Ordnance Survey’s GeoHive a one-stop shop for public services data

Comparing the qualities of different parts of the country has been made a little bit easier thanks to a new online search tool from Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSi).

The organisation which is mandated to produce accurate geographical maps has launched GeoHive (www.geohive.ie), an ever-expanding store of data on everything from property prices to dog licences.

Thinking of moving town? Instead of having to carry out separate web searches for public transport links, house prices, the availability of schools, the number of licensed pubs in the area, and the presence of public parks, GeoHive will give you all this information and more through a one-stop site.

Users can view a standard geophysical map and “overlay” it with a range of data from different – and, importantly, credible – providers such as Government departments.

Census data

In addition to providing information suitable for home owners and families, the portal can use the latest census data to reveal the number of single people in your area - and cross-reference this with social outlets including bars, if so desired.

More seriously, GeoHive can help users assess any potential location for a business start-up, providing “layers” of information on the availability of a workforce, the presence of Government-funded enterprise centres, the location of other industry, local planning zoning and road quality.

GeoHive replaces the existing map viewer on the OSi site osi.ie which attracts more than 1.5 million views a year. It is the first time the Ordnance Survey has developed a "collaborative" service for users, according to chief executive Colin Bray.

“Accurate information helps us all to make better decisions. GeoHive will allow citizens, the public service and business to realise the benefits which we know can be derived from using geospatial information,” he said.

The portal, which is free to use, was “designed to allow users to join or ‘mash-up’ information on a map, providing a deeper understanding of topics that impact our lives”.

A report commissioned by OSi estimates that the use of geospatial or location-based information accrues annual savings of €82 million in the public sector, time savings with an economic value of €279 million, and competition benefits of €104 million.

The new portal was launched by Minister for Communications Alex White, who said it would provide information to make investment decisions through “data on population, education, travel times, commuting patterns and the labour force in specific towns and cities”.

Social media

Users will be able to store their own maps or share them with friends via social media including Facebook and Twitter.

Among the State institutions sharing data on GeoHive are the Environmental Protection Agency, National Transport Authority, All-Ireland Research Observatory, Marine Institute, OPW, local authorities, HSE and Government departments.