Satellite imagery

Dear Marrk,

Thank you for your email of 8 April 2023.

As your request was received by Ordnance Survey on 8 April 2023, we will
provide you with a response within 20 working days, as required by the
Freedom of Information Act 2000, therefore by 10 May 2023.

In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary for Ordnance Survey to
extend this date to consider a complex public interest argument if
engaging a qualified exemption.  In such cases we will notify you of the
revised date by which we would expect to provide a response.

Should you need to contact Ordnance Survey regarding your request at any
time, please quote the allocated reference number in your correspondence.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Kind regards,

Elizabeth Cole

Freedom of Information Officer/Paralegal, Legal Services

Adanac Drive, Southampton, United Kingdom, SO16 0AS

[1]www.os.uk | [2][Ordnance Survey Limited request email]

Follow us: [3]Twitter | [4]LinkedIn | [5]YouTube | [6]Instagram |
[7]Facebook

Our values are: Think Customer | Thrive Together | Stay Ahead | Seize the
Moment

This email and any attachments are intended only for the intended
recipient and may contain sensitive information. If you are not the
intended recipient, please immediately delete this email and inform the
sender.

OS email communications may be monitored to ensure the secure and
effective operation of our systems and for other lawful purposes. Subject
to contract: No rights are to be derived from any proposal contained in
this email until a written agreement containing all necessary terms is
executed between the relevant parties.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Ordnance Survey Limited (Company Registration number 09121572)
Registered Office: Explorer House
Adanac Drive
Southampton SO16 0AS
Tel: 03456 050505
[8]http://www.os.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.os.uk/
2. mailto:[Ordnance Survey Limited request email]
3. https://twitter.com/OrdnanceSurvey
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ordnanc...
5. https://www.youtube.com/user/OSMapping?b...
6. https://www.instagram.com/ordnancesurvey...
7. https://www.facebook.com/osmapping/
8. http://www.os.uk/

Dear Marrk,

Thank you for your email of 8 April 2023, requesting information from
Ordnance Survey in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
2000, as set out in the extract below:

"I have noticed in a certain area of Hillingdon/South Bucks/ Hertfordshire
that as I zoom in and out of satellite images on the OS App that more
recent images flicker into view.

Please show me the most recent satellite images you have of the area
[1]between and [2]here”

By way of background, OS captures aerial imagery for Great Britain on a
three-year revision cycle. Once captured, this is pre-processed and then
included for publication in OS’ OS MasterMap Imagery Layer. OS Maps
subsequently uses the OS MasterMap Imagery Layer to create the aerial
imagery layer you refer to in your request.

In terms of the currency of OS MasterMap Imagery Layer, the area you refer
to was flown in May 2021, ingested into the OS MasterMap Imagery Layer in
February 2022 and published in the May 2022 release of this product.

In terms of the currency of the OS Maps mobile and web applications, the
imagery in these applications was last updated in November 2021 based on
the May 2021 product refresh. The imagery you refer to in your request in
OS Maps was flown in August 2019. OS Maps will be updated with the May
2021 imagery when the latest update is complete, however, we do not have
an available date for completion.   Due to this, we are happy to provide
you with a copy of the May 2021 imagery.   You can access the May 2021
imagery at the secure URL here: [3]FOI_Imagery_03052023.  This link will
expire on 1 May 2023.

Please note the contents of the link is subject to crown copyright. 
Therefore, you may not reproduce, distribute or publish it without
Ordnance Survey’s express permission.  This restriction does not apply to
reasonable use for your own non-commercial research purposes, private
study, or any other uses permitted under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.

In reference to the ‘flicker’ you refer to in your request, although this
is not a valid request under section 8 of the FOIA, as it is not a request
for recorded information, we are happy to provide the below explanation:

In the OS Maps web and mobile applications, in Great Britain we use two
different sources of imagery. We use Mapbox satellite imagery from zoom
level 3 to 12 and our OS MasterMap Imagery Layer (see above) from zoom
level 13 to 18. 

