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Hello, I work for the UK NHS and am looking at different mapping tools, with the intention being of improving some of our public health outreach. For this purpose, we need to use postcode sectors (i.e. the part of the postcode before the space and the first digit afterwards e.g. SW1W 0 or LS1 4). Is it possible to use postcode sectors with OpenStreetMap? When I try to search with them it directs to the nearest postcode. Many thanks, Will |
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OpenStreetMap doesn't generally have postcode sectors mapped. However, when you ask "is it possible to use postcode sectors with OpenStreetMap" - you can use any geographic data with OSM. It's all just latitudes and longitudes. OSM isn't really a "mapping tool" or a platform, it's a database of mapping information that you can incorporate into other tools. If you want to download postcode sector polygons for free, you can do so from http://postcodes.mapit.longair.net . If you provide more information on what you're actually trying to achieve, I'm sure people here will be happy to help further. We're looking at how to optimise how certain portable health units are assigned and the associated systems rely on postcode vectors, at a very early stage though. Thanks a lot for your explanation and information, it's very helpful.
(31 Mar '20, 14:20)
WillMn
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Further to this, having uploaded MapIt's postcode sector polygons into http://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/, could anyone please tell me if it's possible to incorporate this information into OSM's directions feature? E.g. if I could get public transport directions to a particular location from the centrepoint of the upload postcode sector. Thanks! please post this as a separate question. It is related to the first one, but a new one. OSM does not have a directions feature. What you see on osm.org is the integration of functionality offered by different providers: GraphHopper and OSRM. There are other routers based on OSM as well. You will to contact each of them and ask them to include those postcode sectors.
(08 Apr '20, 06:32)
escada
Thanks Escada, that's very helpful. Will be sure to post new questions separately in future.
(09 Apr '20, 15:33)
WillMn
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