Open evening success for OS OpenSpace

26 June 2009, 12:06pm

Over 30 developers were able to get hands on experience with OS OpenSpace, and the opportunity to experiment with some of the world’s best mapping data, at an open evening held by Ordnance Survey at the Rejuvenation Centre in London.

During the evening attendees, including web developers, independent developers, new business start-ups, consultancies and developers from the police, were given the opportunity to attend a selection of workshops. The sessions included topics for all user abilities, starting at how to create your first web map and adding your own content through to how developers can use the new boundary data with other datasets to create mash-ups.

The developer workshops follow the release of the new enhanced version of OS OpenSpace. The new application programming interface (API) gives users access to a range of Ordnance Survey mapping for free. Through OS OpenSpace, developers can use a range of mapping scales covering the whole of Great Britain down to street level, access boundary data and use a postcode look-up feature. The terms of use for OS OpenSpace have also been enhanced to allow greater access to Ordnance Survey data to create new mash-ups.

Tim Martin, Geo-technologist from Ordnance Survey, said: “The developer evening was a real success and I am confident that everyone who attended took something away with them. I am sure that we will see a number of exciting web applications developed as a result of the evening.

“At the end of May 2009 we had 1,761 registered users of OS OpenSpace. I fully expect this number to increase following the release of the enhanced version. The changes, including boundary data and revised terms, mean more people can access Ordnance Survey data for free.

“OS OpenSpace is all about promoting innovation and allowing developers to experiment with our mapping data. These developer workshops are a fantastic opportunity for people to get hands-on experience and for Ordnance Survey to listen to suggestions and feedback from developers."

Meanwhile, Ordnance Survey and OS OpenSpace will also be at Activate ’09, the event being run by the Guardian, on 1 July talking about how geography can play a vital role in addressing the world’s grand challenges of climate change and sustainability.

In September OS OpenSpace will also be featured at this year’s AGI Conference as part of the Solution Centre.

www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/openspace

GeoConnexion UK