Countryside Survey 2000 is generating a large amount of data and information. These data will be made available in a wide variety of forms to users of many interests and abilities. Access to the results of the previous Countryside Survey in 1990 was to a large extent limited to data published in reports and papers or in electronic form using the Countryside Information System (CIS). However, with the increasing use of the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) it is now possible to use these technologies to provide more dynamic access and support for CS2000 and previous survey data.

The CS2000 Data Dissemination Strategy describes the already established agreements and policies governing access to the field survey and Land Cover Map data. It also outlines the anticipated range and types of data outputs and access, and the plans for the promotion, dissemination and support of these products during and beyond the lifetime of the CS2000 Project. Arrangements for access to CS2000 data are provided by the CS2000 Data Access Policy which covers the field survey data, and a separate agreement with consortium members covering Land Cover Map 2000.

The information arising from the CS2000 field surveys will be made available at three different levels of detail:

Level 1: Summary statistics, indicators and accounts at national, country and "zonal" levels. These will be disseminated via the Internet as well as in the form of reports published by DEFRA.

Level 2: Land class sample data sets for the Countryside Information System (CIS) or other customised Geographical Information System (GIS) containing mean and variance data for the main reporting categories.

Level 3: Data access services for bespoke analysis of data, thematic or zonal reporting. Derived data sets without detailed location information will be available to third parties. Such data will be licensed for the sole use of the third party concerned.

Land Cover Map 2000 (LCM2000) data will be available for bona fide research purposes whilst summary data at a one kilometre square resolution, will be provided as fully-supported data sets for the CIS.

A large amount of data in Levels 1 and 2 will be freely available in electronic form. Furthermore, government departments and agencies (or their contractors), educational establishments and charitable trusts will not be liable for licensing fees for Level 3 field survey data derived from CS2000. However, this does not imply that there will be no costs associated with access to data or no constraints on its use. Charges for using LCM2000 data will vary depending on the user and the use to which it is put.

For further information about the CS2000 Data Access Policy, please contact:

Mr J. Watkins
CEH Merlewood
Windermere Road
Grange-over-Sands
Cumbria LA11 6JU