Getmapping and EDINA (University of Edinburgh) have worked together to put aerial photography onto the desk in UK schools via Digimap for Schools. These high resolution images of Britain map can be viewed directly in Digimap for Schools, now used by pupils, students and teachers in 2,500 primary and secondary schools. The images can also be overlaid with the current and historic Ordnance Survey mapping.
Digimap for Schools is an online mapping service provided by the University of Edinburgh via EDINA which acts as a national centre for digital expertise and online services. The service was first launched in 2010 as a subscription service for primary and secondary schools, winning the Geography Association GA Publishers’ Gold Award in 2011 together with the Ordnance Survey who provide the authoritative mapping data that lies at the heart of Digimap for Schools. In 2015, the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers awarded EDINA with a Special Recognition Award for Digimap for Schools. Following request from the teachers for historic mapping, coverage dating from the 1890s and then the 1950s was added through the generosity of the National Library of Scotland which had digitised OS paper maps. One key dataset in demand from teachers missing until now has been aerial photography. Getmapping has now stepped forward to contribute its data for inclusion in the service.
Anne Robertson, who has led the development of Digimap for Schools at EDINA, said:
“Aerial Photography adds an exciting new dimension to online mapping in schools by allowing students to see what is physically on the ground alongside the premier Ordnance Survey maps. This is a key reference dataset in teaching Geography and Earth Sciences, as well as offering insight for a range of other subjects. Digimap for Schools can now allow students to see the different places they know, such as home and school buildings, as well as features included in maps, such as different road and rail links and types of land use, from woodland, arable farming and pasture and can even identify archeological sites.”
Elaine Owen, Ordnance Survey, Schools Sector Manager said:
“Understanding location and geography is often overlooked or taken for granted, but it underpins almost everything we do as a society. It improves how we work, live and play. For instance, accurate location data is what helps Emergency Services arrive at incidents sooner rather than later. The exciting addition of Getmapping’s aerial content to Digimap for Schools makes it an even better tool for inspiring the next generation to appreciate the importance of location and geography.”
Getmapping is a leading geo-spatial data provider in the UK and created the first seamless aerial photography dataset of England and Wales called the Millennium Map in 2000. Since then Getmapping have been committed to capturing and updating aerial photography using the latest in digital camera and image processing software to create the most detailed aerial photography dataset available today. Getmapping is the only commercial aerial survey company committed to the capture and update of aerial photography across the whole of Great Britain.
For more about Digimap for Schools, including subscription details and access to a Free Trial, visit http://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/ or contact the Digimap for Schools Helpdesk at [email protected]
