Open Data and Open Space

Last week, I went onto the OS Open Data website to download the MERIDIAN 2 set of shapefile data: one of several that are available from the download area.
This is a free download, and is just over 200Mb in size.
It contains a range of shapefiles which have information on a range of map information.
There are transport routes of various kinds, rivers and lakes and various boundaries.
This enables teachers who have access to a GIS package that can handle this format of data to do location-specific queries and other work.

This is part of the Ordnance Survey's release of data that has been part of a major year for the organisation in 2010, which has included moving headquarters.

The OPEN DATA initiative has been added to by the OPEN SPACE API mapping tool, which has added the possibility of making some wonderful maps using Ordnance Survey's data, which can then be embedded into a website, or elsewhere...

The OS BLOG provides some examples of people who are using it...

There is a very nice WEB MAP BUILDER TOOL, which is now available for use at the Open Space site.
I will post an example of how to use this as part of my BETT series that will appear on the blog over the next week or so...

It was good to meet the OS team at BETT 2011

Images copyright: Ordnance Survey

And a final image to finish. Here's me inspecting the Jurassic Coast flooring that was one of the big attractions of BETT once again. Last year was the Lake District...


Image by Ken Lacey

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