UK GIS supplier GGP Systems is playing a key role supporting one of Britain’s most successful and innovative urban regeneration partnerships. Using GGP’s geographical information system (GIS) Urban Vision, a joint venture company between Capita Symonds, Salford City Council and Morrison Highway Maintenance, is transforming the delivery of essential information within Highway Services and Transportation.
Urban Vision manages, maintains and enhances development through planning, land and property, design and highway maintenance services, supporting local authorities and private companies. Bringing together the highest level of expertise and knowledge from both the public and private sectors, the partnership has been recognised as a model for other local authorities to follow.
Gill Hickman, the Senior Records Officer for Urban Vision’s Highway Records Service explains, “We have converted an archive of historic records into an integrated information resource. Paper based information including historic maps, property records and legal documents have been digitised for use within GGP and some datasets have dynamic links to supporting information. For example bridge locations within Salford are supported by associated technical data and photographs and all highway closures are dynamically linked to official documentation.”
Hickman continued, “Highway enquiries can be complex and wide ranging and include everything from public rights of way and insurance claims to highway closures and street lights. By using GGP’s GIS we can maintain, manage and access all data relating to the highway network – the creation of an electronic central data repository ensures that the provision of information written or verbal is immediate and maintained at one source.“
GGP GIS is also supporting Urban Vision with the delivery and implementation of various Council policies and strategies. One project benefiting from the GIS is the formulation of a School Travel Plan on behalf of the Council’s Children’s Services division. This includes the collation and analysis of various data for example school patrol and signal controlled crossings, traffic calmed and 20mph roads, bus stops, cycle routes and Definitive Footpaths.
Other applications of GGP include the council’s Highway Asset Management Plan, the Rights of Way Improvement Plan, Street Scene Services and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy.
