Geospatial data research and development license becomes standard practice in the National Archives' public sector operations

The National Archives, a non-ministerial government department and the official archive for the UK government, has taken a significant step forward in the realm of geospatial data accessibility. The institution, known for preserving and making available a vast collection of over 11 million records, including the Domesday Book, Magna Carta, and Prime Ministers' papers, has adopted the Data Exploration Licence under the UK Government Licensing Framework (UKGLF).

The Data Exploration Licence, first introduced in 2018, is a harmonized licence created by the Geospatial Commission's partner bodies. This licence, which allows free access to data held by the partner bodies for research, development, and innovation purposes, is one of the first stepping stones taken to simplify and harmonize access and use of location data.

The licence, which was created under a project sponsored by the Geospatial Commission, allows innovators access to a wide range of geospatial data from various partner bodies. This move supports the UK's Geospatial Strategy's mission to maximize the value of geospatial data.

The UKGLF, administered by The National Archives, provides a policy and legal overview for the licensing of public sector information. The framework also offers additional licences including 'developer', 'non-commercial', and 'charged' licences.

The Geospatial Commission, an organization that invests £5 million to improve the accessibility, interoperability, and quality of geospatial data held by its partner bodies, has announced the adoption of the Data Exploration Licence by The National Archives. The commission has worked alongside The National Archives and its partner bodies to introduce the new Developer Licence, which can be accessed at The National Archives.

The National Archives, as expert advisers on information and records management and a cultural, academic, and heritage institution, serves as a crucial player in this initiative. The adoption of the Data Exploration Licence by The National Archives makes it easier for other public sector bodies to license their data, further promoting the accessibility and utilization of geospatial data.

The UKGLF mandates the Open Government Licence as the default licence for Crown bodies and recommends it for other public sector bodies. This move towards open data is expected to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and improve public services in the UK.

Geospatial data research and development license becomes standard practice in the National Archives' public sector operations