Hartley Wintney, UK, October 21, 2010 - Getmapping has launched an Integrated Solution to enable Local Authorities to save money, improve efficiency, maintain staff and protect services. Getmapping’s Integrated Solution for Districts consists of four distinct parts which can be purchased individually or as a combined package. These are: Getmapping Data, Data Hosting Services, Web GIS Services and a Spatial Data Warehouse.

Getmapping maintains an aerial survey of the whole of Britain at 15/25cm resolution, and also derives first surface and bare earth height models. Data Hosting delivers all Getmapping data, plus the full range of Ordnance Survey raster and vector mapping. Getmapping can also host an authority’s own data layers and make them available via the internet through fast OGC-compliant WMS and WFS feeds. A new secure, scalable web-based GIS system called District Online is also available, which allows any number of users to access and interact with geographical data and other relevant Local Authority datasets. For those requiring greater control of their data assets Getmapping can also offer a Spatial Data Warehouse solution to allow rapid sharing of spatial and non-spatial data with no duplication or reformatting.

Savings accrue from new revenue models which forgo per seat licensing for a model based on authority area and population. Data hosting too offers a cost effective alternative to established data infrastructures and the added attraction that the data will always be the most up to date available. Whilst authorities will want to maintain some high end GIS capability the web based District Online GIS will be sufficient for most users and presents a significant opportunity for savings on licences.

“Local Authorities are highly complex organisations that deliver a wide range of separate services which require accurate and detailed interactions within the organisation and with partners,” said Tristram Cary, Managing Director of Getmapping. “Management of information is key to efficient operation and Geographic Information Systems play an important role in this. Unfortunately, individual departments within a Local Authority often use different GIS systems which can lead to inefficiency, confusion and unnecessary cost. With this suite of integrated solutions we can deliver the same data and the same application authority-wide, reducing infrastructure overhead with significant savings. This will not only improve efficiency, maintain key staff but also protect services,” said Tristram Cary.