More than 500 local government organisations will be able to access the latest Ordnance Survey digital mapping and geographic data with the signing of a new agreement today.
Topographic, address and integrated transport network data are among a wide range of products that will be available for use in providing better front-line services, reducing local government costs and improving local and strategic decision making. The Mapping Services Agreement (MSA) was initiated by the Local Government Information House (LGIH), part of the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) working on behalf of the local government community. The aim of the MSA is to secure best value for the supply of geographic information following the end of a previous service level agreement.
Announcing the signing of the MSA, Lucy de Groot, Executive Director of IDeA, says: "By tendering on behalf of so many local government organisations our goal has been to secure important economies of scale and achieve the best possible value for money for everyone. We are delighted to have concluded discussions. This is great news for local government."
Ordnance Survey's Director General and Chief Executive, Vanessa Lawrence, says: "With the signing of the agreement, we look forward to continuing our successful relationship with local government.
"In particular, we are delighted that the latest generation of our most detailed digital data, OS MasterMap, has been chosen as one of the key products to be supplied. OS MasterMap is increasingly being used within central government and by other public bodies, so the opportunities for its use in local government as the essential framework to link information right across the public sector are now immense."
The agreement covers all district, county and unitary councils, metropolitan borough councils, London boroughs, national park authorities and some emergency services - notably local police and fire services.
Ordnance Survey data already has a wide range of uses within local government, including helping to process benefit claims and determining school catchments areas, emergency response and contingency planning, environmental services, and transport and road maintenance planning.
In many cases, different types of geographic data from different sources have been brought together to provide rapid analysis of complex issues resulting in improved service delivery. Increasingly, local authorities are developing online services for the citizen and using the power of geography to meet e-government targets.
In addition, Ordnance Survey data is used extensively by other strategic partners such as utility companies - with which local authorities are strengthening links under new legislation - for critical asset management. Other major users include central government departments, public bodies and agencies, and many private-sector companies.
Quelle: Politics, 26.05.2005
