On 1 July 2013 11:25, Nick Whitelegg wrote:
> The best way IMO to make changes to ROWs available would be fully open
> system with a database and public API where a map provider could receive a
> list of updates from given local authorities in a format such as XML or
> JSON. In turn local authorities could send updates via the API.
>
> That way there's no overhead of having to specifically contact people -
> local authorities just update a database and then anyone, including OSM,
> could query the API and apply the changes themselves.
I think something like this is already happening in a related area:
The National Street Gazetteer [1] where local authorities provide
details of all their streets to a central organisation GeoPlace LLP,
to help coordinate roadworks.
I only found out about this a few weeks ago (thanks to someone who got
in touch with me about it) and I haven't looked in to it in detail
yet. But it seems that:
* Each local authority is required to maintain a local Street Works
Register, which as well as containing details of works, also has
information about all the publicly maintainable highways in the
authority's area. [2]
* The local Street Works Registers have to be available for public
inspection at "at all reasonable hours and free of charge" (apart from
those parts deemed sensitive on commercial or national-security
grounds). [2]
* As of 1st April 2009, this Register has to be kept as a GIS system
meeting British Standard 7666-1 (2006) or later versions thereof. [3]
* I can't find the legislation for this, but it appears that the local
authorities then submit their local registers to GeoPlace LLP who
combine them into the National Street Gazetteer, which utility
companies and local authorities can then access.
* GeoPlace LLP is a joint venture between the local authorities and
Ordnance Survey. Even though the local registers have to be open to
public inspection, GeoPlace seems to insist that only those with an
appropriate OS license are allows to access the National Street
Gazetteer data. [4]
The really interesting feature of all this though, is that according
to the case study at [5], Public Rights of Way are included in the
types of "highway" that local authorities must include in their local
registers. So if I'm interpreting everything correctly, and the
legislation quoted is in force, then since 2009, LAs have been
required to maintain a GIS database of their Public Rights of Way, and
allow public "inspection" of it -- whatever that means for a such a
database. It doesn't get you anywhere with licensing or permissions to
re-use though, and because of OS's influence in GeoPlace LLP, it
doesn't seem possible to get at all the PROW data centrally. Also, in
practice, it would appear that many LAs have not yet digitised their
PRoW network data.
Robert.
[1] http://www.thensg.org.uk/
[2] http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/22/section/53
[3] http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1951/regulation/4/made
[4] http://www.thensg.org.uk/iansg/link.htm?nwid=173
[5] http://www.thensg.org.uk/iansg/document.htm?targ=1061
--
Robert Whittaker
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