Spatially Enabling Your Data To Deliver More Efficient Public Services.

Sopra Group has been supporting the Public Sector to deliver GIS services for over 9 years.  Here are just some of the organisations we have worked with.

Our GIS team, based at RPID, works closely with users and senior managers to deliver:

• Strategic Consultancy: Optimisation of the Scottish Government's 'Corporate Spatial Data Information Structure': audit of business requirements for spatial data across RPID; mechanisms to improve technical and process efficiency of internal and external data sharing; scoped technical and process requirements for internet dissemination of RPID information, including data confidentiality and IT security expertise.
• Technical advice on GIS tools: As a vendor-independent supplier, we are well positioned to offer advice on the best GIS toolkits to integrate with existing systems.
• Integration & Project Management: We have built several 'interfaces' between spatial applications to allow the efficient flow of spatial data e.g. to realign RPID data on field boundaries with Ordnance Survey geographical data.
• Database Design: Build of 'Spatial Data Management Environment' (SDME): Designed to encourage data sharing, the SDME incorporates browser-based access for non-specialist users across the organisation, and integrates fully with OS MasterMap.
• Application Development: We have developed an in-house integrated electronic system to administer Common Agricultural Policy requests from farmers and modify field details in the Digital  Field Register.  Key features include integration into the existing workflow system, linking spatial data with business information in a relational database, and a strong emphasis on simplifying the interface to GIS.  We continue to work with RPID on supporting and refining the system as the functional scope evolves.
  

DWQU collates information from around Scotland on the quality of water sources from both water companies and Local Authorities to allow efficient regulation.  It was recognised that the ability to display and analyse the information spatially would provide significant benefits.  A variety of GIS components were built, with the following results:

• Gives DWQU staff powerful facilities to query and administer their own system
• Website allows selected data on Drinking Water Quality to be published to the public
• Through the website, the public can determine the data to display and the means of presentation, either in tabular form or as thematic maps.
  

As an organisation that is geographically based by nature, Scottish Natural Heritage makes extensive use of GIS, both as a user and a provider of GIS information.

SNH is responsible for generating and maintaining a wide range of digital datasets, which are available to the public such as Sites of Specific Interest, Country Parks, and Special Protection Areas.  We have worked with SNH on many GIS projects including:

• Strategy for GIS comprising use of database storage and web access
• Design and usability study of the SNH website
• Database design and oracle spatial implementation consultancy.
  

The Improvement Service is devoted to improving the efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland.  The Customer First programme will set up a Scotland-wide infrastructure to support provision of public services, incorporating a Citizen Account and a Definitive National Address Gazetteer (DNAG).

The information in the DNAG has been spatially enabled, using the BS7666 standard to facilitate ease of data sharing.  We are currently scoping subsequent phases to support provision of more sophisticated GIS functionality and allow easy access to this definitive national information, both in the form of a website and also through the use of web services.

The Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website is a vehicle by which the Scottish Government makes available and accessible small area statistics in Scotland.  We were engaged to redevelop the existing website to provide additional functionality and to make it more accessible, with the following results:

• Improved overall accessibility to the public
• Added flexible selection of area types and data indicators via a wizard mechanism aimed at casual users
• Report information can now be made available to the user via tables, charts and maps, using thematic mapping when required.