Re: OS Data to be free.

Bitstring <1ewr2vvy9fwxr$.19xgj7ykmeppb.dlg@xxxxxxxxxx>, from the wonderful person rob <leandr42@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said
On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:34:43 -0800 (PST), Ted wrote:
I assume the maps will be free for online usage, like openspace, but
with 'subtle' advertising, and no downloads allowed.

The wording in the Guardian version of the story suggests rather more than
that:

"The government is to explore ways of making all Ordnance Survey maps
freely available online from April, in a victory for the Guardian's
three-year Free Our Data campaign. The move will bring the UK into line
with the free publication of maps that exists in the US."

(More at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/17/ordnance-survey-maps-online)

In the US you can download whatever you want, the equivalent of an entire
map. Their scales are different, but I'm sure it goes to their equivalent
of 1:50k and I think 1:25k. I have an application that can use that data if
we really follow the US model. We'll have to wait and see.

I eagerly await seeing .. although what we (or 'I' anyway) really need is the digital data, vector style, for turning into something useful - a digital copy of the paper maps, i.e. a picture, raster format, whatever you want to call it, is useless for anything except looking at.

Oh, and the digital elevation model too, for preparing some more accurate contour mapping for GPS users.

(try 'find little stepple' armed only with a paper map, or even a picture thereof).

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
16,110 Km walked. 2,937 Km PROWs surveyed. 53.1% complete.
.

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