More than a map-maker: how much do you know about Ordnance Survey? Take our quiz to find out

Ordnance Survey (OS) has been mapping Great Britain for more than two centuries. But while many of us might associate it with the iconic paper maps that have helped generations to explore the great outdoors, today OS is a huge data powerhouse and its invaluable location data is weaved into the very fabric of everyday life.

1. How many times each day, on average, do adults in Great Britain interact with OS data?

   1. 12 times.

   2. 42 times.

   3. 32 times.

   4. 22 times.

2. 

   What does this OS symbol represent on a map?

   1. Lighthouse.

   2. Glasshouse.

   3. Solar farm.

   4. Beacon.

3. Which of the following everyday services does not depend on data from OS?

   1. Taking a shower.

   2. Painting your house.

   3. Bin collections.

   4. Broadband.

4. OS data helps ensure your post and parcel deliveries reach your door. How many current addresses are in OS's database?

   1. More than 13 million.

   2. More than 23 million.

   3. More than 33 million.

   4. More than 43 million.

5. What is the total length of roads in Great Britain?

   1. 63,520 miles.

   2. 114,200 miles.

   3. 247,800 miles.

   4. 530,700 miles.

6. According to OS data, how many pubs are there across Great Britain that contain the word Queen, King, Royal, Jubilee, Coronation or Crown?

   1. 819.

   2. 752.

   3. 793.

   4. 811.

7. Mountain Rescue teams use the OS Locate and OS Maps apps in approximately how many callouts a year?

   1. 2,000.

   2. 8,000.

   3. 6,000.

   4. 4,000.

8. OS has been helping to create an underground map of pipes and cables. How many miles of pipe and cable are there in the UK?

   1. 800,000 miles.

   2. 2.5 million miles.

   3. 4 million miles.

   4. 5 million miles.

9. How many features are in the OS National Geographic Database, which describes the geography of Great Britain and is created, maintained and updated by OS?

   1. One billion.

   2. 10 million.

   3. Half a billion.

   4. 50 million.

10. In what year was OS founded?

    1. 1805.

    2. 1785.

    3. 1801.

    4. 1791.

11. Which of these emergency services rely on OS mapping data: ambulance, fire, police and/or coastguard?

    1. Ambulance.

    2. Fire.

    3. Police.

    4. Coastguard.

    5. All of them.

12. 

    What does this OS map symbol represent?

    1. Boat hire.

    2. Water activities.

    3. Slipway.

    4. Boat trips.

13. Roughly how many square kilometres make up Great Britain and are surveyed by OS?

    1. 160,000 sq km.

    2. 210,000 sq km.

    3. 260,000 sq km.

    4. 310,000 sq km.

Solutions

1:B - The phone calls you make, the water, gas, electric and broadband in our homes, and the deliveries to our door are all powered with the help of OS data. In addition, insurance and mortgage companies depend on OS data to make informed decisions., 2:C - This symbol represents a solar farm., 3:B - OS data supports the maintenance of the pipes and cables that power your home. Every time you throw something away or recycle, your collection relies on OS data; OS mapping of roads captures key details such as width, bridge height and any road restrictions, which ensures transport providers can deliver the most effective services., 4:C - This location information is also vital for ensuring that housing plans are accurate and that insurance policies and premiums are correct., 5:C, 6:A - The most popular royal is The Royal Oak, with 68 hostelries in Great Britain bearing the name., 7:D - The OS Locate app converts GPS location readings from a mobile phone to OS national grid references, so the rescuers know where to find the person in need of help., 8:B - There is estimated to be around 2.5 million miles of buried pipes and cables in the UK, and a hole dug every seven seconds to install, fix, maintain or repair these assets that are critical in keeping the water running, gas and electricity flowing and our telecommunications lines connected., 9:C - Data is structured around nine themes, which include land use, buildings, geographical names and transport., 10:D - With the French Revolution rumbling, and England bracing for invasion, the British Board of Ordnance, the defence ministry of its time, started mapping vulnerable coastal areas so it could plan where to station troops. The endeavour continued in peacetime, and the entire first series of maps of Great Britain was published in 1870., 11:E - OS data is also used behind the scenes by the emergency services, for analysing crime patterns, maintaining assets such as fire hydrants, and planning for major events. , 12:A, 13:B - There are up to 20,000 daily changes to the OS National Geographic Database.

Scores

1. 15 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

2. 14 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

3. 13 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

4. 12 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

5. 11 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

6. 10 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

7. 9 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

8. 8 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

9. 7 and above.

   You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

10. 6 and above.

    You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

11. 5 and above.

    You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

12. 4 and above.

    You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

13. 3 and above.

    You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

14. 2 and above.

    You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

15. 0 and above.

    You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

16. 1 and above.

    You'll be surprised by how many everyday activities are made possible by information from Ordnance Survey. Discover how OS location data underpins every step of the way.

OS Better Places | Home | Ordnance Survey