Case Study: Barrow In Furness Borough Council achieves a 'Where’s My Nearest' citizen service and £20,000 savings with Ordnance Survey

Barrow In Furness Borough Council - Customer Case Study

Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council (Barrow) needed to replace an external web-mapping system to cut software licensing fees and allow internal development and ongoing management of a public-facing "Where’s My Nearest" service. With support from Ordnance Survey and by adopting open-source components, the council aimed to deliver mapping functionality to both staff and citizens more cheaply and with less specialist GIS knowledge required.

Using Ordnance Survey data and guidance, Barrow built a locally developed open-source web mapping platform that enables staff to create and manipulate GIS data and lets residents locate services (eg, polling stations, schools, doctors, recycling points) online. The Ordnance Survey-enabled solution has delivered over £20,000 in savings to date—including about £10,000 a year in reduced licence fees and a £40,000 replacement cost avoidance—while reducing phone/face-to-face enquiries and providing 24/7 access.

Barrow In Furness Borough Council

Mick Mckinnel

IT Manager