Written by Phil Wyndham, Ordnance Survey Strategic Development Manager
Following an introduction from a policy official in Defra – Phil Wyndham, Ordnance Survey Strategic Development Manager, met with the former CEO of the NBN John Sawyer, to explore how OS geographic data could be more widely used to support the NBN in their collection of evidence in support of government business.
This article will cover four areas where NBN could potentially access/use OS data and products/services in support of your activity.
1: The Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) – enables NBN to access premium OS mapping data from PSMA member organisations in order to support core government business functions.
2: OS Open Data – gives free unlimited digital mapping data for unrestricted use.
3: Mapping Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) – Interactive maps for your website or online app
4: OS consumer resources and products
1: The Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA)
The PSMA is a licensing data agreement between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ordnance Survey giving public sector organisations in England and Wales access to Ordnance Survey digital mapping and data products covering Great Britain for the non-commercial provision of public services. It already has over 3,700 public sector organisations as members. Scotland has its own public sector mapping agreement called the One Scotland Mapping Agreement (OSMA).
A wide range of public sector organisations in England and Wales are entitled to join, these include:
- Central Government departments
- Local Government authorities
- Parish councils
- Health organisations (NHS Trusts, Health authorities, Strategic health authorities)
- Internal Drainage Boards
- Public safety and emergency responders
The Member Licence for both of the public sector agreements (PSMA and OSMA) enables the sharing of data with third parties in support of the PSMA Member's ‘core business’. Therefore members of the PSMA can supply mapping data to a community group and other organisations (including charities) where the activity is directly supporting public sector core business, typically this will relate to the provision of public services. The data shared under this arrangement cannot be used for any other purpose by the recipient. An organisation will need to accept the PSMA End User Licence (EUL) in order to access data in this way.
‘Core business” in the PSMA means public sector members are entitled to use data provided through the agreements for any purposes they consider they have to undertake to meet their public service delivery obligations. For example, this includes:
- Creating and monitoring policy
- Operational management of government
- Delivering government business and public services
- Making information available to the public
- Performing any other function required by statute
- Passing /sharing derived information and/or data to third parties
For more information about accessing data from a PSMA member please follow the link.
Please note that it is still entirely down to the PSMA members own business decision-making and governance procedures to determine the release of OS data and their derived data under the options provided under the PSMA.
PSMA – exemption process and presumption to publish The Secretary of State for Defra, Liz Truss, recently announced an open data challenge declaring that Defra will make up to 8,000 datasets available as open data.
In order to support the Government's transparency agenda, Ordnance Survey has extended its derived data exemptions approach with a 'presumption to publish' ability. This will allow public sector agreement members to publish more of their derived data on Open Data terms. More information on exemption and presumption to publish can be found at this link.
An example of some datasets that OS has already exempted from the PSMA licence include the Greenbelt (DCLG), Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Countryside Rights of Way Act (CRoW) access polygons (Natural England) and the Environments Agency’s flood risk models. A number of exempted datasets can be accessed via the Natural England managed MAGIC website (Multi Agency Geography in the Countryside) or from The Environment Agency’s Data Share platform
2: Open Data
OS currently makes sixteen datasets available free of charge under the terms of the current Open Government Licence (OGL). These datasets – which include raster and vector mapping, height, boundary and gazetteer products – are available for download.
OS recently released some new OS Open data products.
OS Open Map – Local, the most detailed street-level open data vector mapping product available,
OS Open Rivers – the water network at a ‘high level’ with generalised geometry and network connectivity, identifying the main river course along its full length.
OS Open Names – lists definitive place names, roads numbers and postcodes in Great Britain – 2.5 million accurate locations
The OGL allows you to use the OS OpenData datasets in any way and for any purpose.
3: Mapping Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
OS Mapping APIs allows OS detailed mapping content to be viewed on both customer facing and internal facing/intranet websites. The mapping data is streamed directly from OS to your website or desktop applications which means you do not have large data management challenges.
The current OS mapping API – OS OpenSpace is available for non-commercial websites and allows integration of interactive maps for websites or online apps.
We also offer OS OpenSpace Pro, a premium service for anyone wishing to charge for access, track assets or build your own API’s. You can find more information on OS OpenSpace Prohere
OS is developing a new mapping API, to replace the OS OpenSpace APIs, called OS Maps. OS Maps API will have enhanced freemium licensing models and will launching in the very near future.
4: Consumer resources and products
Ordnance Survey consumer products have been loved by generations of walkers and cyclists, the latest updates bring maps into the digital world with mapping on paper, computer and smartphones.
OS Paper maps In 2015 the classic range of paper maps were updated to include a digital download with each map purchased. The OS Explorer (1 25 000 scale) are already available, with the OS Landranger (1 50 000 scale) joining them early in 2016.
With each paper map a unique code is included that allows a copy to be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet. This digital map is not just a simple image, but includes full GPS capabilities to show your exact location or record your journey, as well as the ability to plot routes and save them for later use.
The OS Shop has special offers for bulk purchases, which are often used by schools and other organisations running larger events. The bulk discount details are available here
Digital mapping
Also released in 2015 is our all new digital mapping system, OS Maps. This comes in two versions – a browser based one that works on any computer, tablet or phone browser, as well as a dedicated app that allows access to the features of the devices, even allowing the maps to be used when there is no mobile signal.
OS Maps works on a subscription basis, but makes many of the core functions, such as route planning and printing maps, available for free to all users. This is part of an ongoing strategy to promote outdoor activities of all kinds by making planning and sharing routes for walking, running and cycling easier.
