Blog

Perspectives on GIS, spatial data, and geospatial strategy from the team at Rose Tinsley Consulting.

12 Articles
4 Topics
open dataUK spatial dataOS Open Data

Open data in the UK: what's free, what's useful, what's missing

UK open spatial data covers more ground than it used to, but the free layer and the paid layer are still easy to confuse. Here's what's genuinely open, what's improving fast, and what still needs a licence.

8 min read
GIS consultantGIS pricingGIS cost

How much does a GIS consultant cost?

Day rates, fixed-price packages, and retainers explained, with real UK figures rather than a 'contact us for pricing' wall.

3 min read
GIS hiringGIS careersGIS talent shortage

What to screen for when you hire GIS in 2026

Most GIS job descriptions and interview processes are years out of date. Here's what actually separates a useful GIS hire from an expensive one.

7 min read
GIS consultantin-house GISGIS strategy

In-house GIS team vs outsourced consultant: how to decide

Hire or outsource? The answer depends on whether the work is ongoing or project-based, and whether you need specialist skills you can justify full-time.

7 min read
renewable energysite selectionGIS analysis

Renewable energy site selection with GIS: how the constraint analysis actually works

The spatial logic behind renewable energy site selection is consistent across technologies. The constraint layers are not. Here is how GIS-based constraint analysis works, and where solar, wind, and battery storage differ.

7 min read
SMEsmall businessQGIS

GIS for small businesses: tools, use cases, and where to start

GIS is not just for large infrastructure projects. Here's how small businesses can use free tools and open data to make smarter decisions about customers, operations, and growth.

7 min read
analysisartificial intelligencedata strategy

Powering Local Authority Digital Ambition

How GIS can translate national vision to practical delivery.

5 min read
analysisdata strategyessex

Essex: Local Government Reorganisation

What data challenges face the county in the journey to restructuring?

2 min read
aiartificial intelligencesynativ

Synativ: AI for high quality data

Whilst our jobs as GIS professionals should begin with a workable data set, we all understand that some additional data preparation is an essential part of the process.

2 min read
geocodinggooglenominatim

Geocoding explained: what it is and which tools to use

Geocoding turns addresses into map coordinates. Here's how it works, which tools are worth using, and when each option makes sense for your project.

3 min read
GIS strategyGIS consultantanalysis

The strategy gap in most GIS teams

Most GIS teams have the tools and the talent. What's missing is a clear strategy and someone to implement it. Here's why that gap matters and when it's time to bring in outside help.

1 min read

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