“If the project moves beyond the pilot, we could do this for the whole of the United Kingdom to directfuture research priorities and help researchers fill in the gaps,” said Dr Mike Smith said a reader from the School of Geography, Geology and Environment, who is leading Kingston University’s involvement in the project

Geographers from Kingston University, London and the University of Liverpool will sift through tens of thousands of journal papers, government reports, books and PhD dissertations as part of the pilot project designed to create the first landscape database of Britain.

The data, which sits with separate organisations including libraries, government departments and universities, will be brought together for the first time to develop an interactive online map allowing users to explore information about Britain’s changing landscapes.
 
Taken to its full potential, the database could play an essential role in sustainable environmental management and development, as well as tourism.

Professor Janet Hooke from the University of Liverpool said the project would demonstrate how pooled information could save money.  “The difficulty at the moment is that information is scattered across various publications over a considerable period of time,” she explains.  “The absence of such information can prove costly to land and buildings projects, as well as have a damaging impact on the sustainability of the natural environment.”

Dr Mike Smith says “Kingston has a long tradition of GIS, the technology that combines mapping and statistical data for analysis and, with our expertise in geomorphological mapping, it made the University a natural partner for this project,”

“Never before has this information been brought together in this way. It will form an invaluable resource that will enable local authorities, government and businesses to locate vital information about Britain’s landscapes with
glacial, fluvial and coastal categories will be among the landforms featured on the database. 

“The online map will allow users, including civil engineering companies, conservation trusts, local authorities and major land owners, to easily search geographical data to inform their decision making on a host of important projects.”