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
Originally published 21/05/2015, revised 01/06/2016
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.
Maps on trend
A recent article in The Times, confirmed what we already knew at map HQ – maps are the height of style right now. They said that maps are “both on trend and versatile: living room, bathroom or man cave – maps work anywhere.”
While, maps have traditionally been framed and hung on a wall, there appears to be an increasing variety in the way they are used. And we’re not talking small pieces anymore, maps are going HUGE! Our map floor at Hay-on-Wye festival last year was a big hit too.
Digimap – access to maps in higher education
We often talk about the Digimap for Schools service, but did you know there is also Digimap for higher and further education? Since its launch in 2000, Digimap has seen almost 290,000 registrations and there are currently 156 higher and further education institutions subscribed to the service.
Maintaining national coverage of paper maps in Great Britain – commitment from Ordnance Survey
You may have read articles in the media recently which reported that Ordnance Survey is to end its policy of routinely producing maps that cover the whole country. This is simply not true.
We would like to stress that this statement is wholly inaccurate and that we are committed to maintaining a national series of paper maps for both OS Explorer and OS Landranger maps. Paper maps are used by millions of outdoor enthusiasts every year enabling people to explore and enjoy Great Britain. Our paper products remain an important part of Ordnance Survey with nearly 2 million sold over the last year. Users will continue to be able to purchase paper maps covering the whole of Great Britain from many outlets, including our own online Map Shop.
