One advantage of GiGL’s not-for-profit business model is that we are able to make selected information available for research projects, often without charging for our time, where no independent funding has been secured for the project. This helps students on their way to completing their courses, promotes knowledge and discussion of our datasets and generates new data for the partnership. See which services/charges apply to your work by reading our accessing data and charging policies.
Students and researchers can access a modified data search service, similar to that for consultants. However, their request will not be prioritised over GiGL partner and customer work.
We ask students who benefit from this service to provide us with any data they collate in the course of their research and with a copy of their final project.
If you are a student wishing to use this special data access service, please fill out our student form with details of your course, project and requirements.
Principles of Data Supply for Academic Purposes
- In cases when we are able to supply students and researchers with data free of charge, the fundamental principal is to make available as much information as possible to assist in the completion of appropriate academic research. The quantity of data provided will be directly related to the data needs of the academic project.
- As a general principle, Undergraduate and Masters degree students will be provided with targeted selections of data, from GiGL datasets.
- Where data requests are more complex, students or researchers may be invited to discuss available data in a virtual meeting with GiGL staff.
- Students may also be asked to supply the name and contact details of their project supervisor.
- Access to some records will be restricted where general availability could pose a real threat to species or habitats, or would compromise the supply of data. Please see GiGL’s Accessing Data Policy.
Process of Data Provision for Academic Purposes
The process of data provision to students and researchers is as follows:
- Application for data to GiGL staff via email, or via the student form. If the application is made over the phone, we will ask for a follow-up email.
- GiGL staff will acknowledge the request and ask for further information if needed.
- You must sign and return a student data use licence to GiGL. Please note, a hand written signature is required. This can be scanned, inserted into the document and emailed.
- We will aim to send the requested data within 10 working days of receiving a signed student data use licence.
- At the project end (at most one year after the Data Use Licence is signed) an email will be sent to you to:
- Remind you to remove all GiGL data from your computer system.
- If you have not yet finished using the data you must re-apply for a new Data Use Licence.
- Ask you to send us a copy of your completed project report.
- Invite you to write a small piece for our newsletter about your use of GiGL data.
Conditions of Data Supply for Academic Purposes
The following conditions should be strictly adhered to:
- The data is solely to be used for the described project.
- No extra copies of the data may be made.
- All GiGL data must be deleted after the project’s end date.
- The data is only valid for the maximum of 1 year (after this you have to re-apply for data).
- The data is not to be passed on to any third parties without prior GiGL consent.
- Any new data generated in the course of the project must be supplied to GiGL in GiGL-ready format using our standard data entry spreadsheet.
- GiGL must be acknowledged in the final report and on any printed maps using GiGL data or derived data.
- A copy of the final report/output must be provided to GiGL.
Publishing Maps and Other Derivations Containing GiGL Data
Permission should be sought before publishing any visualisations (e.g. maps, infographics) showing GiGL data.
All maps and visualisations showing GiGL data, or information derived from GiGL data, should attribute the information to GiGL. GiGL should be referred to in the first instance as “Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC, the capital’s environmental records centre”. Attribution should be as follows:
- “Map displays GiGL data [year of data provision]” where a map shows GiGL data
- “Map derived from GiGL data [year of data provision]” where a map shows information derived from GiGL data
Where a map displays solely GiGL data the GiGL logo should be displayed. GiGL data and maps displaying GiGL data should show the date at which the information was accessed.
Datasets Available for Research
- Species
- Habitat*
- Habitat Suitability Mapping*
- Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation*
- Areas of deficiency in access to nature
- Open spaces*
- Public Open Space hierarchy*
- Areas of deficiency in access to Public Open Space*
- Regionally and Locally Important Geological Sites*
- Private gardens*
* indicates that the university is required to have a licence for Ordnance Survey MasterMap under the agreement
There are a number of datasets which are freely accessible which can be accessed independent of GiGL. Some useful websites are:
- magic.defra.gov.uk for government managed environmental datasets, e.g. SSSI boundaries
- www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk for background maps and borough boundaries
- data.london.gov.uk for Super Output Area boundaries