Transcript
Hello everybody, and welcome. My name is Will Silby, and I'm one of the account executives at Land App. I'm pleased to be hosting this webinar today, usually led by our Director of Growth and UK Lead, Dan Geerah. Dan is still here, working in the background to support me through the webinar and the Q&A. I've been at Land App for about nine months now, coming from a farm environment role, and since then I've had the total joy of speaking with so many different users from a range of industries and use cases. Today, our focus is on Ordnance Survey (OS) data, and we'll be looking at the different datasets and features within Land App. The key outcome we want is for you to feel much more confident in using OS data, how to access it, and how to use it to ultimately improve your mapping experience. We'll do this by going on a quick tour and showcase of the different OS features available.
Product Updates
We also have a couple of recent product updates:
Drag to Select: This highly requested feature allows you to select multiple parcels on your map simply by dragging your cursor across the screen, which will save a lot of time.
Land App Mobile Improvements: Our mobile app has seen big improvements, allowing you to map in the field remotely using GPS (no signal required). You can conduct surveys and take photos that drop exactly where they were taken. This powerful tool is available for our Standard and Professional subscribers.
Ordnance Survey (OS) Data
I want to emphasize the importance of data as the basis for making decisions in land management. Our recent webinar on "Data Powered Decisions in Land Management" highlighted this, and we've also recognized that many customers want a better understanding of the data and tools available from Ordnance Survey.
What is OS? Ordnance Survey is the National Mapping Agency of Great Britain, covering geographical data for England, Wales, and Scotland. They are a well-respected, government-owned public body that provides detailed, accurate, and up-to-date geographic data used for a range of purposes, from navigation to environmental management and emergency services.
We are proud to be an OS Partner, which means our users can be confident that the data they're using is accurate, authoritative, and can be used as a "source of truth." All OS data can be accessed by all Land App users, regardless of their subscription tier (Free, Standard, or Professional). However, some data and features have an associated cost.
If you are a member of the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA), which includes councils and other public bodies, you can link your membership to your Land App account and access all OS data for free.
I'll be covering two main types of OS features:
OS Base Maps and Data Layers: The base maps are the background you see when mapping, and we'll look at three different types. Data layers are mostly open-source and can be overlaid onto the map background.
Data Downloads: These are premium datasets you can purchase. I'll showcase the OS Field Boundaries dataset, which identifies the nature of field boundary features (hedgerows, stone walls, etc.) and is useful for natural capital assessments and planning. I'll also demonstrate the OS MasterMap, their flagship dataset and the most detailed digital map available, which is fantastic for all sorts of decisions.
Live Demo
I'll start on my main maps dashboard and create a new map called "OS Webinar Demo."
1. OS Base Maps I'll zoom in on Chalbury, the town where I grew up. You can access base maps at the top of the screen.
Ordnance Survey: This is the main OS base map, offering a good level of detail and contour lines. As I zoom in, it will render more details, showing features like buildings, roads, and rivers.
Ordnance Survey Light: This is the same as the main map but in a lighter color and without contour lines, offering a less visually saturated view.
Ordnance Survey Leisure: Familiar to ramblers, this base map has a layout similar to paper maps, with a great level of detail and contour lines.
The detail you see at a certain zoom level is the OS MasterMap, but in a raster (2D) format. The more you move the map or zoom in, the more OS credits you use. Every user gets 30,000 credits for free, and you can top up as needed. If you are an OS Data Hub member or a PSGA member, you can link your account to Land App to receive a large number of free credits per month.
2. OS Data Layers Next, I'll go to the "Data Layers" menu. We have over 21 different datasets you can overlay, with many OS-specific layers grouped together.
OS Grid Reference: You can turn these on to map with different grid references.
Open Rivers: This layer shows a network of rivers and canals, providing defined data points.
Flood Zones and Contour Lines: You can use these layers together to analyze an area. For example, by looking at the contours and flood zones, you can identify areas that are flat and prone to flooding versus steeper areas that are safer for planning.
OS Open UPRN: This shows the unique property reference number for every property on the map, which can be used to look up addresses and other property-relevant data in external tools.
Green Spaces: This is a new layer showing public areas like playing fields and parks, along with their access points. This is useful for planning and valuing properties.
3. Defining Boundaries I'll show you a handy feature called Interactive Map. Once this button is turned on, you can select the "Draw Freehand" tool to trace shapes from the OS MasterMap. The cursor will snap to the line of buildings and other features, allowing for quick, precise tracing of areas on your map. This is a very useful tool for measuring up features on an estate, farm, or property, and you can be confident that the data is authoritative and up-to-date.
4. Data Downloads I'll now show you a couple of data downloads. I'll import a larger boundary from the Land Registry to showcase the features.
OS Field Boundaries: This dataset identifies both natural and man-made field boundaries, such as hedgerows and stone walls, and can provide details on their height and width. This is useful for natural capital assessments, agri-environment schemes, and planning wildlife corridors. When you download this data, a healthy hedgerow survey map is automatically generated, which you can use with our mobile app.
OS MasterMap Topography Layer: This is a highly detailed dataset covering all features on your map, including buildings, agricultural land, ponds, and roads. When you download this, you get an interactive plan where you can click on each feature to see its classification. You can also generate a report that provides a tabular breakdown of all the features within your boundary, which is a fantastic tool for asset registers or natural capital assessments. The cost of this download is determined by the area and is licensed for a 12-month period for your use and for sharing with colleagues.
5. Printing Finally, I'll quickly show you how to manage prints using OS base maps in Land App. By clicking the print button, you can create a new frame, choose your paper size and scale, and select your base map. The cost will be shown, as the base maps are a licensed product. Once purchased, you have an unlimited license for that print frame for a 12-month period. You can also customize the print by adding a header, footer, and legend. You can even save the template to be used again, which is great for organizations. The final print is a clean, professional-looking document with a high level of detail.