Friday 15 November 2013

Landmark launches University Lecture Programme

Landmark Information Group has launched a University Lecture Programme across the UK, to provide MSc and MBA Real Estate students with an insight into the range of digital mapping datasets that are available in today’s commercial world, and to support property or land-related projects that are underway as part of their courses. 

Lectures have taken place at Oxford Brookes University this week, whereby students from its Real Estate & Construction Department attended the session to trial the web-based Promap® digital mapping application.  

By using the tool, students were able to access Ordnance Survey mapping, plus a wide range of additional datasets, which will support them in the analysis of their course development projects, which are based on hypothetical development sites across the country. 

Carole Ankers, Product Development Director at Landmark Information Group said: “We have launched our University Lecture Programme to provide students who are studying topics related to real estate, construction or land development with direct access to our Promap digital mapping application. By doing so, they benefit from first-hand experience of the system which is widely used by architects, surveyors, developers and other related professionals.  Plus, all students receive a certificate to confirm that they have used the system during their degree course and passed the project, which can be emphasised when seeking future employment.

The lecture at Oxford Brookes University is the third visit orchestrated by Landmark, which has been well received by students and staff as Nick French, Professor in Real Estate at Oxford Brookes University confirms: “We always want our students to have as much practical experience as possible. It is important that they develop their skills and knowledge of systems used by property professionals, to help prepare them for a career after university.”

For any universities interested in joining the Promap University Lecture Programme, please contact Paul Marshall on 07798 611 121 or email Paul.Marshall@landmark.co.uk

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Architects Journal: “40 per cent of architects using wrong maps”

According to research carried out by Ordnance Survey, 40 per cent of land and property professionals, including civil engineers, architects, property lawyers, surveyors and developers, could be using out of date or unlicensed mapping information in their work.  In a news report published by the Architects Journal, it stated that as a result they “risk being sued by using unlicensed or out of date maps.”

In addition to this, the research found that approximately 45 per cent of all maps submitted with planning applications were also unlicensed or incorrectly displayed.   

The research was carried out as part of Ordnance Survey’s ‘Unlicensed Data’ campaign, which is designed to encourage land and property professionals to check that they are licensed and up-to-date when using OS location data.

Using online mapping services, such as Promap, remove unknown and unlicensed data fears for all property professionals.

We manage the accuracy and currency of the maps so users can quickly get what they need and not add any unnecessary risk or delay to the planning process.  By using the wrong maps, it could ultimately lead to breach of copyright, create delays and result in potential disputes with clients.

In our view, if property professionals are accessing unlicensed mapping data, they are not only running the risk of potential litigation, but may be basing drawings or planning applications on inaccurate data, which may negatively impact on the wider project and not to mention the information recorded in BIM.