Industry News
OS: A three-dimensional map made from 700m individual points of light is the latest step in a geography revolution unfolding on the south coast. Ordnance Survey has been trialling the use of incredibly accurate lasers to create a spectacularly detailed map that could change the way the national mapping agency works and transform the way we think of maps forever.
The trials have been carried out in Bournemouth, with the town centre captured in ‘startling’ detail. Experts say the technology could revolutionise the future of personal navigation, tourism and the planning process as well as aiding architects and the emergency & security services.
The mapping agency has also been in consultation with businesses that want to view buildings in 3D and calculate heat loss from individual floors & walls in order to improve energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions. OS says that it will be continuing with trials to help perfect the technology, but expects detailed mapping in 3 dimensions to be a reality within the next 5 years.
OS: Ordnance Survey and Land Registry have announced a significant data centre shared service agreement, the first of its type for central government. Under this agreement LR has leased to OS 219sqm of serviced & managed space, in its secure data centre in Gloucester.
This dedicated ‘data centre within a data centre’ will house a proportion of Ordnance Survey’s production IT infrastructure for the next 5 years as well as supporting the launch of a new database management system. It will facilitate essential IT Business continuity services in conjunction with Ordnance Survey’s new head office & operations base, being built in Southampton.
ScotGov: An internationally acclaimed designer, will be working with Scottish projects on plans for low-carbon communities. Andres Duany, who drew up designs for rebuilding work in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, will run design workshops, known as 'charrettes', for projects in Dumfries, Aberdeen and Fife.
The projects are taking part in a government initiative set up to encourage the development of new sustainable communities where residents can enjoy a high quality of life while reducing their carbon footprint. Mr Duany will work with 3 projects - Ladyfield in Dumfries, Grandhome & Whitestripes in Aberdeen and Lochgelly in Fife. The charrettes are expected to run for 3 weeks in March 2010 and will involve intensive events focusing on project design.
Press release ~ Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative ~ Homes for Scotland ~ Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ)
ScotGov: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification gained by Stornoway Western Isles Langoustine Fishery in April this year has directly resulted in a hat-trick of good news for the fishermen - with exports up 5%, a new product launch and a deal with a major supermarket.
Young's Premium Whole Isle of Lewis scampi - the UK's first certified sustainable scampi - will be launched in Sainsbury's stores throughout the UK from November 2009. Made from whole langoustine tails landed by the Stornoway fleet & peeled at Young's Stornoway processing facility at Goat Island, the scampi will be coated & packed in Grimsby.
A deal has also been struck with Sainsbury's to serve Stornoway scampi in 220 of its cafes from this autumn. Young's, which invented scampi over 60 years ago, buys around £2.5m of langoustine from the Fishery p.a.
Press release ~ Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) - certification ~ Fish for Life programme ~ Findus Group - Ten Principles for Responsible Fish Procurement
LR: Land Registry currently has 2 offices in Wales: the Swansea Office (in Swansea High Street) and the Wales Office, which operates from Phoenix Way, Llansamlet. As part of the programme to reduce office space, which was announced in 2006, the Swansea Office will close on 11 January 2010 and the administrative areas previously dealt with by that office will be transferred to the Wales Office.
All paper applications which will be received on or after 11 January 2010 and which relate to land in the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon or Hounslow should be sent, or personally delivered, to the Wales Office, unless a written agreement is in place between the registrar and the applicant or applicant’s conveyancer allowing for delivery elsewhere.
The Customer Information Centre at the Swansea Office closed on 31 August 2009. Personal callers can attend the CIC at the Wales Office.
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