1. Title Providing tertiary education with access to national mapping agency digital map data - the UK experience Dr David Medyckyj-Scott Head of Research and Geodata Services EDINA National Data Centre University of Edinburgh DANS Workshop, 20 th June 2008

2. “What happens when Universities get ‘free’ access to the products of a NMCA…”

3. Overview of presentation Introduction EDINA Overview of geospatial data provision in UK tertiary education Digimap and Ordnance Survey GB as a case study –history, service, usage, benefits, issues Digimap ten years on and lessons learnt Where next…

4. EDINA National Data Centre a National Data Centre for Tertiary Education since 1995 our mission... to enhance the productivity of research, learning and teaching in UK higher and further education focus is on service but also undertake r&D Research and Geo-data Services team –largest team within EDINA –first online GI service, UKBORDERS, launched in 1994 –substantial experience in handling geospatial data on a large scale

5. The Research and Geo-data team largest team within EDINA highly experienced and skilled team –provides advice nationally and internationally –active in standards development and policy –active in GI community nationally and internationally first online GI service, UKBORDERS, launched in 1994 demands of the services offered means the team has been at leading edge of GI service development in UK

6. Geospatial data provision in the UK JISC National Data Centres CHEST

7. Content Providers End user (staff/student) Organisational structure - key players HE & FE funding councils Institution Licensor Collections Co. National Data Centres £ £ £ Geospatial Working Group £ Joint Information Systems Committee

8. Digimap – A Case Study (with a specific focus on the provision of Ordnance Survey GB digital map data)

9. Digimap Service - Overview an online mapping and data delivery service originally built to provide access to Ordnance Survey (GB) maps and data - a 'virtual map library’ launched in January 2000 content extended to include historic OS, GB geology and UK and Ireland marine maps and data subscription service with some 50,000+ registered users nationally and internationally recognised first time UK academia had access to this type and quantity of high quality data

10. Compared with other (commercial) services… customisable maps - ability to select individual feature types access to highly detailed data – building outlines, road centre lines etc high quality and large format cartographic output over the web (up to A0) availability of raw map data for use in GIS detailed postcode, boundary and gazetteer data extensive and detailed online help EDINA Helpdesk and specialist support staff

11. History – the early 1990’s and the need researchers increasingly wanted access to maps in digital forms –data for 7 small sample areas available from OS interest in using Ordnance Survey digital map data was high –a multi-disciplinary resource of utility to nearly ever field of research and teaching in HE –provides the geographic framework for integrating other data in GB context traditional means for consulting large-scale Ordnance Survey paper maps was under threat –but the alternative was expensive increasing demand from employers for graduates skilled in use of digital map data number of meetings between OS and UK academia but failed to progress

12. History – the late 1990’s 1996-1999, the e-Lib Digimap project –trial service with 6 universities –aim was to promote use –used software familiar and available to libraries and users i.e. a web browser –key findings: demand existed but guaranteed access required in 1998 discussions began regarding establishing a national service with funding from the UK Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), the service was launched in January 2000

13. What made Digimap possible a perceived user need and proven demand an NMA facing a new data distribution challenge in an important market sector the existence of an organisation with the remit to provide electronic services –i.e. JISC the existence of National Data Centres the Internet already proven a secure national authentication scheme university map librarians the individuals involved

14. OS Data Products Land-Line.Plus ® 1:10,000 - 1:1,250 Land-Form PANORAMA ™ contours and DTM Strategi ® 1:250,000 Meridian ™ 1:50,000 1:50,000 Colour Raster and Gazetteer Code-Point with polygons 2000-2004 2007 + MasterMap Topographic 1:10,000 - 1:1,250 Integrated Transport Network (ITN) 2005 + ‘Old Style’ Land-Line.Plus ® 1:10,000 - 1:1,250 Land-Form PROFILE ™ contours and DTM Strategi ® 1:250,000 Meridian ™ 1:50,000 1:50,000 Colour Raster and Gazetteer Code-Point with polygons 1:25,000 Colour Raster 1:10,000 Colour Raster

15. The OS Collection applications

16. Mapping facilities Classic Carto

17. Data supply facilities Gazetteer Download Data Download Boundary Download

18. MasterMap data supply facility

19. Misc. applications Gazetteer Query Postcode Query Site statistics Gazetteer Download

20. Supporting a heterogeneous user community comprehensive support strategy produced Ordnance Survey data are complex; knowledge in 1999 was low users are distributed and heterogeneous resources at EDINA limited so… significant amount of support offered on-line local support within the institution seen as crucial

