84
P. Wright
elevation models of the seabed, can be produced more easily but not necessarily at less
cost, because in most cases not all of the data is readily available in digital form.
Four developments should, however, provide the HO with the opportunity to
supply data for use in GIS more cost effectively in the relatively near future. Firstly,
the HO is in the process of digitising its charts in the IHO S57 data format for use in
ECDIS. In this format the data will be held as real world objects not as cartographic
features. This will overcome many of the difficulties referred to in the earlier section
of this paper on data compatibility.
Secondly, a number of emerging defence
requirements should result in the creation of a series of rich datasets covering the
coastal and offshore zones. It may be possible to make some of this data available to
GIS users. Both of these developments should enable data for GIS to be produced
more cheaply than it can be produced at present. Two other developments could
increase the demand for data, which would also assist the HO to sell data at a lower
price than it could be sold now. Firstly, the Department of the Environment has
established the Coastal Forum (Department of the Environment, 1995) to encourage
greater co-operation and best practice in coastal management. Secondly, the OS has
recently proposed the concept of a National Geospatial Database (Nanson et al., 1995).
Both initiatives should raise people's awareness of the potential value of GIS and the
potential for the HO to provide data for use in these systems. In addition, the former
provides the HO with the opportunity to identify customers and customer requirements
and the latter the opportunity for the HO to add value to any service it provides to the
GIS community by linking its datasets with those produced by other organisations.
References
Allan, P. (1994). "Coastal Zone Mapping - A Digital Data Trial", Ordnance Survey
Internal Report, E481, 19pp.
Curtis, M., Harper, B., and Fellingham, W. (1993). "Is there a Mart for these Chaps?",
GIS Europe, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 26-28.
Department of the Environment (DOE) (1995). "The Coastal Forum", Wavelength,
Issue 1, 4pp, DOE, London.
Harper, B. (1993a). "The Report on the HO role in the Joint HO/OS Coastal Zone
Mapping Project 1992 - 93", Hydrographic Office Internal Report, pp 30.
Harper, B. (1993b). "A Coastal Zone Mapping Project in Great Britain", Proceedings
of the Canadian Hydrographic Service 1993 Surveying and Mapping
Conference, pp. 220-223.
House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, Remote Sensing and
Digital Mapping (1983). "Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on
Science and Technology, Remote Sensing and Digital Mapping", Vol. 1, Her
Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), London.
Nanson, B., Smith, N. and Davey, A. (1995). "What is the British National Geospatial
Database?", Proceedings of AGI'95, pp. 1.4.1-1.4.5.
Ordnance Survey Review Committee (1979). "Report of the Ordnance Survey Review
Committee", Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), London.
P. Wright
elevation models of the seabed, can be produced more easily but not necessarily at less
cost, because in most cases not all of the data is readily available in digital form.
Four developments should, however, provide the HO with the opportunity to
supply data for use in GIS more cost effectively in the relatively near future. Firstly,
the HO is in the process of digitising its charts in the IHO S57 data format for use in
ECDIS. In this format the data will be held as real world objects not as cartographic
features. This will overcome many of the difficulties referred to in the earlier section
of this paper on data compatibility.
Secondly, a number of emerging defence
requirements should result in the creation of a series of rich datasets covering the
coastal and offshore zones. It may be possible to make some of this data available to
GIS users. Both of these developments should enable data for GIS to be produced
more cheaply than it can be produced at present. Two other developments could
increase the demand for data, which would also assist the HO to sell data at a lower
price than it could be sold now. Firstly, the Department of the Environment has
established the Coastal Forum (Department of the Environment, 1995) to encourage
greater co-operation and best practice in coastal management. Secondly, the OS has
recently proposed the concept of a National Geospatial Database (Nanson et al., 1995).
Both initiatives should raise people's awareness of the potential value of GIS and the
potential for the HO to provide data for use in these systems. In addition, the former
provides the HO with the opportunity to identify customers and customer requirements
and the latter the opportunity for the HO to add value to any service it provides to the
GIS community by linking its datasets with those produced by other organisations.
References
Allan, P. (1994). "Coastal Zone Mapping - A Digital Data Trial", Ordnance Survey
Internal Report, E481, 19pp.
Curtis, M., Harper, B., and Fellingham, W. (1993). "Is there a Mart for these Chaps?",
GIS Europe, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 26-28.
Department of the Environment (DOE) (1995). "The Coastal Forum", Wavelength,
Issue 1, 4pp, DOE, London.
Harper, B. (1993a). "The Report on the HO role in the Joint HO/OS Coastal Zone
Mapping Project 1992 - 93", Hydrographic Office Internal Report, pp 30.
Harper, B. (1993b). "A Coastal Zone Mapping Project in Great Britain", Proceedings
of the Canadian Hydrographic Service 1993 Surveying and Mapping
Conference, pp. 220-223.
House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, Remote Sensing and
Digital Mapping (1983). "Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on
Science and Technology, Remote Sensing and Digital Mapping", Vol. 1, Her
Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), London.
Nanson, B., Smith, N. and Davey, A. (1995). "What is the British National Geospatial
Database?", Proceedings of AGI'95, pp. 1.4.1-1.4.5.
Ordnance Survey Review Committee (1979). "Report of the Ordnance Survey Review
Committee", Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), London.