As a charity, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance relies solely on donations to fund its life-saving service and help critically ill patients when they need it most.

The team aims to get highly trained medical teams to patients as fast as possible across Essex and Hertfordshire, often by helicopter.

To enable them to allocate resources Oxford Cartographers created a magnetic whiteboard map covering Essex, Hertfordshire, and nearby areas (including parts around London). 

The map clearly shows the location of all the hospitals within their region and will enable the team to make quick decisions when allocating deployments, helping to save lives and reduce costs.

Carl Thomas, Managing Director at Oxford Cartographers, said:

“It was a real privilege to work with Essex & Herts Air Ambulance on this project. Knowing that our map will play a small part in helping the team make faster, life-saving decisions makes this one of the most rewarding pieces of work we’ve delivered.”

To find out more about the charity, please visit www.ehaat.org

Large Whiteboard map for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance

The post Map for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance appeared first on Oxford Cartographers.

Oxford Cartographers has supported the Tideway project with a suite of clear, accessible wayfinding maps designed to help people explore the new public spaces emerging along London’s riverfront.

The Tideway scheme, often called London’s “super sewer”, is transforming the capital’s relationship with the River Thames by improving water quality and creating a series of beautifully designed open spaces for everyone to enjoy. These new areas reconnect communities with the river and celebrate the city’s industrial and cultural heritage.

Our bespoke wayfinding mapping helps visitors navigate and discover these spaces with ease, highlighting nearby transport links, walking routes, and local landmarks.
Among the new destinations already open are:
Bazalgette Embankment, located on the north bank of the Thames to the west of Blackfriars Bridge, offers sweeping riverside views and landscaped seating areas.
Putney Embankment Foreshore is a welcoming public space where the river’s edge has been thoughtfully restored.

By making these new parts of the Thames accessible and easy to explore, Oxford Cartographers’ mapping supports Tideway’s wider vision of reconnecting Londoners with their river.

New Tideway Wayfinding Scheme

The post New Tideway Wayfinding Scheme appeared first on Oxford Cartographers.

Health and well-being are more important than ever, and one of the simplest ways to promote a healthier lifestyle is through cycling. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or someone looking to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine, cycling offers an array of benefits. 

An effective way to support this is by introducing a cycle route map in your town. This can significantly make the cycling experience better, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Why a Cycle Route Map? What are the benefits?

A cycle route map is a powerful tool to encourage more people to take up cycling. It provides detailed information on the best and safest routes for cyclists, making it easier for residents to navigate their local area. This is especially important in urban settings, where traffic congestion and safety concerns might deter potential cyclists.

By clearly marking routes, a cycle map helps with:

• Safety: Highlighting designated cycle paths and safe road crossings ensures cyclists have clear guidance on where it is safest to ride.
• Convenience: Providing information on distance, terrain, and points of interest makes planning trips more straightforward and enjoyable.
• Encouragement: Visible and well-promoted cycle routes can motivate more people to consider cycling as a viable mode of transportation.

How to introduce a Cycle Map in Your Town

Engage with the Community

Firstly, gather the thoughts of local residents, cyclists, and community groups. Understanding their needs and concerns will help in designing a map that is user-friendly and meets your community’s requirements. Start by evaluating the existing cycling infrastructure in your area and identify popular routes, potential hazards, and areas that could benefit from dedicated cycling paths.

Partner with Experts

Work with professionals like Oxford Cartographers, who specialise in creating detailed and accurate cycle maps. Our expertise ensures that your map will be both practical and visually appealing.

Design the Map

When it comes to design, focus on clarity and ease of use. It will be worthwhile including essential information such as route difficulty, landmarks, and safety tips. As an added tip, we recommend you ensure the map is accessible in both digital and print formats.

Promote the Map

Now the fun part! Launch a community campaign to promote the new cycle map. You can use social media, local events, and partnerships with schools and businesses to spread the word. The goal is to make everyone aware of the new resource and encourage them to use it.

Monitor and Update

We advise regularly reviewing the cycle routes and update the map as needed. This ensures that the map remains accurate and continues to meet the community’s needs as infrastructure and usage patterns evolve.

Communities around the world have successfully implemented cycle route maps and seen significant benefits. For example, cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam are renowned for their extensive cycling networks, which have contributed to high levels of physical activity and low rates of traffic congestion. By following their lead, your community can also reap the rewards of a well-planned cycling infrastructure.

You can also read our recent blog post about how we supported the councils in Aberdeen and South Warwickshire with implementing cycle route maps to reduce emissions and encourage more active transportation.

