Feb 13, 2017 -- Aerial imagery specialist Getmapping and EDINA (University of Edinburgh) have worked together to put aerial photography onto the desks in UK schools via Digimap for Schools. High-resolution images of Britain can be viewed directly in Digimap for Schools and used by pupils, students and teachers in 2,500 primary and secondary schools. 

Digimap for Schools is an online mapping service provided by the University of Edinburgh via EDINA which acts as a national centre for digital expertise and online services. The service was launched in 2010 as a subscription service for primary and secondary schools with the Ordnance Survey who provide the mapping data that lies at the heart of the service. In 2011 it won the Geography Association GA Publishers' Gold Award in 2011 and in 2015 the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers awarded EDINA with a Special Recognition Award for Digimap for Schools.

Following requests from the teachers for historic mapping, coverage dating from the 1890s and then the 1950s was added through the generosity of the National Library of Scotland which had digitised OS paper maps. 

One key dataset in demand from teachers missing until now has been aerial photography. Getmapping has now stepped forward to generously contribute its data for free for inclusion in the service meaning there is no extra cost to subscribers of Digimap for Schools. The images can also be overlaid with the current and historic Ordnance Survey mapping.

“Aerial Photography adds an exciting new dimension to online mapping in schools by allowing students to see what is physically on the ground alongside the premier Ordnance Survey maps. This is a key reference dataset in teaching Geography and Earth Sciences, as well as offering insight for a range of other subjects. Digimap for Schools can now allow students to see the different places they know, such as home and school buildings, as well as features included in maps, such as different road and rail links and types of land use, from woodland, arable farming and pasture and can even identify archaeological sites.” Anne Robertson, Digimap

For more about Digimap for Schools, including subscription details and access to a Free Trial, visit   http://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/ or contact the Digimap for Schools Helpdesk at  Email Contact.