Mapping legend Ordnance Survey releases blocky Britain in Minecraft – again

Have you ever wanted to explore a blocky low-resolution version of the UK? Well, you're in luck, because the Ordnance Survey has created a Minecraft representation of it, claimed to be as realistic as anything ever can be in the game. ordnance survey Minecraft images The pasture land and heathland of the New Forest, in …

[Peter Prof Fox]

Out of date

The OS is excellent as a historical document but isn't kept up to date. I reported 7 issues in my small town and never even got an acknowledgement. Basic things like roads built 40 years ago. A footbridge over a river built 25 years ago.

[excession]

Re: Out of date

It is certainly variable but I can confirm plenty of recent features are fully represented- for instance solar farms and wind turbines near me.

[Alien Doctor 1.1]

Re: Out of date

Of course it's kept up to date. They have surveyors out almost 365/Yr and use digital 3d mapping aircraft on a constant update cycle. Their work is exceptional and highly detailed.

[Martin an gof]

Re: Out of date

Basic things like roads built 40 years ago. A footbridge over a river built 25 years ago.

...and a paper map bought 35 years ago?

Bit difficult to update a paper map, but they are fascinating to look at – I've taken custody of my mum's vast selection now that she can't see them properly any more.

On a slightly more serious note, when you buy a paper map these days you also get the digital version. Is this a "one off" thing, or do they strive to keep the digital maps up to date?

Anecdote I might have told here before. Many years ago I unexpectedly (as in, I was there with other people, not even aware said acquaintance was in Wales) met an acquaintance from university at an Indian restaurant in Cardiff. We were both a couple of years in to our first jobs after uni. He explained that he was working with the OS, digitising their drawn maps. I said that this must be absolutely fascinating.

"Nope," he said, "utterly mind-numbing!"

M.

[David 132]

Re: Out of date

One of my most prized possessions is a large map of S.W. London and Windsor, printed in 1943.

No Heathrow, no M4/M25, no windfarms or solar farms, but the RAF airfields and notable landmarks (church towers, town halls, etc.) are on there.

The map was printed (by the thousand) by the Nazi regime, to be handed out to their troops for the (aborted) Operation Sealion.

What particularly amuses me is that at the bottom of the page, small text acknowledges the copyright of the Ordnance Survey, on whose 1925 mapping data this map is based.

Only the Germans, and I say this with great affection for the nation, would be punctilious enough to acknowledge the copyright of the nation they’re about to invade. I guess copyright infringement was one thing the Nazis did not want to be caught doing?

[PerlyKing]

Re: Out of date

Operation Sealion was cancelled in 1940, so I'm a little surprised that they were printing maps for it in 1943 - I think that they would have had other things on their minds by then.

[Norm DePlume]

Re: Out of date

I know with rights of way, the correct approach is to tell the council (who keep the definitive rights of way maps) and they then tell the OS. It does take a fair while to filter through.

Perhaps someone's built a bridge without telling them.

[Howard Sway]

They've made a Minecraft Birmingham?

Why? So the residents can have fun demolishing it?

[David 132]

Re: They've made a Minecraft Birmingham?

So players can boost their characters’ stats by battling the rats, and play capture-the-flag on the mountains of bin bags.

[Korev]

Re: They've made a Minecraft Birmingham?

And enjoying their Oracle implementation (see icon)

[Russell Chapman Esq.]

Love OS maps

I recently bought a custom map from them of an area I'm particularly interested in. Great detail and quality,

Also if you are into atlases, The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World is full of amazing map plates full of detail as well as being a work of art.

[Jason Bloomberg]

Off-world

Is there a recommended Minecraft World Viewer which allows walk-throughs of such incredible works to be undertaken without having to install the whole Minecraft game?

[Winkypop]

I tried that link

But it was BLOCKED

[Like a badger]

I was surprised Minecraft was still around (other than for gaming heritage buffs)

Wonder if Microsoft are making any worthwhile return on the $2.5 billion they spent to buy it?

[elbisivni]

Re: I was surprised Minecraft was still around (other than for gaming heritage buffs)

Both my teen kids play it, as do all their friends, both teen and pre-teen. I realise that's anecdote rather than data, but the player figure, round about 170 million per month in '24 according to what I've been able to find, seems to suggest it's still hugely popular.

As for actual return - good question. I wonder how much it drives sales of platforms such as the XBOX, as well as their educational products.

[phuzz]

Re: I was surprised Minecraft was still around (other than for gaming heritage buffs)

Don't forget they're (presumably) getting a chunk of money from the new Minecraft film too. Minecraft is still wildly popular amongst kids

[ArguablyShrugs]

Meanwhile, Ordnance Survey...

…still haven't released their detailed 1:25k maps under any Open Government Data licence, unlike almost all other Continental countries' tax‑funded map agencies (the Swiss being a rather fine example, with all of their gov map products available for free for everyone).

[talk_is_cheap]

Re: Meanwhile, Ordnance Survey...

But the OS is not a tax‑funded map agency. It is a government-owned profit center that happens to make maps. If you expect that to change, you need to fight parliament.

[Martin an gof]

Re: Meanwhile, Ordnance Survey...

Meanwhile, there is OS Open Local.

M.

[Simon Harris]

Slated...

I did the slate mine tour at Blaenau Ffestiniog a few years ago.

Now, that was proper Mine Craft.

[Martin an gof]

Re: Slated...

If you are interested in that kind of thing, Big Pit is well worth a visit while there are still some honest-to-goodness ex-miners leading the underground tours. Plenty to see above ground too, and lots to do in the area (brewery, steam railway, ironworks at Stack Square) which makes the effort to get there (I'll admit it's a bit of a treck) well worthwhile.

M.