Firstly, we have a new online ordering system that allows new Parish Councils to sign up for a free 30 day evaluation of Parish Online. After the trial period is up, there is an option to pay the low annual subscription fee and they'll be able to use Parish Online for all their Parish responsibilities.
We're really happy with this and hope it brings more Parishes into this mapping community.
These new Parish Online users will be able to log in using the Web GIS Portal and consequently have access to the new tools that are available in the new system, which brings me onto the next new update....
New Parish Online users will be presented with a new mapping interface. It hasn't dramatically changed, but is the result of the improvements we've been making to our other product, District Online. Let's run down the new features;
- A new layer control. This organises the map layers more neatly and can expand and contract to incorporate new layers. It also pops out from the left-hand side to help when you're choosing layers.
- A measurement tool. This tool allows you to measure points, lines and areas. You will find it under the Tools menu bar.
- Map View Parameters. This is a simple tool that displays coordinates for the edges of the map view. It also displays coordinates for the centre of the map window. This is also under the Tools menu.
- Legend. This is under the Map menu and shows you the layers that you have visible.
- Data Extraction tool. This allows you to extract information about the mapping data. For example I could extract a list of addresses from a particular road. You can extract information from any layer and export it to a CSV file (which can be used in Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice). Details on how to use it are in the Help files once you've logged in.
- Scratchpad tool. This is a new layer that can be used to annotate the map. Using this layer for temporary annotations means it doesn't get mixed up with your asset information in your Parish layers.
I'm sure these new tools will become very useful to our Parish Online users.
So what else is new?! Well, new Parish Online users are no longer restricted to what Ordnance Survey data they can see. The new PSMA licence agreement means our Parish customers are now able to view Ordnance Survey mapping for the whole of England, Scotland and Wales. This also includes the new Ordnance Survey OpenData layers so we were more than happy to add these into Parish Online. This is great news for our new users.
We've also secured an agreement that lets us add in mapping layers from Natural England. So now, all new Parish Online customers will be able to see a national coverage of this useful data. Here are the layers;
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- Countryside Rights of Ways (CRoWs)
- National Park boundaries
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
- Ancient Woodlands
- RAMSAR Sites, and,
- Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
Historic Woodland from Natural England. (Copyright Getmapping & Natural England)
We hope that these additional layers and all the updates i've mentioned make Parish Online a lot more useful for day-to-day Parish tasks.
For existing Parish Online users we will be migrating accounts over to the new system in the next few weeks. We'll notify you when your account has been updated and you can then use the new Web GIS Portal.
If you are a Parish Clerk or Councillor, give it a go! You've got nothing to lose, and we're sure you'll love it! Use this Parish Online Ordering System to get your account.
Please let me know what you think of the updates by getting in touch with myself (Chris Mewse) using the Comments below or visit our Parish Online Community group on LinkedIn!
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