[Talk-GB] Ordnance Survey Public Sector Mapping Agreement

[Peter Miller]

On 24 March 2011 13:56, Luke Smith <luke.smith at grough.co.uk> wrote:

>  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.
>

You make a good point. As far as I am aware the OS now allow derived works
for things drawn on their maps which weren't on the base map. In the case of
rights of way some of them are of course are on the background OS layer
which is a limitation (see example definite map - link below). As such I
don't think we can use the geometry even if we wanted to.
http://rushmerecommon.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/img_1074.jpg

Also... I am less interested in rights of way than in paths that can
actually be used. There are rights of way around here that are under water
now that the rivers have widened. There are other excellent paths that are
not rights of way.

Here is a nice example of an impossibly right of way where you would need
waders and a canoe to follow the path!
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=640205&Y=256605&A=Y&Z=120

The thing that I believe we can lift from the definitive maps with
confidence is fact that it is a 'right of way' and the right of way code.
That was not in the OS base map.


Regards,


Peter




> 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> 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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