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Geoshare uses innovative web-map technology to provide a new joined up local information portal for citizens in Edinburgh. A simple map interface enables users to view health, transport, childcare and education information spatially – which makes data visualisation clearer and decision making easier. No previous knowledge of GIS is required to use the site – a wizard is included to guide new users through the process of building a map in a series of supported steps. The site has proved a powerful enabler for datasharing both within the City of Edinburgh Council and between the Council and its partners across the City – bringing related datasets from different community partners together online for the first time.
The benefits of the project to citizens include:
• Easier decision making when it comes to choices about local services because all the supporting information they require is available on the one site rather than having to visit each organisation’s website separately
• Easier access to Council-held information, such as school catchment areas and cycle routes – this is particularly important in the light of the new Freedom of Information legislation
• Clearer presentation of information and the ability to quickly compare several inter-related pieces of information by viewing them together on the same map – for example a parent considering re-training can search for lifelong learning centres and childcare services
• A supported introduction to the rapidly expanding technology of web-based GIS, with the map wizard providing an easy way in
• Easier methods to feedback to the City of Edinburgh Council with queries and comments on service provision through the online comments facility
Geoshare has given the City of Edinburgh Council an opportunity to experiment with web-based GIS technology and to demonstrate the power of this new spatial information tool. The next phase of development will increase the number of datasets held within the application. In light of the positive response to the new site, it is hoped that several Council services will be able to re-use the Geoshare architecture to develop their own spatially-enabled web services.
Geoshare is funded by the EU’s Interreg IIIb programme. The City of Edinburgh Council is working with partners in Norway, Germany and The Netherlands.
Liz Brougham
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