This is because Mapbox satellite provides a more seamless imagery layer
when zoomed out, but OS MasterMap Imagery Layer is of a higher resolution
when zoomed in, and provides a better image quality for our users.
Therefore, as you zoom between the different levels if there is a delay
loading the different imagery users may see Mapbox satellite load then OS
MasterMap Imagery layers load on top of it.  If there is a difference in
the currency of the imagery, this is likely to be where you see it
‘flicker’ between the two imagery tiles. Even where the currency is the
same or similar users will see a change in the image quality and styling.

The imagery supplied by Mapbox satellite for OS Maps is updated regularly
and automatically by Mapbox. This imagery is not hosted by OS but is
provided via Mapbox into the OS Maps applications. Therefore, we do not
hold any more recent imagery for this area from Mapbox, the most recent
imagery can be viewed in OS Maps.

If you have any further questions about using OS Maps our Customer
Services can support you, there are various ways you can contact them, as
detailed on our website here: [4]Contact us | Ordnance Survey

You may also find the OS Maps support hub useful: [5]OS Maps Support Hub
(ordnancesurvey.co.uk)

You can find out more about OS MasterMap Imagery Layer on our website here
and how you can get this product: [6]OS MasterMap Imagery Layer | Data
Products | Ordnance Survey. 

Please note, we have provided you with the imagery on this occasion,
however, future requests are likely to be refused under section 21
(information reasonably accessible to the applicant by other means) and/or
section 22 (future publication) of the FOIA, although we have not relied
on this exemption in this response.

Internal Review
Your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) 2000.  If you are unhappy with our response, you may request
an internal review with our Internal Review Officer by contacting them,
within 40 working days of receipt of our final response to your FOI
request, as follows:

Internal Review Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
Southampton
SO16 0AS

E-mail: [7][Ordnance Survey Limited request email]

Please include the reference number above. You may request an internal
review where you believe Ordnance Survey has:

• Failed to respond to your request within the time limits (normally 20
working days)
• Failed to tell you whether or not we hold the information
• Failed to provide the information you have requested
• Failed to explain the reasons for refusing a request
• Failed to correctly apply an exemption or exception

The Internal Review Officer will not have been involved in the
original decision. They will conduct an independent internal review and
will inform you of the outcome of the review normally within 20 working
days, but exceptionally within 40 working days, in line with the
Information Commissioner’s guidance. 

The Internal Review Officer will either: uphold the original decision,
provide an additional explanation of the exemption/s applied or release
further information, if it is considered appropriate to do so.

Appeal to Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
If, following the outcome of the internal review you remain unhappy with
our response, you may raise an appeal, within three months of receiving
our response, with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Further information can be found on the ICO website (ico.org.uk) or you
may wish to call the ICO helpline on 0303 123 1113.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Kind regards,

Elizabeth Cole

Freedom of Information Officer/Paralegal, Legal Services

Adanac Drive, Southampton, United Kingdom, SO16 0AS

[8]www.os.uk | [9][Ordnance Survey Limited request email]

Follow us: [10]Twitter | [11]LinkedIn | [12]YouTube | [13]Instagram |
[14]Facebook

Our values are: Think Customer | Thrive Together | Stay Ahead | Seize the
Moment

This email and any attachments are intended only for the intended
recipient and may contain sensitive information. If you are not the
intended recipient, please immediately delete this email and inform the
sender.

OS email communications may be monitored to ensure the secure and
effective operation of our systems and for other lawful purposes. Subject
to contract: No rights are to be derived from any proposal contained in
this email until a written agreement containing all necessary terms is
executed between the relevant parties.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Ordnance Survey Limited (Company Registration number 09121572)
Registered Office: Explorer House
Adanac Drive
Southampton SO16 0AS
Tel: 03456 050505
[15]http://www.os.uk

