You’re probably aware that Digimap will provide you with all types of maps and map data of Great Britain. But are you aware that you can also access maps from beyond our shores?

If you need spatial data or maps beyond Great Britain, you can use Global Digimap, part of Edina’s suite of Digimap services. It includes three datasets:

Kenya/Tanzania boundary area. Created using World Panorama data. ©Collins/Bartholomew Ltd. (2019)

• Natural Earth data – small scale open data, created by volunteers, free to use for any purpose
• World Panorama – small scale data created by Collins Bartholomew (publishers of the Times World Atlas)
• OpenStreetMap (OSM) data – crowdsourced open data at various scales. This has world coverage, but the detail varies considerably depending on geographic location.  For most urban areas coverage is good, but the more remote a place, the less detail there is likely to be.

Beijing. Map data ©OpenStreetMap contributors

Two extra data sources are additionally available. When using Roam, they can be accessed through the Overlays button. They are:

• World Place Names – OSM is created by volunteers in the local language, so by adding this overlay to your map you will be given the English version of selected cities and administrative districts.
• WWF World Biomes – This was produced by the WWF to show broad vegetation/ecology groups.

You can also add your own data to Global Digimap by using the WMS Feed option. Search to find suitable feeds, or upload one of your own.

All the usual tools are available as well, so you can measure distance and area, and add your own information by using the drawing tools in the Roam interface.

For more information and support, go to the Digimap Resource Centre and the Digimap YouTube channel.

Judith Fox, Map Librarian

We now have access to a new service as part of Digimap, available both through Digimap Roam and Download.  Geomni consists of three parts, all of which can be accessed through the basemaps button on Roam.

• UKMap: a modern, highly detailed, feature-rich mapping database of Greater London. Its unique, innovative design offers users a flexible choice of integrated map features within a single geographic information source.
• UKBuildings: a unique database created and regularly updated to help you understand the age, structure, characteristics and use of commercial, public and residential buildings across GB.
• UKLand: a maintained, national land information database providing a detailed consistent breakdown of the use of land across the UK

UKMap (London)

UKMap, despite its name, actually covers London within the M25. There are several different parts. In Roam use Basemaps to find:

• Base (London) – similar to OS MasterMap but with more land use information. Includes unit information within shopping centres.
• Aerial (London) – at a resolution of 10 metres.

In addition, using the Overlay tab, you can add:

• Upper Floors (London) – shows content of upper floors of shopping centres
• Tree Canopy (London) – shows indicative canopy of trees

Download gives two more Greater London datasets:

• Terrain DTM – Digital Terrain Model
• Terrain DSM – Digital Surface Model

UKBuildings.

UKBuildings is a national database of building attributes. It includes information about building area and height, as well as relative age (eg Historic, Post War, Modern) and use (eg Residential, Religious, Retail with offices above).

UKLand is a national database of land use (rather than cover). It allows the identification types of land use eg mines/spoil areas or business and retail parks and could be used for planning and risk assessment.

UKLand

To access Geomni, go to Digimap – you will need to register and accept the licence conditions first.

Judith Fox, Map Librarian

You may already be aware that Digimap have launched a new service, Pilot Digimap.  This is a space where they can trial datasets to evaluate their potential.  The datasets available will change regularly so keep looking! They currently have two types of data available, one provided by Geomni and another with ESA satellite data, and they can be accessed through Roam to create maps, or Download to use with ArcGIS or QGIS software. However access is limited – these datasets will only be available until July 31, so should not be relied on for teaching or research.

Rate usefulness

Users can give each new dataset a star rating to indicate it’s usefulness – doing this will help Edina to make a decision on how valuable it is, and will also help us to decide if it’s worth getting if it becomes available as a permanent dataset.

Data available

ESA infrared satellite data

The satellite data includes a colour near infrared set, useful for analysing plant density and health, and a natural colour cloud free mosaic dataset, both from the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel 2 satellite.

Geomni creates and maintains a range of spatial databases, and  we have access to

• UK Buildings Use and Age – shows the use and age of commercial, public and residential buildings across the UK. Particularly useful in urban areas
• UK Land – land classification dataset similar to Environment Digimap, but with more detailed breakdown of urban areas
• UK Map (London only) has several parts:
• UK Map base map – similar to OS MasterMap
• UK Map Aerial – more detail than Aerial Digimap
• UK Map Upper Floors – shows retailers on upper floors of shopping centres
• UK Map Tree Canopy – shows indicative canopy of trees
• UK Map DTM and DSM – available only in download

Geomni UK buildings use & age

Access

To access Pilot Digimap just click on the tab on the Digimap home page – the first time you use it you will be asked to agree to the End User Licence, as you did for other Digimap collections.

Judith Fox, Map Librarian

Over the summer, Digimap have produced a number of improvements which will help compare and combine the different services, and increase interoperability with other mapping applications.

Web Mapping Services

A new button gives access to ‘Web Services’.  This will allow you to export Digimap to other applications like ArcGIS or QGIS, without having to store the data locally. The data can be used as backdrop mapping and there are no size restrictions.  You can also use this function to combine different Digimap services eg Aerial and OS.  Transparency sliders allow you to adjust the visibility of each component.

New overlays in Digimap Ordnance Survey

New overlays available include:

• Postcodes – based on Codepoint with polygons. Contains the full hierarchy
• Contours and spot heights – from Terrain50 and Terrain5 datasets
• Points of interest – point dataset of features. Nine groups, including Retail, Transport and manufacturing and Production

Photographs

Include photographs on a Digimap base

Upload your own photographs to a Digimap base! Simply click on the Camera icon on the Drawing Tools panel.  Once added it is treated as a drawing feature and can be moved or resized.

Printing

You can now request an A5 sized print – better for fitting into an essay or report

Search results

Search results are now grouped by type – places, roads, coordinates etc, and shown in different tabs

If you have questions about using Digimap, contact Judith Fox –  j.a.fox@reading.ac.uk

Judith Fox, Map Librarian