COASTLINE MAPS SET FOR DIGITAL REMASTERING

Ordnance Survey (OS) has disclosed plans to computerise the mapping of more than 10,000km of Britain's coastline to include 3D imaging together with the more traditional aspects of land contour graphics.

The project aims to merge maps produced by the OS, the UK Hydrographic Office and the British Geological Survey, into one digital image and make them available on floppy disk.

The group has already won a £450,000 Government grant for the project, called Integrated Coastal Zone Mapping (ICZMap) and say it will improve coastal management.

The maps integrate offshore features such as sea depth readings and submerged wreckage with land contours and 3D views.

Project manager at OS, Tony Margetson, said: "We are delighted with this grant. It will help us begin to eliminate the problems users have integrating mappings from different sources.

"Faster access to a common and reliable set of data will boost research and help both the public and private sectors."