Data mapping: why 'X' no longer marks the spot for local government

Councils are already using data to deliver better services, but they could be doing much more
Steve Jobs with iPhone
Technology such as the iPhone is helping councils gather and share data to improve public services. Photograph: Paul Sakuma/AP

No matter where you look, data is everywhere, generated by a range of official bodies, smartphones, tablet devices, social media updates and numerous other sources. In today's digital world, a large proportion of the data we produce can be pinned down to a location, making us even more connected than ever.

Digitisation has enabled more efficient and effective mapping of data, but the complexity and enormous volume of geo-coded data requires a more sophisticated approach. While "X" used to mark the spot, simply plotting objects on a map does not meet the multifaceted needs of organisations today, nor is mapping a substitute for having a clear objective.

Some public sector groups are now turning to analysis to connect the dots between seemingly disparate data. The resulting insight has helped many organisations to paint a more detailed picture about the issues and events affecting community services. It's also been used to uncover previously hidden details about relationships between public sector groups, businesses and citizens.

For example, insight gained from geospatial analysis can be used to better match the supply of and demand for services, and generate cost savings. A number of councils are using geospatial analysis of vehicle routes for school buses, road and highway maintenance and waste collection services, for instance, to identify where pressure points and inefficiencies may be.

This can lead to better route planning and a reduction in fuel consumption, while maintaining the same or better quality of service.

Other benefits might lie in predicting what could happen in the future. In the US, the predictive analytics unit in Chicago's police force is trialling the use of spatial algorithms on emergency services' call data, to identify where violent crimes or robberies are likely to occur next.

By overlaying other data such as street lighting, population density and building type on top of real-time crime data, police forces can visualise high-risk crime areas and take more effective preventive action.

Geospatial insight also allows organisations to use more effectively the vast amounts of open data available. For instance, using publicly available social media feeds that have location information embedded in them can provide a better "on-the-ground" picture for local authorities.

Not only does this raise situational awareness, but it also allows authorities to make early interventions to mitigate and contain risks before problems become more widespread.

Activities that involve the widest possible community, including the public, can help to plug the gaps in services, or where information is missing, and can be a cost-effective way of improving the overall accuracy of data.

For instance, the use of volunteered geographic information can be just as effective in addressing non-emergency issues. Reports of damage or vandalism, such as potholes or graffiti, can be submitted to local authorities who can provide updates and corrections.

This provides an effective two-way communication channel and decreases the amount of time to report and resolve neighbourhood problems. Here, individuals may benefit from challenges to win innovation funding to help develop ideas that address a particular community issue.

The cost of getting started can be relatively low, particularly if different departments work together to share technologies, data and people to fill gaps in capabilities and insight. Such shared resources have the potential to generate cost savings in capital expenditure and in operational budgets for licensing, training and activities associated with geospatial analysis.

Looking more broadly, public sector groups are also in an excellent position to use maps, tools and geospatial information available today from the Ordnance Survey, part of the Public Sector Mapping Agreement. Hardware costs are falling as a result of cloud-based processing, and many software platforms now offer genuine enterprise solutions, including web-based geospatial analytics and self-serve visualisation tools.

Costi Perricos is a public sector leader at Deloitte Analytics
