Permanent Orienteering maps

[Wayward-O]

I think that it's been discussed on here before, but is there any way to use QR codes to both count POC runs and record runners' times by using QR codes for Start, Finish and each control? Can a QR initiate the upload of the times, etc. to a website so that an online 'leaders' table' with splits, etc can be generated?

Also, is there any way to include a unique QR code into each downloaded PDF map that would be scanned before a run to record the map used so that the map revision (including course) and number of uses for each download could be monitored?

[paul]

See http://mobo.osport.ee/?r=GBR

[Wayward-O]

Paul, that looks just the thing. Now we just need a UK website for QR-enabled POC maps and results. Maybe BOF should host and promote this, as it will add to their participation stats.

[Sloop]

Before you get too excited ... we didn't go any further after some initial steps towards QR codes on posts (and yes we looked at mobo - indeed his "Bramhall" course is a sheet of paper we printed off at home).
> you're relying on photography working at every control site (some are pretty dark and some posts are hard to get close to)
> you're relying on an internet connection everywhere (some are remote)
> you're relying on non-vandalised, scannable and unique images. Maintaining over a period could prove tricky as every plaque replaced would be a one-off order
> we discussed it with some potential users who said no way would they take their expensive phones round an orienteering course

I personally think that GPS tracking (as in the aforementioned virtual-O) is a more likely way forward, but each to his own.

[Sunlit Forres]

Surely orienteering is all about being in a club, putting on events and activities together and enjoying our sport together. I personally have no interest in going off on my own and having a "virtual race". I don't think that clubs should be expected to provide orienteering on demand to people who aren't prepared to join a club and hence contribute to the sport. One of the main reasons I was keen to set up the Moravian semi PC project was to encourage club membership and to get club members training together.

I asked club members if they would like some kind of system of producing results (there are 3 courses amongst the 7 training exercises available). The majority of opinion was "no thanks".

This is very much an experiement, and for this reason it's being restricted to Moravian members only for the time being. I have no idea whether it will result in any new members but if it helps build club cohesion and gets members training together it will have been worthwhile.

[MJG]

Paul, that looks just the thing. Now we just need a UK website for QR-enabled POC maps and results. Maybe BOF should host and promote this, as it will add to their participation stats.

See also www.iorienteering.com

That was almost there a year or more ago but seems to have stalled since. This allows self timing using an app on a smartphone and logging the result.

[Nimby]

.... They then tried to claim copyright over the National grid - but Gordon Petrie had sorted this decades ago and eventually the OS backed down on this too.

Mike Hamilton's September 2015 enews says:

" ... More than that the OS has copyright of the National Grid therefore if there is any use of the National Grid the OS copyright must be respected".

[roadrunner]

.... They then tried to claim copyright over the National grid - but Gordon Petrie had sorted this decades ago and eventually the OS backed down on this too.

Mike Hamilton's September 2015 enews says:

" ... More than that the OS has copyright of the National Grid therefore if there is any use of the National Grid the OS copyright must be respected".

It would be nice to be able to see this, but on the BO website, the page claiming to list all Mike's enews only goes up to June

I couldn't find anything on the OS website that mentioned their claiming copyright on the grid. And it's difficult to reconcile this with the Open Data licence, since even selecting the part of the Open Data you want involves choosing a grid square

[Nimby]

It would be nice to be able to see this, but on the BO website, the page claiming to list all Mike's enews only goes up to June

(edit) It's there now

There are some conflicting opinions on OS Grid copyright here.

[Big Jon]

It would be nice to be able to see this, but on the BO website, the page claiming to list all Mike's enews only goes up to June

It should be there tomorrow (Monday 7th).

There are some conflicting opinions on OS Grid copyright here.

OS Grid - Gordon Patrie of Glasgow Uni and early O-mapping fame was instrumental in checking this legally - and the SO lost and cannot claim copyright if the OS Grid Reference is quoted. Ignore their bullshit offensive attitude and claims.
On another point all the data the OS claims to own is paid for by us out of our taxes, so we should have every right to use it for development of ideas, maps etc.