-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: British OS launches free data site: UK newspaper article Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2010 20:02:25 +0100 From: Francis Herbert <[log in to unmask]> To: 'Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship' <[log in to unmask]> Russell: And, should anyone be interested in at least one British 'quality' newspaper's reaction, you can refer to either the hard copy of 'The Independent' (London) for today, 2 April 2010, article 'No. 1 in the charts since 1717' (full page 15, with 2 col. images); or to the online version (with only 1 image - omitting the hard copy's folded and rather worn OS map heading the page):- www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/os-maps-no1-in-the-charts-sin ce-1747-1934059.htm One may be 'pressed' [an inevitable Francis Herbert pun (as April Carlucci will confirm)] to locate a copy of what the journalist, Jonathan Brown, cites as Dr Richard Oliver's publication 'A Short History of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain'. Perhaps he intended to cite 'Ordnance Survey maps : a concise guide for historians', 2nd ed., rev. & expanded (London : The Charles Close Society [for the Study of Ordnance Survey Maps], 2005), ISBN 1-870598-24-5|? Francis (Herbert) Past Member (when Curator of Maps, RGS-IBG, London), International Map Trade Association -----Original Message----- From: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope Sent: 01 April 2010 15:41 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: British OS launches free data site -------- Original Message -------- Subject: British OS launches free data site Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:48:41 -0400 From: Russell Guy <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] The British Ordnance Survey has released the gov't report on the future direction of the OS, including what data will be released free of charge for private, public, and commercial use. The report is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1528263.pdf . It is interesting in that the British gov't is now setting up a "commercial contract" with OS for funding at least some of the costs of the OS, whereas the OS was fully self-supporting up to now. The OS also launched today its new "OS OpenData" website at www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/opendata <http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/opendata> where the public can download the various free data sets, including medium scale vector data, etc. According to the OS, the new site is very overloaded today and users may get a request for user i.d. and password. This requirement is a glitch due to the overland and OS is working to fix it. It will be interesting to see what paper maps get discontinued due to funding considerations. The OS has already announced the end of its very popular 1:250,000 Travelmaster road map series as well as its single-sheet Routemaster road map. Cheers Russell Guy [log in to unmask] Omnimap.com http://www.omnimap.com <http://www.omnimap.com/>P.O. Box 2096 Tel.: 800-742-2677 (USA only) 1004 South Mebane St. Tel.: 336-227-8300 (International) Burlington, NC 27216-2096 USA Fax: 336-227-3748 Past President (1996) and Member, International Map Trade Association