October 2011

Branch News

The Yorkshire & Humber branch welcomed Gary McDonald from Ordnance Survey to the first evening of their autumn 2011 programme. Gary took the audience on a brief journey through the history of the Ordnance Survey from its foundations as a producer of military maps in the 18th Century, through the production of the first 1" to 1 mile map
(of Kent) in 1801, to its current role as the provider of paper and digital map information for a huge range of customers.

Methods of gathering survey information were described and those present were impressed to hear that OS staff have to keep on top of around 5,000 changes across the UK each day as well as interpreting 65,000 aerial images annually. Gary described the recent advances in the OS Master Map (a comprehensive mapping database) and it was noted that 460 million (and rising!) individual features are mapped. Questions and comments at the end of the presentation focussed around highway engineers' need for high levels of accuracy in mapping, particularly in relation to carriageway and footway widths.

Other planned presentations in the autumn season are 'Mobile Traffic Solutions, variable message signs and traffic counts' (12 October) and 'The changing face of planning' (9 November). Both members and non members are very welcome at our hosts, Sanderson Associates' office at Grange Moor near Huddersfield and we look forward to any new attendees who can enjoy a sociable early evening whilst gaining those valuable extra hours of CPD!