open orienteering map

[Mrs H]

I think Ollie O'brien is a genius

[Big Jon]

Sorry, I can't see anything on there other than a back-ground map/aerial photo.

[paul]

Sorry, I can't see anything on there other than a back-ground map/aerial photo.

Zoom in a bit...

[andypat]

I think Ollie O'brien is a genius

Sounds like a good idea but not sure I'd go that far.

Had a wee look at the area I'm currently surveying for urban/sprint and the level of detail isnt anywhere near good enough to use. Have you had a different experience Mrs H?

[Mrs H]

mmm - I'm guessing none of you have read your CompassSport yet

[andypat]

Nor received either!

[Red Adder]

I'm with Andypat on this - OK for a very informal urban event - especially if the planner / organiser is experienced and has the skills and sensibility to cope with any inadequacies of the map when selecting sites (and returns to 60's descritions where the use of the definite & indefinte article denotes whether the control feature is mapped ?)

I would also take issue with Ollie's comment that you don't need to do a field survey to update the undelying map. Aerial photos on free sites (eg Bing Maps as quoted) are generally 3-4 years old. Even then interpreting photos is highly skilled and those skills take quite a while to acquire. All you can really hope for is a good base map before field surveying should then be done.

[andypat]

Thats a good point. I recently came across a garden built across what was clearly shown as a public piece of land on google maps photos. Confused the hell out of me trying to figure out what had changed let alone if I had sent out some competitors!

I find that you dont get all the nuances from the ariel photos or some of the online mapping services. When you go onsite you realise that "fence bend" becomes a series of fence corners etc.

[Big Jon]

Using this without field checking would be a complete waste of time, there would need to a massive amount of work in even the simplest of areas. Far more than using OS data in urban areas and as for forest mapping..........

[epocian]

If you read Ollie's blog he generally cycles round the area over the weekend before his event just checking everything

[madmike]

Ollie's OOM is great for planning level 5, sorry level 3, sorry level D urban events. Print out a map, have a walk round (or cycle) to check/find sites. Hour on computer, 2.5 hrs walking round and you have an event for people to enjoy.

I vote genius

[Mrs H]

......and any where you go you can get a map and sort yourself out a bit of a route - put a few controls on the map - a million times better than just going for a run. I think it's brilliant and I'm a bit shocked at the cold water some of you are pouring on it

[ER]

That looks very clever and useful. Just wonder how it was done. Genius is the right word.

[andypat]

Mrs H
I'll go with you on the idea being genius - have now read the article. In practice though I think it has a bit to go. I dont think I could use it as a base for any of our urban areas.

[andypat]

Mrs H
I'll go with you on the idea being genius - have now read the article. In practice though I think it has a bit to go. I dont think I could use it as a base for any of our urban areas.