January 12, 2011 -- 1Spatial (AIM: SPA), providers of intelligent data quality and integration solutions, today announces that it has been awarded a contract to provide software and services to support the delivery of Ordnance Survey’s Multi Resolution Data Programme (MRDP).  This contract win follows a procurement process lasting over six months which included three days of benchmarking workshops against a set of demanding generalisation scenarios.

The ground-breaking Framework Agreement between Ordnance Survey and 1Spatial represents a partnership in which both parties are committed to driving automated generalisation forward within an orchestrated enterprise production workflow process.  The framework agreement will run for four years to 2015 with an initial value of £595,000 and longer term 1Spatial estimate it will be worth over a seven figure sum in additional development, licenses and services. The award underlines the role that 1Spatial’s rules-based approach will play in delivering Ordnance Survey’s world renowned products over the next decade.

The Ordnance Survey Multi Resolution Data Programme aims to deliver new geographic information data products to meet the changing demands of the market and customer needs.  It will also drive internal efficiencies through more effective management of data content from which products can be created. Under the agreement 1Spatial will be providing expertise around the development of automated generalisation software.  The generalisation algorithms that are created for the software are developed internally at Ordnance Survey by the highly skilled research team.

Globally, National Mapping and Charting Agencies (NMAs) are facing a set of demands that require flexible and rapid deployment of highly accurate data in near real time to their customers.  This comes during a time in which they are striving to redefine their roles and as crowd sourced communities are developing their own fit-for-purpose solutions.  Automated generalisation, as a goal of the NMAs, requires a huge effort on their part as they customise commercial solutions to fulfil specific requirements.  Additionally, the growth of crowd source data will be essential to progress in the automation of generalisation.  The Ordnance Survey award is significant as it builds on the work 1Spatial has already undertaken including with AdV in Germany and IGN France.  Other NMAs have also reaped the benefits of using 1Spatial’s business rules to deploy location as a fundamental analytical intelligence tool. 

Peter ter Haar, Director of Products at Ordnance Survey said:

"1Spatial’s commercial product offering came closest to meeting our requirements to deliver novel products based on the rapidly evolving demands of our customers.  We were also impressed with the capability of the 1Spatial team to apply innovative thinking to the challenges presented by automated generalisation".

Dr Michael Sanderson, Strategy Director at 1Spatial added:

"We are delighted to win this framework contract and to be supporting Ordnance Survey in delivering its Multi Resolution Data Programme. It underlines that our generalisation strategy is attractive to NMAs as they move to meet the information on demand requirements being driven by the emerging intelligent industries.  Enterprise knowledge rules will form the basis of both the maintenance of the Ordnance Survey databases and the product line". 

About Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey is Great Britain’s national mapping agency, providing the most accurate and up-to-date geographic data, relied on by government, business and individuals. For over 200 years it has been Ordnance Survey’s job to collect, maintain and provide information on the ever changing landscape.  Its 300 surveyors and two aircraft travel the length and breadth of the country, recording everything from housing developments and new roads to changes in countryside access on remote mountains and moorland. www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

About 1Spatial
1Spatial is an industry leader in the provision of intelligent data quality and integration solutions for organisations worldwide that need to trust their location-based information.  For more than 40 years, 1Spatial has been providing solutions and services to public and private sector organisations who handle high volumes of business critical data.  By automating the transformation of complex and distributed data into accurate and valuable information, organisations can improve operational efficiently, reduce costs, manage compliance and improve decision-making.   These solutions are delivered through its own sales and services teams with headquarters in Cambridge, UK.  For more information please email press@1spatial.com