To get the full benefit of a GIS somebody involved with the system must have significant expertise. GIS officers are in short supply and the costs are not insignificant. Organisations that do not have access to GIS expertise usually find that the system is not used to its full potential. ODC can provide GIS expertise for either a one off task (GIS implementation, roll out of intranet GIS, a data capture project etc) or on-going regular assistance. This consultancy ensures that the organisation gets the full benefit of the GIS without the expense of a full time GIS officer.
Below are some of the tasks that ODC can help your organisation with, these can be achieved using a combination of on-site and off-site work.
Procurement of GIS Software
ODC have over 28 years experience with using GIS software from many different providers and as such can offer third party advise on which software packages and licences would be best suited to the organisations requirements. With unrivalled experience of the social housing market ODC is also able to assist in building a business case for the acquisition of GIS.
Set up of GIS Software
Once a GIS software package has been procured ODC can help oversee the set up and roll out of the system to the whole organisation, including any basic GIS training that may be required for the users.
Roll out of intranet and internet web GIS systems
As the organisation develops its use of GIS intranet or web based solution enable a greater number of officers to benefit from the information. ODC has experience in the set up and roll out of both intranet and internet versions and can oversee this process to get a working system available to the whole organisation in the quickest most efficient way possible.
Provide OS data
As Ordnance survey licensed partners ODC can calculate and provide all necessary OS data required by the organisation. ODC experience will be used to keep these costs to a minimum.
Management of OS updates
The OS update the MasterMap Topography base mapping every 6 weeks. ODC can implement these change only updates to the OS data ensuring the organisations information is kept fully up to date.
Implementation and management of spatial databases
Disparate databases cause the loss of data integrity unless considerable effort is undertaken to ensure concurrency. ODC can place all of the organisations GIS data into central spatial databases to eliminate this issue. Once these databases are in place ODC can oversee any updates/changes to the data along with implementing the best back up plans to ensure the organisations information is secure in cases of database crashes/data corruption etc.
Link GIS data to asset management databases
Most Housing Associations retain information regarding their properties and tenants in databases or Housing Management systems. ODC can assist in setting up a dynamic link between the GIS information and other databases. Once these links are created it is possible to use the GIS to spatially analyse the data for:
- Identification of closest applicable void for relocation
- Hot Spot mapping of ASBO or Crime data
- Rent arrears clustering
- Stock analysis
- Comparison of Land Registry boundaries and property points.
- Produce bill of quantities
A bill of quantities is a list of all features, the quantities of each and their sizes, collated into a document usually at an area or site level. This is of particular use for sharing with potential contractors when tendering for grounds maintenance. ODC are able to take the organisations data and produce a bill of quantities in a format best suited for the organisations needs and including any additional information that might be required.
Produce client specific gazetteers
General gazetteers allow users to search for locations within the GIS usually based on post code or address searches, ODC can customise the organisations gazetteers to allow searching on any attribute held within the data.
Production of custom print templates
Printed maps and PDF files are great ways of sharing information with contractors or residents pertaining to a specific site or area. ODC can produce organisation branded print templates. These generally include a space for the map title, a key for the data, organisation logo and other branding, Ordnance Survey copyright notice, scale information and almost anything else that the organisation might require to be shown.
Capture of Updates
Once a set of data has been captured it is essential that updates and changes are incorporated to ensure that the system is up to date. ODC can provide a remote service to undertake these amendments ensuring that the data is of the highest accuracy.
GIS Tasks
Complete GIS Tasks on behalf of the organisation. (See managed services for examples of the tasks performed)