Image source: Ordnance Survey
Preventing floods and building ’20-minute neighbourhoods’ will be issues in which location data will become increasingly important over the coming year, according to a senior official at Ordnance Survey (OS).
John Kimmance, managing director of national mapping services at the national mapping agency, highlighted the issues in a blogpost on predictions for 2024.
He said there is an increased risk of flooding in coastal and low lying areas due to climate change, and accurate location data will be vital in the planning for prevention, response and recovery from incidents.
This became clear at a recent storm and flooding exercise with local resilience forums “where the crucial question everyone wanted an answer to was where,” he said.
Cutting car usage
Kimmance also highlighted the role of location data in building 20-minute neighbourhoods (otherwise described as 15-minute neighbourhoods) in which people can find more goods and services close to home and do not need to use their cars. This would help to reduce pollution and help them to remain healthy.
He said the concept “will become part of a louder conversation as we recognise that transport contributes to around 26% of greenhouse pollution,” he said, adding that OS data has already been used in a relevant project in Scotland and another with NHS England.
Other predictions for the new year include using location data in large infrastructure projects, optimising the location of assets, understanding population and the movements of citizens, and supporting the extension of digital connectivity.
