[Talk-GB] Ordnance Survey Public Sector Mapping Agreement

[Luke Smith]

As I understand it, there is both a written record of where the rights 
of way go and the definitive map is in addition, with the written record 
taking precedence?

So if a local authority is drawing their map, and it's offset from the 
line of a wall for example from OS MasterMap, as the written record 
might say, then it wouldn't represent the wall, nor be a substitute for 
it, and it could be used independently of the OS data. Under the new 
derived data rules [1], that seems to make it free to use.

Copies of the definitive map go to Ordnance Survey and are used to piece 
together the 25K and 50K maps, but I'm told Ordnance Survey don't 
actually digitize it properly, just trace it, they claim not to have a 
vector dataset.

I don't know how local authorities are storing their data, but you can 
be sure they all do it differently. If we could get our hands on copies 
of the definitive map to trace (since the only feature you're copying, 
was put there by the LA, not OS), would that do?

I fear the problem is that even under the exemption process of the PSMA, 
the LAs don't have a dataset per se of PRoWs that they could just 
release, and might not be able to justify making one.

Regards,

Luke

[1] 
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/business/licences/using-and-creating-data-with-os-products/free-to-use-data/index.html

On 24/03/2011 12:20, Peter Miller wrote:
>
>
> On 23 March 2011 19:25, TimSC <mapping at sheerman-chase.org.uk 
> <mailto:mapping at sheerman-chase.org.uk>> wrote:
>
>     Hi all,
>
>     Here is part of an email I sent to a few councils regarding rights
>     of way data (footpaths, bridleways, etc):
>>
>>     I have a big and fairly complicated request regarding the
>>     definitive map. I am interested in making data more accessible to
>>     the public (as encouraged by central government [1]). It would be
>>     great if the rights of way data could be released without
>>     restriction, specifically the definite map. As you probably know,
>>     the rights of way data is derived from Ordnance Survey products
>>     which until now has prevented this data being released without
>>     restriction because of copyright. However OS will soon introduce
>>     the Public Sector Mapping Agreement which defines how government
>>     bodies can use OS products [2]. This includes a new mechanism for
>>     public bodies to request datasets that have been derived from OS
>>     products to be release either licensed as "OS OpenData" or "Free
>>     to Use" (section 2.5 of the license [3]).
>>     [1] http://data.gov.uk/
>>     [2]
>>     http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/business/sectors/government/psma/
>>
>>     [3]
>>     http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/business/sectors/government/psma/docs/psma-member-licence.pdf
>
>
>     Kent County Council wrote back:
>
>>     Dear Mr Sheerman-Chase
>>     Thank you for your email.
>>     I will forward your suggestions and comments to the Head of the
>>     Service
>>     and Definitive Map Team.
>>     Kind regards
>>     Countryside Access Service
>
>     Does anyone have any ideas on how to actually get the councils to
>     apply to OS to exempt their data and release it? Currently, I get
>     the impression that they don't rate data openness as a high
>     priority - they just nod and smile until I go away. It would be
>     good to get this data for quality assurance or even ... dun dun
>     dunnnnn... importing. Could we start a petition? Or use any
>     contacts the community has to make this happen? Any other data
>     sets worth liberating?
>
>     Once we have set a precedent, it should be easier to get other
>     councils to comply, because of the way the OS exemption process
>     works.
>
>
> Technically I believe that the rights of way on the OS mapping is 
> derived from the legal documentation provided by the council. As it 
> happens I was talking to someone who was in a position to know about 
> this recently and he said that the OS don't even claim ownership of 
> rights of way data.
>
> Also. my understanding is that Kent are particularly proactive on open 
> data. This youtube presentation is worth looking at even though it 
> seems to be about their map interface. Clearly they are talking the 
> talk on open data.
> http://sparkdev.co.uk/showcase/show/open-kent
>
> Here is another link. Carol Patrick seems to be the person to talk to.
> http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9274627
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Peter
>
>
>
>     Thoughts?
>
>     Regards, TimSC
>
>
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