November 20, 2015 — GeoHive, a free platform which enables people to combine and layer location-based information from a range of public sector bodies has today been launched by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White TD.
An initiative of Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi), GeoHive provides easy access to definitive, trusted and maintained spatial data services from a range of public sector bodies.
The ‘Economic assessment of Ireland’s Geospatial Industry’ report commissioned by OSi, estimated that the use of geospatial or location-based information accrues annual savings of €82m in the public sector, time savings with an economic value of €279m, and competition benefits of €104m.
According to OSi Chief Executive Colin Bray, “Accurate information helps us all to make better decisions. GeoHive will allow citizens, the public service and business to realise the benefits which we know can be derived from using geospatial information”.
Mr Bray explained that “GeoHive is designed to allow users to join or ‘mash-up’ information on a map, providing a deeper understanding of topics that impact our lives. For example, one of the stories we tell with GeoHive – called Buying a Property in Ireland – gathers together data from many different sources to enable people to view that information in a single site to assist with the evaluation of one location to another. The information presented includes property prices, transport, education and planning”.
“GeoHive is an important development for OSi. The portal replaces the existing map viewer on the OSi website which has attracted over 1.5m unique visitors a year. It represents the first time OSi has developed a collaborative service to meet the needs of its user community”, added Mr Bray.
Minister White welcomed the launch of GeoHive saying that “ GeoHive is going to help us modernise public service delivery by providing a free and accessible portal where it’s easy to find, share and use the State’s location data. With data on education, population, travel times, commuting patterns, and the labour force in specific towns and cities, it will also provide businesses with information that will help them make investment decisions. This will add to our competitive advantage and help us to further promote Ireland as a good place to create jobs and do business. GeoHive showcases the innovation at the heart of the Irish public service.”
GeoHive can be accessed on all platforms – PC, tablet and smart phone. Users will be able to create and share access to web maps that they have created via social platforms such as email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more.
GeoHive can be accessed at www.geohive.ie
