The 2021 Geography in Government Awards opened for nominations in January, seeking examples of excellence in geography across the range of disciplines and organisations. The awards are now in their third year, and all the judges were impressed by the outstanding quality and range of examples the profession can offer. Once again, reading the nominations it was clear that geography in government is a broad profession with excellence across the public sector and a profession which is full of dedicated and talented individuals.
Although we’re again unable to host the award ceremony in person this year, the Government Geography Profession would like to take this opportunity to share the short listed nominations for each category. The virtual ceremony will take place on Thursday 27th May where the category winners will be announced, along with the overall winner. The overall winner is invited to the hugely prestigious Royal Geographical Society Awards, recognising the impact and importance of geography across the public sector.
Here are the shortlisted nominations for the category of "Excellence in geo-visualisation & cartography", along with a short description of the work in alphabetical order.
GIS Team, Oil and Gas Authority
UKCS Lease Agreements App
With the approach of Net Zero in 2050, companies conducting activities in the UK continental shelf (UKCS) need access to spatial data to be able to plan activities and avoid restricted areas. The OGA has created a new interactive mapping application that reveals the location of every energy-related site in the UKCS. Collaborating with The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland to create the energy lease area map. It is expected to bring real benefits in the search for carbon capture and utilisation storage locations and the re-use of oil and gas infrastructure at the end of their hydrocarbon services.
OS API Team, OS Maps API & OS Vector Tile API
Ordnance Survey - National Mapping Services
In 2020 OS designed and developed a new suite of Map API’s that has revolutionised the way our public and private sector customers access and use our data. The API’s allow quick and easy access to a host of data in various cartographic styles. As part of the Geospatial Commission’s Public Sector Geospatial Agreement, over 5,500 public sector organisations now have direct and immediate access to OS's most detailed and trusted location data via a suite of APIs which will transform how geospatial data is used to support government policy and underpin public services.
Special Air Charts Team, Special Air Charts Section, No 1 AIDU
Low Flying Chart Air Safety Improvements
Tasked with providing Low Flying Charts to UK Defence in support of Military Operations. The Special Air Charts Section (SpAC) comprise of 3 RAF Air Cartographers qualified to produce these critical to flight safety charts every 28-day using the latest GIS Software. These charts contain extensive topographical, obstruction and Power Line information in addition to portraying restricted airspace and avoidances necessary to support Low Flying Operations. Having identified issues with the portrayal of obstructions and increased risk of misinterpretation of complex features the team set about establishing new Symbology and Legend to increase awareness and Air Safety as a whole.
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