open Roads and OS Open Rivers and it started us thinking about how all these features create the living face of Britain.
So how many miles of roads snake across the country? How many miles of waterways wind their way from the tip of Scotland to the toe of Cornwall and what do all the changes to GB its roads, its rail, its buildings look like over the last 10 years. Take a look in our three videos and find out.
Britain’s road network:
Plan your Bank Holiday with OS maps
Today’s blog is written by Harry Berryman, a student at the University of Birmingham. He is an outdoors enthusiast and former Duke of Edinburgh participant who was an intern at OS for two weeks this summer.
This coming Bank Holiday weekend means that many people will be planning a weekend away in the UK, and Ordnance Survey has a number of tools for planning your perfect ‘staycation’. Using OS getamap, anyone can find great places to stay and eat, as well as a wide variety of attractions. There are also loads of ways to use the symbols on an OS paper map to find a huge variety of great things to do this Bank Holiday weekend. You could also use the great range of Ordnance Survey apps while out and about to find things in your area or check that you are still on track!
Find off-road cycling routes in Hampshire with our new Activity Maps
We’re often asked by holidaymakers and others wanting to discover more of the Great British outdoors near to their home, about the best way to see all that the local area has to offer, and about our favourite routes to follow. That got us thinking about how to use our mapping to help people find new activities and places to explore.
Following feedback asking us for easy to use and handle maps, showing existing routes with navigational guidance for those less confident with their map reading skills, we’ve partnered up with Hampshire County Council to create new, detailed off-road cycle maps – the first set of maps in a series that will cover Great Britain, focussing on five specific activities: off-road cycling, road cycling, road running, trail running and horse riding.