With the support of expert cartographers like Oxford Cartographers, creating a comprehensive and user-friendly cycle route map can be a straightforward and impactful project. Get in touch with us today to find up how we can support you, and start pedalling towards a healthier, happier community today!

The post The Benefits of Having a Cycle Route Map in Your Town appeared first on Oxford Cartographers.

In a world where perceptions are often shaped by the maps we use, the Hobo-Dyer Equal Area Global Map emerges as a transformative cartographic innovation. Designed to challenge conventional North-South orientations and provide a more accurate representation of our planet, this map projection offers a fresh perspective on global geography.

Conceived by ODT, Inc., the Hobo-Dyer projection draws inspiration from the Peters equal area concept while minimising distortion of both size and shape of land masses. Its origins can be traced back to modifications of the 1910 Behrmann projection, with the cylinder intersecting the globe at 37½° north and south, a departure from Behrmann’s standard parallels at 30° north and south.

Commissioned in 2002 by Howard Bronstein (Ho) and Bob Abramms (Bo) of ODT, Inc., and expertly drawn by cartographer Mick Dyer of Oxford Cartographers, the Hobo-Dyer Map offers a unique feature: it is printed on both sides, one with the conventional north orientation and the reverse featuring the south on top. This subtle shift encourages viewers to confront biases and question how maps influence their perception of the world.

At the heart of the Hobo-Dyer projection is its equal area property. Land masses are depicted proportionally to their actual sizes on Earth’s surface, providing a more accurate representation of continents and countries. Despite introducing distortion in terms of shape and direction, particularly near the poles, this trade-off ensures an equitable portrayal of our planet’s geography.

Centred on the Prime Meridian, the Hobo-Dyer projection splits the eastern and western hemispheres along this meridian while attempting to represent the North and South Poles without typical distortions seen in other projections.

One of the most significant aspects of the Hobo-Dyer Map is its social justice dimension. By challenging traditional maps that often exaggerate the size of wealthy, northern countries, this projection aims to provide a more equitable representation of the world. It has been utilised in educational settings to promote a balanced understanding of global geography, emphasising the importance of accurate representation.

The Hobo-Dyer projection gained global attention when President Jimmy Carter utilised it during his Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 2002 to illustrate his agency’s international efforts. Its unique place in cartographic and geopolitical history highlights its significance in reshaping how we perceive and understand the world.

Oxford Cartographers offers various options including North or South orientation, detailed or simple cartography, and multiple language choices. The Hobo-Dyer Equal Area Projection Map provides versatility for different preferences and purposes. Whether used for educational initiatives, social justice campaigns, or simply gaining a more accurate understanding of our planet, the Hobo-Dyer Map stands as a beacon of innovation in the realm of cartography, offering a more inclusive view of our world.

We offer a range of mapping services to suit every one of your requirements, contact us today to find out more information.

The post Reshaping Perspectives: The Hobo-Dyer Equal Area Global Maps appeared first on Oxford Cartographers.

Pindar Creative expands portfolio with acquisition of Oxford Cartographers

Pindar Creative are delighted to announce that on 1 October 2023, it completed the acquisition of the trade and assets of Oxford Cartographers.

Oxford Cartographers, a respected name in cartography and mapping solutions, has built a legacy for excellence over the years. Alongside its cartographic services which dovetail with those offered by Pindar Creative, the company also licenses maps for use in bibles, diaries, travel guides and other publications as well as specialising in branding maps for corporates. By acquiring its trade and assets, Pindar Creative is poised to inherit a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and intellectual property that will significantly enhance its capabilities and offerings.

Carl Thomas, Managing Director of Pindar Creative said

“Pindar Creative has always prided itself on being at the forefront of the travel publicity industry – not just in cartography but in data and technology-led solutions, and the acquisition of Oxford Cartographers will enhance the offering to customers of both companies as a result of our combined wider suite of services and expertise. ”

As a result of the deal, all staff of Oxford Cartographers have transferred to Pindar Creative and customers can expect the same levels of service and continuity of business.

“The acquisition of Oxford Cartographers not only bolsters our position in our existing markets but allows us to explore new avenues as well,” said Carl. “Our goal is to continue providing our clients with innovative solutions while expanding our reach to new industries that can benefit from our expertise.”

About Pindar Creative: Pindar Creative is a leading provider of travel publicity solutions, specialising in Transport, Cycling and Walking maps, Interactive Mapping and Travel Publicity Technology. With a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, Pindar Creative empowers businesses and organisations with cutting-edge geospatial products and services.

Find out more at www.pindarcreative.co.uk

The post Pindar Creative expands portfolio with acquisition of Oxford Cartographers appeared first on Oxford Cartographers.

The post South Warwickshire Council Cycle Map appeared first on Oxford Cartographers.