OSI Maps - Sheet 56.

dogmatix

The OSI have just put out the latest edition of sheet 56 and i'm not sure I like the new look. A lot of the colours are apparently darker then the previous version and certain areas, such as the kilbride rifle range have large hash marks going through them. Also it looks like there has been a major increase in forestry in certain areas (such as glenmalure) - they must have have been using an as yet unknown species of super fast growing tree.

Overall the map looks more cluttered - just first impressions mind you.

I suppose sheet 56 will be redundent now that the new east-west maps are arriving and with the harveys map being around for a while.

Alun

I knew this was coming as I got hold of some advance copies and attended a meeting (invitees only) at the OSi offices at the beginning of the year where the problems you mentioned plus a good few others were raised. The darkness of the colours was brushed off as a 'printing problem' with the test batch and we were assured the production copies would be the same as the old maps. The cross hatching over the rifle and artillery ranges were apparently at the insistence of the Army. Are those colour coded 'blobs' marking the summits still there? I, and most other people hated them, and thought they added no useful information and added to the overall clutter.

I could go on, but the overriding impression I got from the meeting was that it was already a done deal and that although we were assured that any comments we had made would be takin into consideration, they had a deadline to meet for the printers and that would take priority. I guess we'll have to wait and see what the reaction is from the public and maybe then they'll sit up and take notice.

Anyway, as you say in Wicklow, if I can possibly avoid it, I'll use either the Harvey's map or the East-West maps and the sheet 56 (old or new) mainly just sits at the bottom of my rucksack these days.

dogmatix

I can't say I noticed any colour blobs on summits but the map overall does look darker and more cluttered. Another thing that stuck out (like a sore thumb) was the way conifer forests are now marked. Previously it was a tree symbol and a green outline, now it is still the same but also little green dots as well. this has the effect of making items such as watercourses, contour lines and names more difficult to see. I felt this little extra "feature" was completely unnecessary. It also gave rise to the initial impression that certain areas of wicklow had undergone sudden re-forestation.

Alun

Yes, you're right, there is now a green background colour to the forest areas as well, I'd forgotten about that.

IrlJidel

dogmatix wrote: »

The OSI have just put out the latest edition of sheet 56 and i'm not sure I like the new look. A lot of the colours are apparently darker then the previous version and certain areas, such as the kilbride rifle range have large hash marks going through them. Also it looks like there has been a major increase in forestry in certain areas (such as glenmalure) - they must have have been using an as yet unknown species of super fast growing tree.

Have they changed the paper type they use for map 56?

Are there any screen shots available online ?

Surprised their shop.osi.ie mapviewer isnt using their latest map data

Alun

IrlJidel wrote: »

Have they changed the paper type they use for map 56?

Not that I can tell, the surface feels slightly smoother but it isn't water proof / resistant or anything like that, and feels about the same weight.

Are there any screen shots available online ?

Not that I know of.

Surprised their shop.osi.ie mapviewer isnt using their latest map data

AFAIK they haven't 'converted' the whole country yet. The only preview sheets that were available to me were 56 and 78 (Kerry).

Cookie_Monster

having used the one I got off Alun for a good while now I have gotten used to it and while it has its flaws the fact it is more up to date than the old ones more than makes up for it.

I have and older lamfold 56 and the differences in forest lines, paths etc is huge and can make quite a difference when out and about and trying to figure exact routes.