Issue link: https://geospatial.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1415423
e UK has a multitude of bodies coordinating an active response to the current pandemic. ese include public sector bodies such as the national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, which is providing an active response through its Mapping for Emergencies Programme, as part of the services it has contracted to provide to the public sector through our Public Sector Geospatial Agreement. is agreement includes using high definition map- ping to identify the best sites for response facilities and the location of vulnerable people to ensure they receive the support they need. Not only is this data made available to the public sec- tor, but to anyone with a crucial role to play. To ensure this, the Ordnance Survey has now released a new short-term 'COVID-19 Licence'. e licence is enabling organizations, developers and individuals to use OS data for free, for the specific purpose of supporting the UK response to the coronavirus pandemic. It's being said that the need of the hour is to shift from data platforms to solution platforms. What are your thoughts on this issue? Everyone is trying to figure out the maximum-value sector in the future data economy. e public sector is not traditionally seen as very promising in this regard. For data that is held by the public sector, we see the need to invest in the fundamentals first — findable, accessible, interop- erable, and reusable data is the key. We are working with bodies across the UK public sector to develop and improve access to data. Only then it will be possible to unlock value from data by combining it across domains to reach a wider community of users who can innovate with it. Develop- ment of data to enable high-end technology and advanced analytics to apply is, of course, the prize, and some are already well-advanced in this respect. In the UK, we want to create the right market conditions and incentives for innovation, while safeguarding national security, intellec- tual property rights and individual privacy. At the same time, we recognize how advancing innovation and skill can help build the nation's capabilities. Moving forward, what are your strategies and suggestions? This is an unprecedented time for us all — no matter where we are in the world. Geospatial data is key to evidence-based and agile response. Reduced and new consumer and citizen demands are providing chal- lenges and opportunities, with geospatial data central to meeting both. In the UK, we might see an increased appetite for data sharing between the general public and the public sector, given that we now centrally rely on this data to support our COVID-19 response. Furthermore, with this appetite, if we can get the precise frameworks around data, that could not only support options to manage short-term impacts, but also long-term economic recovery. erefore, the UK government is commied to maximizing the value of geospatial data. e Geospatial Commission published the UK's Geospatial Strategy earlier in June. Our strategy aims to deliver a more explicit framework for how geospatial data can be accessed and used, coupled with critical programs and investment. In this way, we look to prove the case for further aention, investment or regulatory reform that improves geospatial data and its use. It will also enhance activities like running the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA), which is a £1 bil- lion investment over ten years. We will continue our work on a new National Underground Assets Register, which will improve the efficiency and safety of underground infrastructure by creating a secure data exchange platform to provide digital records of assets' location. Moreover, we will start to explore where improvements to geospatial data can support greater efficiencies in the housing sector, environmental policy and future transport networks. All of this should support the UK's recovery in these chal- lenging times. Anamika Das Vice President- Professional Geospatial Market anamika@geospatialmedia.net www.geospatialworld.net | May-June 2020 45 At UK Geospa al Commission, we are not only interested in the direct applica on of geospa al data for COVID-19 response, but also in the long-term impact of the use of this data and associated technologies