WIREDGOV

Finding a good firework display to celebrate Bonfire Night, complete with toffee apples and Catherine wheels, isn’t always the easiest exercise, let alone one that doesn’t cost the earth.

But thanks to a website from mapping agency Ordnance Survey, details of displays across the country can now be found and shared.

Fireworksfinder.net has a map interface that allows firework display organisers to plot the location and details of their event, while the public can find their nearest displays via a postcode search. Users can also link to other sites and upload photos and videos.

Ian Holt, who heads the team behind the site, comments: “Finding somewhere to celebrate Bonfire Night isn’t always easy, so we wanted to provide a place for people to find and publicise events. Mapping is a great way of helping people connect to each other, and I hope it will be a useful site in the run-up to 5 November.”

The site has been developed as part of GeoVation, an Ordnance Survey supported initiative seeking to promote the wider use of geography. The GeoVation Awards programme is currently offering a prize fund of £21,000 for the development of new geography-based ventures. Anyone can submit an entry on the GeoVation website for a chance to win at https://challenge.geovation.org.uk/

Holt continues: “Fireworksfinder.net is a demonstration of how geography can be used to help solve a problem. In this case it’s helping people enjoy some fireworks, but it can also be used to help us recycle, plan safe walking routes to school and to understand crime statistics and trends.”

The GeoVation Awards programme is open until 4 January.

Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295