Maps

Maps are more than just things which have funny lines on them.  They help to direct you to places and help you plan for things. So why even think about this here?  Maps have been the subject of a numerous different request, and the amount that they look at is amazing.  Not only that, but since maps are used for planning we can find out  a lot about the organisation by simply seeing the “Maps” that they have created.

Want to see the maps that the environmental agency use to plan for flooding?  Here they are!  They show everything in this response from the modeling, information used to the way it is conducted.  It’s pretty cool.  Did you know that you could get this sort of stuff?  It also shows what this agency is planning.  TO be honest, I don't know the reasons that this person needed this BUT it shows that we can get it and shows what this agency is doing to help you.

So what about cycle paths in Essex Council?  Again, someone asked for all correspondence regarding the development of a cycle path. The great thing it they got it.  Why is this important?  Because again it shows what the council was thinking of when they developed the cycle path.  Not only that but it gives us an insight into what the council was looking for long term. Look at the planning documents and the communications, that there are some high hopes for this cycle path.

Same Council, different request, a map of all byways of open to all traffic.  What did they say?  Basically, they’re working on it.  The thing that is interesting in this document is that they state that they are working on an interactive webpage.  Again this person would want this due to the nature of their job (Or personal interest), the fact is thought it also shows that the council are developing new methods to show “old” data.

SO what about ambulances?  What about their maps? When someone asked the London Ambulance Fleet that question, they gave some pretty good information.  They explained how their maps are updates and that they took a project to check how up-to-date these maps were.  This again is interesting because, at some point, we are all going to need to call an ambulance. Wouldn't it be good to know that they know how to get to where you are?   

How about crime maps?  Here is some information about maps and the information that is used to generate crime maps.  Again, crime affects us all.  Whilst this information could be used badly, if it is brought into the wrong hands, it does mean that we now can develop our own strategies and, how knows, help the police force.

Maps are interesting things.  They help show us things that are there.  The more I think about maps, the more that I can see coming from them.  Remember that maps help us to plan for things. Think of the things that we could plan if we think of the potential of maps.