Latest news with #OSMaps
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
What Are OS Maps? A Complete Beginner's Guide
In 1791, Ordnance Survey (OS) started as a way to map the Highlands of Scotland since there was political unrest at the time. Over the years, it has turned into the main provider of maps for the United Kingdom, setting very high standards in accuracy and geography. Even though OS began in defence, it soon became important for civil engineering, city planning, and everyday use. Photo by Pixabay: How OS Maps Are Created Surveying tools from the past and modern technology help a person create an OS map. At the same time, GPS data and pictures taken by drones and airplanes are obtained at the site. With photogrammetry, the materials are turned into proper digital elevation maps. By using GIS, the data is made better, so each map clearly includes footpaths, hedgerows, and property lines, which allows you to use OS maps for planning. Decoding OS Map Symbols To use OS maps, you should first learn the symbols used in them. All signs, spires, and the way the map is drawn have useful functions. To indicate manmade things, features of nature, and road types, maps use pictures, or icons. Because these visual cues are standard, you can find them no matter which location you're in. Scale: The Key to Detail Ordnance Survey maps are available in multiple scales, tailored to different activities. The 1:25,000 Explorer series suits hikers and walkers, offering high-detail representations of rural landscapes. Meanwhile, the 1:50,000 Landranger maps provide broader coverage, ideal for cyclists or long-distance travellers. Zooming in or out alters the amount of information presented, so selecting the appropriate scale can make a significant difference in utility. Why OS Maps Are So Accurate Precision is the hallmark of an OS map. Each edition undergoes rigorous quality control, with updates reflecting new roads, land use changes, and even shifting coastlines. Unlike satellite navigation systems, which often generalise or mislabel features, OS maps are curated by experts who manually verify data. Their commitment to accuracy makes them invaluable for everything from hiking trips to planning construction projects. Digital Mapping & App Integration While traditional paper maps remain popular, digital OS mapping has seen substantial growth. The OS Maps app allows users to access maps on mobile devices, plan routes, and even download them for offline use. Augmented reality overlays and GPS location tracking bring a new dimension to navigation, blending modern convenience with classic cartographic detail. Educational & Practical Uses Other than outdoor activities, OS maps support education by helping students learn about space and how to read maps. They are helpful for emergency teams in finding routes, utility companies when maintaining their systems, and environmental teams when watching for changes in the land. It is rare to find tools that work for many purposes in so many industries. Comparing OS to Other Mapping Systems Unlike other worldwide digital maps, OS maps are created just for the UK's topography. The OS is more accurate in showing features on the map than Google Maps, which mainly focuses on speed and search features. They are not just about locating coffee shops, but about helping people get to know and use their environment. This is what makes OS different from other companies. Why OS Maps Still Matter Because many people use digital ways to navigate, OS maps are still important. Because they are so clear, reliable, and detailed, they are considered the best in UK geography. Wherever you use them, these maps are the best choice due to their usefulness and design. For people new to this, identifying and using them makes the world beneath their feet more interesting. Like this: Like Related
The Guardian
02-05-2025
- The Guardian
Those who prefer a map to an app abound in the age of GPS
John Harris's observations on the implications of using unsuitable phone apps for navigation when walking in the wilds resonated with me (We now leave navigation to our phones. The result: more of us are getting hopelessly lost, 27 April). In terms of practical advice, though, rather than using the Ordnance Survey app backed up with a paper map, I do it the other way round. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Using a 1:25,000 OS paper map as the primary navigational aid conserves phone battery and allows you to keep an eye on the wider landscape for navigational clues all the time; and the scale is fixed, so after becoming accustomed to it, you have a feel for distances while on the move. The OS Maps app is useful for zooming in on detail, and really comes into its own with its little red locator arrow if, for instance, there is no sign of a path on the open moor. And, of course, it is a godsend if you do lose your way. It is also great for plotting out a route before setting off, to calculate the distance and time to be walked (much more accurate and quicker than laying out bits of string on the paper map, which is how I used to do it). The OS app is the only phone app I pay for, and it is worth every WoodinNottingham John Harris's highly pertinent piece on navigation in the outdoors highlights both the issues and some ways to avoid problems. As an experienced hill walker and bird surveyor, I use the Ordnance Survey subscription OS Maps on my desktop. You soon learn to either print off or screenshot paper maps of varying scales. These can be made semi-waterproof with art pastels fixative and you are never without a perfect paper map matched to your purposes. Add a compass and off you go. We have just used five such maps to guide a curlew survey in south Cumbria and a climb of Blencathra, with stunning views of the lakes. John D PeatfieldBowston, Cumbria As one of your 'older' readers, I laughed out loud to read John Harris saying paper maps can occasionally be useful in our app-disoriented days. I still make my way round London using my old A-Z (it is still being published), and I pass many people on street corners turning their mobile phones round and round, frowning, obviously lost. Occasionally I offer assistance. I understand that this is no help on a mountain, but I think it is worth reminding readers that it certainly is helpful in central EwingLondon Sound advice from John Harris about how to use maps to avoid the navigational hazards of GPS. For a simple space-time device, keep a pencil handy for sunny days. Held vertically on a flat surface (even a car dashboard can serve), it will cast a shadow to the north at solar noon (1pm BST) – the shadow will appear to move 15 degrees to the east every hour. Check the time, and you may then work out your direction accordingly. But keep the compass for overcast LynchGarstang, Lancashire I've never used GPS or What3words. I have a library of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps that is augmented for each new trip. They are wondrous geographical and historical resources. I am laughed at by my juniors. Grid references and compass use enforce a spatial awareness and numeracy beyond the understanding of millennials. What will they do when the lights go out? Bring it HeatonWarminster, Wiltshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