21. Terms of use and copyright - Overview great flexibility for academic purposes covers teaching and research activities no restrictions on place of use –e.g home use, workplace, outside UK publication only for teaching or research –various size limits –includes electronic (web/CDROM) publication and posters can be used for sponsored research but results must be published widely and immediately data can be shared between registered users in subscribing institutions output can be used in teaching practice limited business use

22. Subscription rates JISC Banding HE / Research Councils Annual Subscription Fee 1 Aug ‘08 to 31 Jul ‘09 A - B£6,924 C - D£5,831 E - F£4,738 G - J£2,551 Bands are related to size: no. students, research income e.g. A = University of Cambridge (€8,700 – € 3,200)

23. Usage

24. Facts and Figures – OS Collection 150 subscribing institutions some 37,000 currently registered users a total of 107,000 users over 8 years

25. Facts and Figures in last 12 months –128,000 maps down- loaded for printing ( 60% at largest scale ) –662,000+ data files downloaded average 20,000 user sessions per month in 2004/5, users downloaded over £15m worth of data 80% of usage is mapping, only 20% relates to data downloads

26. Facts and Figures 64% of users are undergraduates –unexpected wide range of users –less than 19% of users are geographers –But geographers take the bulk of downloads at 45% used for a very wide range of purposes Download Requests Users

27. Example uses ArchaeologySpatial analysis of prehistoric rock art in Northumberland Architecture3D modelling for flood prevention designs HorticultureAbility of particular tree species to reduce air pollution MeteorologyEffects of orography in weather radar measurements PlanningSustainable integrated transport planning EconomicsRetail stock changes in deprived areas SociologyChanging spatial pattern of behavioural and mobility as children grow up ZoologyAnalysis of home ranges and foraging patterns of urban foxes Computer ScienceResearch into graphics and visualisation EngineeringEffect of construction programming on passenger flows HealthCancer incidence in relation to mobile phone masts EnvironmentalEffects of disturbance from roads on nesting stone curlews HistoryHow did Cromwell feed his New Model Army HistoryDistribution of 18 th Century brewing and malting RetailCredit card customers’ shopping behaviour for major UK retailer GeomorphologyGlacial landform mapping and reconstruction of UK ice sheets

28. Case Studies

29. What have been the benefits?

30. Benefits - Users fast and efficient access to up-to-date OS data [‘wonderful resource for student who might never have considered utilising digital map data in their work’] students can focus on the problem, not data acquisition has enabled research/teaching to happen without regard to mapping costs [91% of researchers now conducting research they would not have been able to do previously...] no longer geographically limited potential for use of real, local data in teaching and projects [“we can now do our projects using site information as if the students are in a real architect’s office”] Digimap surveys, July 2004; 350 respondents; May 2007, 572 respondents

31. Benefits – The University Sector costs lower than purchasing directly from Ordnance Survey GB increased use of geo-spatial data and GIS in teaching and research [29%] “GIS at [] was almost solely a Geography Dept thing, now it is used widely across the campus” increased awareness of geo-spatial data in teaching and research [23%] improved graduate employability [20%] improved research methodology using current spatial data “the methodology was proven and illustrated with Ordnance Survey and census data… it has put the UK in the forefront of international research in this field” improved IT skills of students Digimap surveys, July 2004; 350 respondents; May 2007, 572 respondents

32. Benefits – Ordnance Survey GB Ordnance Survey products presented to and used by a wider audience Ordnance Survey data can now be seen to be enhancing research in many different disciplines enabled graduates to take their experience of Ordnance Survey data into business (first hand experience with our own graduate entrants) opens up communication links with universities helps to build valuable research links at all levels highlights the diverse application of Ordnance Survey data a new user base to feedback on how fit-for-purpose are Ordnance Survey data products reduced administrative overheads in dealing with data for academics institutions “created the OS customers of tomorrow…”

