30th April 2010
An intelligent map of Blackpool’s roads is at the heart of a project to transform highways maintenance and street works in the seaside resort. The computer system captures and presents information about day-to-day changes that may affect Blackpool’s roads and delivers the information through an easy- to-puse web mapping tool.
Residents and visitors to Blackpool can obtain information about the location, duration and impact of current and planned road maintenance and improvement projects. Users of the Council website can choose a backdrop of street maps or aerial photography before selecting the information they wish to display and interact with.
The information, based on the National Street Gazetteer, is constantly updated and can be supplemented with safety information, service requests and details from the Council’s asset register.
Will Britain, principal engineer at Blackpool Council said: ‘There was a “technological disconnect” between the people who collect and manage data, often using complex software, and those who require information in order to make decisions whether they be senior managers, council members or citizens. Addressing the problem has resulted in well-maintained, easily-accessible data creating an information rich resource for the council, business and the community.’
He said the approach to the collection, management and distribution of data has generated interest from other councils and even the Department of Transport. There has also been interested from Microsoft and leading academic institutions
The project won Blackpool Council a 2009 National Street Gazetteer Award for most effective street works integration and further award from the Department of Transport.