07.02.14
Glasgow to make mapping data available to public
A new trial has been agreed between Glasgow and Ordnance Survey to make more information public as part of the Future City programme.
Non-sensitive and non-personal information produced using OS data and mapping will be made available through a new data portal. This could be used by businesses and IT developers to design a commercial applications for the public or business.
The data could include the location of cycle racks, gritting bins and recycling services and the special licence will run until 31 October 2014, in line with the Future City programme.
Cllr Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Future City/Glasgow said: “This is another coup for Glasgow. I'm delighted to be working in partnership with the Ordnance Survey in this ground-breaking trial, which puts the city at the forefront of the open data landscape.
“The quality of information on Ordnance Survey maps is renowned. Being able to issue information from their maps will open up all kinds of opportunities for the public, businesses, academics and especially the developer community.
“This trial has the potential to open the door for other local authorities and creates a new market which has not existed in the UK before. The data will be available in an easily accessible and useable format. We hope it will inspire creative and innovative uses such as the creation of new services and products which can improve life in the city and further afield.”
John Carpenter, Ordnance Survey director of strategy, said: “Ordnance Survey has always been, and remains at the forefront of innovative solutions and open data and we are pleased to be working with Glasgow City Council in the development of new ways to support the citizens of Glasgow.
“We have worked hard to improve the access to our digital mapping and this new agreement with Glasgow is another positive development in our open data journey. We already have a vast range of datasets and licenses which enable businesses and developers to access our data and I am delighted that we are able to build on these with the Future City's project.
“I am looking forward to seeing how popular the new agreement will be and hope to see many new and exciting products, services and applications being developed in Glasgow. We continuously review our open data terms and are always keen to extend examples of best practice to other areas of the country.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]