33. 10 Years On Developments, Issues & Lessons Learnt

34. The Digimap Collections

35. Historic Digimap Data:Large scale (1:1250, 1:2500 & 1:10 560) maps for 9 epochs (1843 – 1996) Facilities:Mapping and data download Format:TIFF images © Crown Copyright Landmark Supplier:Landmark Information Group/Ordnance Survey When:Launched April 2006 Type of service: Subscription (67) (but no user registration)

36. Geology Digimap Data:1:625,000 (solid & drift) 1:250,000 (solid) 1:50,000 (solid & drift) Rock Lexicon Facilities:Mapping and data download service, rock lexicon look-up Format:shp, mid/mif Supplier:British Geological Survey When:Launched January 2007 Type of service: Subscription (39)

37. Marine Digimap Data:Charted Raster (variable scale Admiralty charts) Coastal Raster (coastal marine raster merged with OS 1:25,000 land-based mapping) Hydrospatial: "Marine Mastermap“ (vector marine/coastal zone themes, incl. 1:250,000 bathymetry) Facilities:Mapping and data download service Format:shp, mid/mif & GML; GeoTIFF for rasters Supplier:SeaZone/UK Hydrographic Office When:Launched January 2008 © Crown Copyright UKHO

38. (Some of the) Issues “build it and they will come” managing growth - scalability

39. Facts and Figures

40. (Some of the) Issues “build it and they will come” managing growth - scalability ‘Digimap is expensive!’ sustainability exposed a major issue regarding local support for such services moving from map user to geospatial data user – bridging the skills & knowledge gap lack of local copy (archive) means the historical record is lost derived data and sharing data responding to the Google effect and Web 2.0 policing usage

41. Lessons learnt Ensure… the service is accessible to all that it meets user needs the necessary resources exist to keep pace with a fast-moving area and changing user requirements (e.g. grown from 3 staff -> 10) the right support structure is in place the service allows users to pursue their activities –licence and T&Cs – responding to a changing environment the underlying technology is up to the job the stakeholders remain committed access is guaranteed in the longer term

42. Where next… replacement of the map production sub-system enhancements to services new access points –OGC web services –e-Science GRID –mobiles and PDAs additional content –focus on environmental types of data e.g. soils –internationalisation, particularly into Europe grow the UK academic SDI

43. Dr David Medyckyj-Scott Head, Research and Geo-Data Services Email: d.j.medyckyj-scott@ed.ac.uk EDINA web site: http://edina.ac.uk Tel.: +44 (0)131 650 3302 Fax: +44 (0)131 650 3308 Any Questions? Thank you

45. User tools (clients) Common application servers Common data(base) servers Common hardware infrastructure Ordnance Survey digital map data Historic map images Geological map data Marine map data Data from another Supplier Vector map server Raster map server Gazetteer server File based data server Historic map viewer Digimap Classic end-user desktop/browser Digimap Carto Data Download Client Web Services e.g. to 3rd party Portal Digimap - One Architecture, Many Services (2004+)

46. How we make the data usable Software + application of cartographic rules Software + application of default cartographic rules specified by vendor Value added component 11000152100913Playing Field 0901103 120001016400000% 2100000010001004040097130 0% 15000155 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001055810075820 0% 15000156 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001057130076690 0% 15000157 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001060110075460 0% 15000158 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001063260074650 0% 15000159 0321 8010619 0000000% 2100000010001063370071760 0% 15000160 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001066730076700 0% 15000161 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001058910068550 0% 15000162 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001064490069040 0% 15000164 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001055710052730 0% 15000173 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001058730050390 0% 15000174 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001059520050430 0% 15000175 0321 0901103 0000000% 2100000010001056430049210 0% 15000176 0321 0901103 0000000% OS digital data

47. Ordnance Survey end user (staff/student) access Flow of money, data and rights HE & FE funding councils institutional (subscription) £ £ £ Licensor Service Provider £ £ Data Collections Co.

48. Impact on Map Libraries will lead to the “the renaissance of the map library” reality has been a bit different & impact varies –“the advent of the Digimap service has been the most important and influential event in British academic map libraries in, at least, the last thirty years” –does Digimap complement existing map holdings OR replace the map library? “more comprehensive than what we can offer” –increased number of digital map users (but not of paper maps) and, for some, increase in use of map library –but also seen downsizing/closure of map libraries –raised user expectation *want access to other large scale maps *that other data are online (when it is, “the map user will never physically work in the map library again”) *they can get the map ‘view’ they require