April 01, 2011 -- Europa Technologies has launched a hosted mapping service to deliver time and cost savings to benefit government organisations across England and Wales.

viaEuropa for PSMA is a new online DaaS (Data as a Service) offering that brings high-quality cartography direct to the desktop, web and mobile devices. The service bridges the gap between raw data and fit-for-purpose mapping.

It extends the existing capabilities of viaEuropa services to include key datasets covered by the Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA), including OS VectorMap Local and OS MasterMap Topography and Integrated Transport Network Layers. 

viaEuropa for PSMA is available to all members of the PSMA, a cross-government initiative involving Ordnance Survey data, from 1 April 2011.

The PSMA introduces a single licence for central government departments, local councils, health organisations and a variety of smaller local public bodies to share common mapping both for internal management and public facing web services.

Europa Technologies director and founder Warren Vick said: “viaEuropa provides convenient access to data as a finished product, ready for deployment on web, mobile and desktop platforms. This new flavour of the service unlocks key data available through the PSMA, something that could benefit thousands of public sector organisations seeking easier management of their mapping for mission critical applications. We are enabling PSMA members, some of whom may be new to GIS, to access high quality Ordnance Survey mapping without the burden of data conversion, data management, cartographic styling and dedicated server hardware and software.”

Mr Vick added: “viaEuropa is now ready for deployment by any organisation, public or private, seeking to deliver location intelligent applications while saving time and money and improving customer service.”

As well as featuring OS MasterMap and OS VectorMap Local, viaEuropa for PSMA supports existing OS OpenData products at smaller scales and also world maps from Europa Technologies.

The PSMA follows a series of collective agreements under which the exchange of datasets created by the public sector using Ordnance Survey mapping was not always straightforward due to different licensing terms. The PSMA removes these barriers by introducing a single licence.

In recognition of 1 April as the PSMA launch day, Europa Technologies will be running the “It’s no joke!” promotion throughout the month of April to win an iPad 2 - open to all those in the public sector now covered by the PSMA. Visit www.aprilfool2011.com

For more information on viaEuropa for PSMA, visit www.viaeuropa.uk.com/psma