References

Visible links
1. https://explore.osmaps.com/pin?lat=51.61...
2. https://explore.osmaps.com/pin?lat=51.56...
3. https://osinsight.blob.core.windows.net/...
4. https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/contact...
5. https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/os-map...
6. https://beta.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/produc...
7. mailto:[Ordnance Survey Limited request email]
8. http://www.os.uk/
9. mailto:[Ordnance Survey Limited request email]
10. https://twitter.com/OrdnanceSurvey
11. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ordnanc...
12. https://www.youtube.com/user/OSMapping?b...
13. https://www.instagram.com/ordnancesurvey...
14. https://www.facebook.com/osmapping/
15. http://www.os.uk/

Dear Marrk,

Further to your email, I have checked, and you can access the imagery via
the link in the response, it has not expired.  The link expires on 31 May
2023, reference to the 1 May was a typing error in the response.

If you are unable to access the imagery, please let me know.

Kind regards,

Elizabeth Cole

Freedom of Information Officer/Paralegal, Legal Services

Adanac Drive, Southampton, United Kingdom, SO16 0AS

[1]www.os.uk | [2][Ordnance Survey Limited request email]

Follow us: [3]Twitter | [4]LinkedIn | [5]YouTube | [6]Instagram |
[7]Facebook

Our values are: Think Customer | Thrive Together | Stay Ahead | Seize the
Moment

This email and any attachments are intended only for the intended
recipient and may contain sensitive information. If you are not the
intended recipient, please immediately delete this email and inform the
sender.

OS email communications may be monitored to ensure the secure and
effective operation of our systems and for other lawful purposes. Subject
to contract: No rights are to be derived from any proposal contained in
this email until a written agreement containing all necessary terms is
executed between the relevant parties.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Ordnance Survey Limited (Company Registration number 09121572)
Registered Office: Explorer House
Adanac Drive
Southampton SO16 0AS
Tel: 03456 050505
[8]http://www.os.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.os.uk/
2. mailto:[Ordnance Survey Limited request email]
3. https://twitter.com/OrdnanceSurvey
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ordnanc...
5. https://www.youtube.com/user/OSMapping?b...
6. https://www.instagram.com/ordnancesurvey...
7. https://www.facebook.com/osmapping/
8. http://www.os.uk/

Dear Marrk,

Further to your email of 12 June 2023.

We have re-created the SURL:

[1]FOI231147

The expiry is 31st July 2023.

Please note the contents of the link is subject to crown copyright. 
Therefore, you may not reproduce, distribute or publish it without
Ordnance Survey’s express permission.  This restriction does not apply to
reasonable use for your own non-commercial research purposes, private
study, or any other uses permitted under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.

If you still are having problems viewing the information, please contact
us again.

Kind regards,

Elizabeth Cole

FOI Officer and Paralegal, Legal Services

Adanac Drive, Southampton, United Kingdom, SO16 0AS

[2]www.os.uk | [3][Ordnance Survey Limited request email]

Follow us: [4]Twitter | [5]LinkedIn | [6]YouTube | [7]Instagram |
[8]Facebook

Our values are: Think Customer | Thrive Together | Stay Ahead | Seize the
Moment

This email and any attachments are intended only for the intended
recipient and may contain sensitive information. If you are not the
intended recipient, please immediately delete this email and inform the
sender.

OS email communications may be monitored to ensure the secure and
effective operation of our systems and for other lawful purposes. Subject
to contract: No rights are to be derived from any proposal contained in
this email until a written agreement containing all necessary terms is
executed between the relevant parties.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Ordnance Survey Limited (Company Registration number 09121572)
Registered Office: Explorer House
Adanac Drive
Southampton SO16 0AS
Tel: 03456 050505
[9]http://www.os.uk

References

Visible links
1. https://osinsight.blob.core.windows.net/...
2. http://www.os.uk/
3. mailto:[Ordnance Survey Limited request email]
4. https://twitter.com/OrdnanceSurvey
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ordnanc...
6. https://www.youtube.com/user/OSMapping?b...
7. https://www.instagram.com/ordnancesurvey...
8. https://www.facebook.com/osmapping/
9. http://www.os.uk/