GeoHive ‘collaborative’ mapping tool

A new online mapping tool by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) will allow users to access information relevant to buying house, planning a business, or even to check the soil quality in a particular area.

GeoHive was launched yesterday by Minister for Communications Alex White as a free and accessible portal which allows users access to updated information relevant to all parts of the country, provided by a variety of different sources.

So, anyone considering buying a house in a certain part of the country can look up that location on the map and instantly access information such as average house prices, the extent of public transport, the number of schools, and the number of recorded incidents of crime so far this year.

Those behind the portal said the information will be regularly updated and that new features and elements will be added to what is a free service.

Hugh Mangan of OSI said: “We are committed to keeping the data within the site up to date.”

Mr Mangan said that because some of the data is provided by third-party sources, OSI did not have full control over how up to date that information is, but he said every effort would be made to ensure that anyone using GeoHive was availing of the correct data.

He added that while GeoHive will remain a free service, some of OSI’s customers for its digital services may wish to avail of more intensive data options that might be made available on the service next year.

GeoHive can be accessed on all platforms — PC, tablet, and smart phone. Users will be able to create and share access to web maps that they have created via social platforms such as email, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Current user options range from dog control (the number of dog licence issued in a particular area as well as the number of dog wardens) to development plan process, while users can also build their own map by zoning in on a particular location and accessing all the available data for it.

OSI chief executive Colin Bray said: “GeoHive will allow citizens, the public service and business to realise the benefits which we know can be derived from using geospatial information.

“The portal replaces the existing map viewer on the OSi website which has attracted over 1.5m unique visitors a year. It represents the first time OSI has developed a collaborative service to meet the needs of its user community.”

www.geohive.ie