Public sector organisations in Scotland will continue to have access to Ordnance Survey mapping data following an agreement between the Scottish Government and Ordnance Survey to renew the One Scotland Mapping Agreement (OSMA).
The new agreement, which went live on 1 April 2013, means that local and central government organisations, as well as Scottish NHS members, can continue to benefit from being part of a single agreement for Ordnance Survey data. The popular OSMA was established in 2010, and is now being used by 112 Scottish public sector organisations. Through the agreement, users are accessing a diverse range of Ordnance Survey datasets which have become an essential tool in delivering public services, underpinning decision making, driving cost savings and enabling greater data sharing.
John Kimmance, Ordnance Survey Director of Sales and Market Development, said: “The OSMA represents an excellent example of cooperation between Scottish Government and Ordnance Survey, offering a wide range of mapping data to its members. Over the last four years the OSMA has delivered a common framework for joining up government policy and services for the citizen, reduced duplications and given public sector organisations the ability to make informed decisions, resulting in time and cost savings and efficiency improvements.
“I am pleased that an agreement has been reached to implement a new OSMA, and look forward to seeing geographic information continue to underpin a wide range of departments, services and systems all aiding the provision of high quality public services.”
The One Scotland Mapping Agreement includes a broad range of Ordnance Survey data, including OS MasterMap Topography and Integrated Transport Network Layers as well as almost all the supporting scales of mapping. This data will support a diverse range of services including environmental planning, community development initiatives, flood mapping, estate management and habitat mapping. All members to the OSMA operate under the same terms, meaning that there are no limits to sharing data between organisations, which includes sharing data with contractors and other parties who are working on a particular project.
Examples of how the OSMA is being used by its members, include the ePlanning Scotland website, where Ordnance Survey data enables efficient submission of planning applications, the Scottish Police Services Authority who use different scales of Ordnance Survey mapping to improve searches in remote areas, and Dundee Council who use mapping data to accurately locate multi occupancy addresses, ensuring an equitable distribution of such properties across the city.
John added: “Thanks to the new One Scotland Mapping Agreement public services in Scotland will continue to have access to the highest quality geographic information. This is an important agreement, which has, and will continue to deliver significant benefits to the Scottish public sector and ultimately residents of Scotland.
The ten year agreement replaces the previous One Scotland Mapping Agreement providing similar terms for all the member organisations. For further information on the agreement visit – www.www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/osma
