Messages

16

Maps / Re: Alaska; new USGS topi map

« on: December 26, 2013, 10:01:41 PM »

We are very lucky to have OS, The OS has mapped many parts of the world in it history basically everywhere where the UK has had an interest or a campaign. This data is very very hard to get hold of now but if you can get hold of it, it is often more accurate than maps from the national mapping agency made today. 

17

Maps / Re: Explorers and Landrangers

« on: December 26, 2013, 09:54:37 PM »

And finally here is an info-graphic of how it is done today, Notice the surveyor at 20 seconds is working on MasterMap at 1:1250 scale. MasterMap used to be known as BaseMap and its name has swapped between the two on numerous occasions over time. I know when I worked with OS I found it hard to keep up with all the name changes of products.   

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlHgEFN8JKY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlHgEFN8JKY</a>

18

Maps / Re: Explorers and Landrangers

« on: December 26, 2013, 09:43:44 PM »

Here is the Formal notice of withdrawal of 1:10000 Scale Raster mapping

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/docs/legal-notices/10k-raster-notice-to-withdraw.pdf

19

Maps / Re: Explorers and Landrangers

« on: December 26, 2013, 09:39:21 PM »

In contrast here is a short video of how it is done more recently

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nVY4OHoiS8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nVY4OHoiS8</a>

20

Maps / Re: Explorers and Landrangers

« on: December 26, 2013, 09:26:02 PM »

All 1:63360 series and the early 1:50000 maps were all engraved on glass. These were the original master maps. They were not exactly carved in glass but where etched. Glass is very stable, more so than copper or zink. These glass maps were made by coating the glass with wax and then scribing the information in the the wax. From this the plates are photographed to make the zinc printing plates. The glass is then acid etched to be kept in the archive . My dear friend and OS glass engraver Clive Norris worked for OS until the late 70's.

When I needed historical mapping for a customer I would ring the archive and one of the to old gentlemen that worked there would go and find the corresponding map within the date range that was required and a couple of days later I would receive a paper copy of the map. This archive has been completely digitised now and the complete contents of the archive has been transferred to English Heritage. I worked on scanning a very small percentage of the archive. 

I have just come across this video from 1953 which shows an over view of map making by OS. I have sent a link of it to Clive to see if he features in it.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTt0cgOO_ag" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTt0cgOO_ag</a>

21

General Discussion / Merry Christmas All

« on: December 24, 2013, 09:07:44 PM »

Have a good one.

22

Maps / Re: Explorers and Landrangers

« on: December 24, 2013, 08:59:13 PM »

OS scrapped 1:10000 base map in March 2003 it was replaced with OS VectorMap which I believe is surveyed at 1:1250 scale (it was when I worked with OS digital mapping). OS main income is from Geo mapping so they have built their system on that revenue stream. Because of that they interpolate all other mapping from that data. LandRanger and Explorer maps are a very small part of OS business and is almost insignificant in comparison to the other parts of their business. Because OS do all their mapping in a digital work space these days it makes sense for them yo work at the scales that customers want and work from there.

Back in the day when maps were drawn to 1 inch to 1 mile or 1:63,600 scale they were carved on glass, as technology has improved over the years so has the mapping conventions, for what I can tell most of the information I have read on this thread is taken from old conventions and is not accurate today. OS used to be very good at publishing it's mapping conventions but in our digital age where it is possible for anyone that is computer savvy can produce mapping, OS has over time wound back their openness on publishing their own mapping conventions. And who can blame them, after it is very business sensitive material.       

On that note Merry Christmas everyone.

23

General Discussion / Re: How to keep warm in the home and beat the fuel price rises

« on: December 21, 2013, 08:24:27 AM »

Hugh for once I have to agree with you. When I was 23 I bought a 5 bedroom bungalow for my partner, myself and our 6 month old daughter. The bungalow was very run down and the storage heaters did not work and even if they did thy would have had no effect on the temperature what so ever. Ther were only 3 in the whole house. We had on very small fire place in the front room which was 16 square meters and was originally two rooms. The fire place struggled to heat that room let alone the rest of the house. The first winter was the coldest I have experienced whilst living on the south coast. We wrapped up warm and cut wood for the fire. Not even my daughter ever showed signs of being cold. The only time I had an idea how cold it was,was when my partner and I came home one evening came home one evening to find the baby sitter wrapped up in our quilt shivering and not being able to stop. The fire had gone out and she could not re-light it. I thought she was hypothermic from how she was acting. I grow up living in a very old farm house on top of exmoor with no central heating, no running water and electricity from a generator which we only put on in the evenings. So I just saw our bungalow as above normal standards. Even now I hate putting the heating on in doors. It just drys me out, I hate it.

24

General Discussion / Re: A personal plea for the Monadhliath

« on: December 21, 2013, 08:04:08 AM »

I am dead against land based wind farms. They are a greater risk to the environment than a benefit. All that concrete changes the ph of the soil in areas where the soils is not the best but supports very rear ecosystems. As well as damaging the appeal of our open spaces. And they will never offer a true resolve for a green energy. Where as off shore wind farms have a huge benefit to the environment. Our fish stocks are dangerously low and we despiretly need safe places where fishing is not allowed to allow fish to mature at this time the only place this happens is around off shore wind farms. I  glade the government has moved away from land based wind farms.

25

Emergency & Backup Equipment / Re: Interesting read

« on: December 13, 2013, 11:19:12 AM »

I was dead against the SPOT when they first came out but they have improved over the years. Still would want a PLB anywhere remote.

26

Emergency & Backup Equipment / Re: Romanian Rescue Rover

« on: December 08, 2013, 07:07:14 PM »

My point is you can't drive everywhere, that is why most rescue teams work on foot until such time the conditions improve enough for helos to fly. Often the last to join are vehicles because often preparing passable routes takes time and huge amounts of man power to open these routes.   

27

Emergency & Backup Equipment / Re: Romanian Rescue Rover

« on: December 05, 2013, 10:35:39 PM »

Helicopters do not perform well in high winds

Try saying that to a SAR helo team!

28

Emergency & Backup Equipment / Interesting read

« on: December 05, 2013, 10:30:46 PM »

http://www.thejasperlocal.com/drama-on-andromea.html

29

Emergency & Backup Equipment / Re: Romanian Rescue Rover

« on: December 04, 2013, 08:33:40 PM »

Toy is the correct word no use for the real world. Give me a helo anyday.

30

Satnav (GPS GLONASS COMPASS Galileo) / Re: GPS illegal in Russia

« on: November 25, 2013, 09:08:28 AM »

A bloody clever move by the Russians. Russia is a huge market what better way to get their system recognised by manufactures than to make it a legal requirement.