Image of the day : Democracy at work ?

Courtesy of last weeks drop of Ordanace Survey Open Data, the Westminster electoral boundaries in Google Earth. It’s amazing to think that such a key dataset was not easily accessible until so recently. Without doubt this is just the type of data set that the “free our data” movement was calling to be made freely available. The type of innovation that comes from …

This is not an April Fools Joke

Not a normal day in this office then… A very important day in the history of Ordnance Survey, from later on today it really will be possible to download free OS geodata from www.data.gov.uk, and www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/opendata. This is close to the “Goldilocks” option presented in the recent consultation and contains “mid scales” datasets which are …

On the Map

I have really enjoyed listening to the BBC Radio 4 series “On the Map” a series on mapping presented by Mike Parker a self-confessed OS Map fan, and author of Map Addict a recommended read. Now Mike is very much a OS paper maps man, so in today’s programme I attempt to defend digital mapping …

How “U” shaped is your valley

Something that will either bring make warm memories or horror to people who studied Physical Geography at School is the creation of valley profiles, in particular to illustrate the erosional effect of glaciers in the recent Geological past.. OK, so that’s at least 50% of my readership which have clicked away.. the rest of you, welcome you are true geographers – be …

OS Consultation; a fairy tale ?

The past couple of months seems to have offered a cathartic opportunity for the relatively small UK Geographic Information Industry to get some long terms issues off its collective chest. In no particular order we have seen the following public responses to the Consultation for the future of Ordnance Survey. (Let me know if  you know of any more.. updated – …

Digital Economy Bill, this would funny if it was not so serious..

In a real test of democracy, a widely regarded poor piece of legislation is currently making it’s way through parliament without much scrutiny to make sure it becomes law before the upcoming election. The Digital Economy Bill is wide-ranging and addresses an increasingly important part of the British Economy, yet it’s hard not to get …