High-Resolution Geospatial Data Powers UK Driverless Car Simulations

Ordnance Survey (OS) is contributing its geospatial expertise to OmniCAV, a £3.9 million collaborative initiative aimed at advancing the safe testing of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). The project brings together 11 organisations to create a world-first artificial intelligence–driven simulation environment designed to assess autonomous vehicle performance in realistic driving conditions.

At the core of OmniCAV is a virtual model of a 32-kilometre road network in Oxfordshire. This digital environment represents a diverse mix of rural roads, urban streets, major routes and complex junctions. By recreating these conditions in a controlled simulation, the platform enables manufacturers, insurers and certification bodies to test autonomous vehicle behaviour across thousands of scenarios without exposing the public to risk.

Ordnance Survey’s Role in the Project

OS is responsible for the capture, processing and delivery of high-resolution geospatial mapping data used within the simulation. This includes detailed 3D representations of road geometry, surrounding infrastructure and roadside assets, along with information describing their physical characteristics. Such precision is essential for ensuring that virtual driving environments accurately reflect the real world.

The work also supports the development of consistent data standards needed for the future deployment and operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads. Reliable geospatial data underpins not only testing, but also the long-term integration of CAVs into national transport infrastructure.

Building on Proven Experience

OmniCAV builds on OS’s involvement in earlier innovation programmes, including CityVerve, the UK’s Internet of Things demonstrator, and a Bournemouth-based project that explored 5G planning and rollout. The organisation is also drawing on insights from its Atlas and E-CAVE initiatives, both of which focus on identifying the data and infrastructure requirements necessary to support connected and autonomous mobility at scale.

According to Miranda Sharp, Head of Innovation at Ordnance Survey, the project reflects the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in autonomous vehicle development. She emphasised that linking real-world environments with their digital counterparts allows for safer and faster progress toward deployment, and that high-quality geospatial data is fundamental to achieving this goal.

A National Push for Autonomous Mobility

OmniCAV forms part of a broader £12.1 million UK government investment programme supporting the development and nationwide rollout of connected and autonomous vehicles. Innovate UK is providing £2.7 million of the project’s funding, underlining the strategic importance of simulation and digital testing tools in the certification process.

Latent Logic, the project lead, describes OmniCAV’s vision as “CAVs for all,” aiming to ensure that autonomous vehicles can operate safely not only on city streets, but also on narrow country lanes and complex rural networks. Advanced AI-driven simulation offers a practical way to validate vehicle behaviour across these varied conditions.

Toward Geospatial Digital Twins

Beyond vehicle testing, OmniCAV represents a significant step toward the creation of geospatial digital twins—dynamic digital models of the physical world. These models are expected to play a key role in future mobility systems, enabling real-time data integration, smarter infrastructure and improved connectivity.

Through its contribution to OmniCAV, Ordnance Survey continues to demonstrate how authoritative geospatial data underpins emerging technologies and helps translate innovation into safe, real-world deployment.