E+T Podcast: Episode 22 | The evolution of mapping and its role in tomorrow’s technology

What does it mean to map the future? In this episode, E+T regulars Tim Fryer and Jack Loughran are joined by Tom Gray from Ordnance Survey to explore how mapping has evolved into a critical layer of modern technology.Now largely digital, Ordnance Survey’s data is constantly updated - capturing everything from major infrastructure projects to small, everyday changes - and powering systems far beyond traditional navigation. The conversation looks at how tools like AI and machine vision are enhancing mapping, and how geospatial data is being used to plan EV charging networks, support autonomous vehicles, and optimise infrastructure like data centres.They also dig into the National Underground Asset Register and the challenges of mapping what lies beneath our feet, before touching on the future of fully digitised road networks and national-scale digital twins.A concise look at how mapping underpins the technologies shaping modern Britain - and what comes next.