Data Description

OS VectorMap Local™ is the latest large-scale vector product from Ordnance Survey, Britain's renown national mapping agency. The dataset is supplied in 5km x 5km tiles using a compressed Geography Markup Language (GML) format. It has been derived from OS Landplan data and has been generalised to view between scales of 1:3000 to 1:20,000. This generally yields more detail than that found on mapping services such as Google Maps and Microsoft Bing Maps.

Rendering Service Description

Europa Technologies offer a web map tile rendering services specifically developed for OS VectorMap Local. The service converts the standard GML delivery format into a pre-rendered set of map tiles, ready for rapid deployment on the web. Tile sets are compatible with a number of popular map APIs including OpenLayers, OS OpenSpace®, ESRI JavaScript API, Oracle MapViewer and Microsoft Bing Maps. Europa Technologies have developed a default cartographic style based on Ordnance Survey guidelines, with fully customised styling also available.

Rapid Web/Mobile Deployment

There is a considerable time, cost and effort in converting, preparing, styling and deploying any data set for the web. Our service removes this burden and bridges the gap between raw data delivery and deployment on the web. When a custom rendered tile set is delivered (on DVD or hard disk), image files are simply copied to a web server. Then, by directing an API to the location of the tile set, web-based mapping applications can be up-and-running in no time. Tile based maps are also an effective gateway to mobile deployment and Europa Technologies has already developed a template map application for the Apple iPhone. Contact us today for further information on using the service for mobile map deployment.

High Quality On-screen Cartography

Our rendering system produces beautiful maps specifically designed for deployment on the web and mobile devices. Our standard style features attractive base map cartography and avoids the use of bright colours, which are reserved for your map pins, overlays and other foreground graphics. Particular attention has been given to efficient text labelling across all zoom levels.

Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright. All rights reserved.

Map projections available:

• OSGB (EPSG: 27700)
• Spherical/Web Mercator (EPSG:900913, EPSG:4375)

National to Street Level Mapping

OS VectorMap Local is an excellent large scale vector map data source. However, to enjoy web maps from national down to street level, a mid-scale supplement is required and Europa Technologies has selected OS Strategi® for this purpose. The combination of VectorMap Local and Strategi gives seamless mapping from national down to street level. A complete Great Britain tile set occupies 200GB of disk space - a very modest amount by modern disk sizes and with the option of storage on a high performance solid state (SSD) drive.

Server Efficient Solution

With pre-tiled maps, there is no need for dedicated map servers, unless you have some dynamic content to overlay. The tile set is simply a raster mosaic of images at different zoom levels with the client-side map API (using JavaScript, Flash, Silverlight, etc.) requesting the tiles needed to complete any geographic view. By pre-rendering base maps, more time can be afforded to label placement and other challenges in digital cartography. Your web server is now just delivering images - it's intended use. Importantly maps are delivered FAST as there is absolutely no delay due to map drawing server-side.

Your Choice of Map API

By creating tile sets which are compatible with modern industry standards, our high quality maps are compatible with a large number of open source and commercial Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Notably, this choice avoids licensing problems when using OS derived data with the Google Maps API.

Full Style Customisation

A full style and feature customisation service is available. With around 130 object types in VectorMap Local, you can choose to remove any features not applicable to your application. Colours may also be modified to requirements such as colour blindness or night time operations.

Samples

A sample tile set is available based on the published OS VectorMap Local 5km x 5km sample of Exeter city centre. Before requesting this tile set, please make sure you download the sample GML data for yourself from the VectorMap Local micro site and note that you are bound by the OS Discover licence. If you have an Evaluation or Developer licence, please contact us to discuss your requirements. In addition to the sample tile set, we supply a demo web application using the OpenLayers API.

Further Information

For further information about OS VectorMap Local rendering services from Europa Technologies, including service pricing and sample requests, please contact our sales team who will be happy to help you.

For further information about the OS VectorMap Local data product, please visit the product micro site.

Note: In providing this rendering service, Europa Technologies acts as a sub-contractor to you.

Duncan Hill, Business Development Manager
Telephone: +44 (0)1932 64 55 60 (direct)
e-mail:

Warren Vick, Director
Telephone: +44 (0)1932 64 55 55, option 1
e-mail: