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Location
North England
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Client
Local authority
Francesca Downey
Senior GIS Consultant, London, UK contact form+44 121 483 5436
Francesca Downey, of AtkinsRéalis, discusses a project that helped a local authority to transform its geospatial services to benefit its residents.
In recent years, there has been no greater scrutiny on public spending than in local authorities, as central government and local residents want to ensure they are getting the best value for their money. Authorities are looking at ways in which they can work more efficiently and find innovative ways of optimising public spend. Geospatial technology represents a compelling tool to drive better value for residents.
Working with a local authority in the north of England, AtkinsRéalis helped it to change the way its geographic information system (GIS) data was perceived and used, establishing a culture that shares knowledge. The authority has estimated that, annually, 25,000+ hours of council time will be saved across the organisation, as geospatial technologies help inform everyday decision making. By supporting the authority to meet its people’s growing demand for GIS services, we helped it enhance the effective provision of a range of its public services, such as public health, children’s services and planning.
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The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
Devising a strategy
GIS creates, manages and analyses spatial data. In its simplest form, spatial data allow us to visualise and investigate information on a map, at street, city, county and country scale to inform decisions. Local authorities are trying to solve multi-faceted problems, across a range of sectors and stakeholders with differing priorities and needs. They need to plan waste collection routes effectively; determine catchment areas for schools; and ensure planning applications are rigorously assessed. Often in these situations, location is the only unifying factor. GIS offers the opportunity to look at challenges in a holistic way that all users can understand, informing better decision-making.
By taking the crucial first step of recognising the need for investment and strategic change, changemakers in local authorities can deliver a GIS service capacity that will meet the future needs of their staff and resident users. With legacy technology impacting many local authorities’ GIS performance and, frequently, GIS teams that are too small to manage the level of demand from many hundreds of users, GIS support can be limited, with long resolution times. Users can’t self-serve, or may not fully understand GIS software’s benefits; or limited policies, procedures and guidelines make it difficult to standardise GIS data and share knowledge.
The local authority began its GIS journey with AtkinsRéalis digital experts taking time to better understand user issues, enabling a tailored approach to be adopted. Through incremental demonstrations, users could see how the new GIS solution would better support them in their roles – inspiring them to see the ‘art of the possible’. Strong strategic planning, combined with stakeholder engagement, positioned the transformation for success.
From strategy to implementation
Following strategy, a local authority can move to implementation, selecting either customised off-the-shelf or bespoke software. Incremental delivery managed change effectively, while comprehensive training sessions for over 300 users secured stakeholder buy-in.
The new GIS system empowered local authority employees across departments to deliver more value for residents, such as:
- The Public Health team’s new portal shows residents how the council is improving the health and wellbeing of people, including highlighting new facilities.
- The Planning team can now overlay information from multiple sources to quickly assess whether new planning applications encroach on, for example, protected environmental areas or heritage sites.
- The Children, Young People and Education team can now effectively plan where the best opportunities are for setting up new alliance service points by comparing currently supply with demand.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
Sharing best practice
Once the system was optimised for both expert and non-technical GIS users, we established a GIS knowledge-sharing community, hosting an array of resources, such as step-by-step guides, data management best practice. With over 350 members, the GIS community actively shares ideas and insights, and maximises the use of spatial data in planning and decision making.
The local authority’s GIS team has since grown and has a clear strategy and roadmap for the future – including a plan to share its success story with neighbouring local authorities. In a time of pressured public funds, GIS is one tool which is enabling local authorities to better serve residents through improved service and data provision.
This article was first published in Civil Service World.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.