News: November 2004 Archives

In an election of the whole membership, the UK Association for Geographic Information (AGI) has just voted Tony Vickers of Modern Maps onto its governing Council. Vickers will take up his appointment in 2005.

A specialist in land and geo-data policy, with a background in construction and defence geographic support, Vickers obtained a Masters degree with Distinction in Information Systems in Hong Kong in 1994 and is now studying for a PhD at Kingston University School of Surveying. He is also an elected member of West Berkshire Council, where he serves as chair of a planning committee.

Do UK Value Maps need the VOA?

The emerging findings of my PhD research indicate that it may be best not to link value mapping with property tax reform, especially as there seem to be a number of industry sectors (insurance, institutional investment, mortgage lenders) who could be interested in value mapping but not in tax reform - and who could fund the necessary activities.
Government's role should be to 'let it all happen'. Instead of allowing publicly funded geo-data production agencies to 'play shop', there should be a fundamental review of the way GI is managed in the UK. Ironically we need to think less about maps and more about e-government information if we are to get the data fit for many purposes such as value mapping.
here is the form for you to complete if you want to help develop my Action Plan.
Return completed form to me by email before 20 December.