Addressing the UK: OS addressing report in partnership with GeoPlace

National efficiency is essential if we are to grow the UK economy. Rapid, transformational responses are crucial if we want that economy to flourish on the international stage. To secure these outcomes, we must understand what needs to change, when, how, and where. To achieve that level of insight, so that confident decisions might be made, we need more people and businesses to work efficiently, and to share information effectively. In short, we need wider adoption of the UK Geospatial Strategy – a shared resource that’s based on the principle of: "capture authoritative data once, use it many times." The value of this data infrastructure is immense, and geospatial data is its core component. When we can understand where people are, what they need and where and why, we can then shape the policies that serve them best. Addressing is key. We can address the future together, with a joined-up approach that harnesses the power of geospatial data to deliver maximum efficiency and effectiveness for all.   

The importance of data

  Accurate and timely data and information is a cornerstone of economic progress. The UK government has already highlighted the importance of data generally in achieving health, economic, social and environmental outcomes with the publication of a National Data Strategy. Additionally, the Geospatial Commission’s UK Geospatial Strategy aims to unlock the significant economic, social and environmental opportunities offered by location data and boost the UK’s global geospatial expertise. Linkable data is the ‘golden thread’ that connects both the public and private sector to effective, efficient, people-centric services. Fraud detection and prevention; emergency response provision; our continued COVID response – all of these services depend on having access to and the ability to manage complex data at scale. Commerce also depends on huge quantities of data to facilitate banking, lending, insurance and logistics and property transactions. In short, access to an authoritative public sector data framework can provide the private sector with a foundation that can surface a myriad of benefits and multiple opportunities to innovate, and deliver immense rewards.  

The essence of location

  Geospatial data – the information that defines where something is located – is a core component of the strategy that underpins our powerful, national data infrastructure:  

• Insights that connect people to places, where services are needed, and how policy should be shaped to best service those needs
• Accurate and up to date geospatial data including authoritative geospatial addressing drives efficiency and service transformation, nationwide
• Geospatial address data can link disparate datasets authoritatively, enabling analysis and creating new opportunities for innovation.

  In short, economic prosperity and thriving communities are significantly enhanced by place-based solutions and policy-making – and to understand those locations, we need a way to identify them. Consistently. Accurately. With enduring confidence.   NB: A longer version of this report is available to download at GeoPlace Report | OS | Addressing Data (ordnancesurvey.co.uk)

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For further information on the power of addressing data visit os.uk/addressdata or contact addressdata@os.uk.