+
+Initially we set out just to capture and release numerical data relating to age
+and land use relevant to energy and demolition related research within
+academia, but we soon realised that the opportunity existed to capture many
+more types of data for use in multiple applications.
+
+
+
+
Who is it designed for?
+
+
+
+Anyone interested in London and its buildings, or in cities and in large-scale
+building attribute data sets
+
+
+
+
How is the data going to be used?
+
+
+
+Our main job is to facilitate the collection, collation, visualisation and
+dissemination of the data. We are very excited to see how they are used. To
+help simulate discussion and ideas we are including a data showcase which will
+allow anyone to upload examples of how they are using Colouring London data, or
+how the same data categories are being used in other areas of the world.
+
+
+
+
Is there nowhere else you can access this type of information at building level?
+
+
+
+Not for London as a whole. The Valuation Office Agency holds the most
+comprehensive records for tax purposes, but these are restricted at building
+level, even to academia.
+
+
+
+
Why aren’t you crowdsourcing text-based information on a building’s history?
+
+
+
+Our remit is to collect numerical data for statistical analysis. However we
+will also include an area where a link can be added to take you to any web site
+page/pages where text based information on the building can be accessed. IHS’s
+‘Layers of London’ project http://alpha.layersoflondon.org/ and The Survey of
+London/CASA’s Whitechapel project https://surveyoflondon.org/map/. We are
+working closely with both HIS and The Survey.
+
+
+
+
Why did you choose these categories of data?
+
+
+
+We asked many groups, ranging from academics and teachers to community groups
+and built environment professionals and found many overlaps. We have limited
+ourselves to 12 main categories to keep things simple, within which there are
+around thity sub categories. The prototype testing period will allow us to see
+whether there are any key categories missing.
+
+
+
+
How will you deal with people who may want to disrupt the system?
+
+
+
+Quantitative data on the building stock probably/hopefully not that
+controversial other than for large developments. Utilities’ location may be
+sensitive. We think unlikely to occur other than perhaps where issues surround
+a particular development. Here the system allows both developers and
+communities to upload and edit as they like and battle it out. For ‘Like me’,
+users have to login and have only one vote per building.
+
+
+
How do you deal with people who keep entering ‘wrong’ information.
+
+
+
+Like Wikipedia you will have to keep re-editing, however edit histories will
+help users see where data comes from ie if it is uploaded by a specialist body.
+
+
+
+
What about the spaces in between buildings?
+
+
+
+We recognise importance of this but we are only, in the first instance
+gathering data on buildings, themselves. We do however include information
+building position ie mid terrace, end of terrace, semi-detached and detached
+
+
+
+
What do you do about multiple uses that the footprint doesn’t record?
+
+
+
+We can record multiple uses but are reliant on OSMM polygons so if not
+subdivided (as for UCL building) we have to either do this manually or group
+all uses under a single polygons. Our hope is that the project will stimulate
+discussion with OS regarding a more user friendly open version of the building
+footprints. Post war estates for examples have separate polygons for balconies
+etc which is not ideal.
+
+
+
+
Can this be rolled out to other cities?
+
+
+
+Yes if OS permits use of polygons. Colouring London will act as a proof of
+concept.
+
+
+
+
Have you involved Open Street Map in the project?
+
+
+
+We had a discussion with OSM at an international mapping conference in Leuven
+last year and would very much like the OSM community to become involved
+project. We hope that by generating data of relevance to local areas we will
+also stimulate an increase interest in OSM and in building polygon generation.
+
+
+
+
How can communities download spatial information if no coordinates are given?
+
+
+
+This is the main reason why address detail collection is so important, is so
+that we can offer some spatial reference within the open tables. We will also
+be asking the OSM community if, as suggested by a contributor, it can help
+upload WGS84 coordinates.
+
+