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Location intelligence | Article

Introduction

Our videos and supporting material showcase how location intelligence is being used to better understand the characteristics of communities, infrastructure and places, and when and where they need particular services.

Authors and contributors: Andy Coote, Martin Ferguson

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Video: Location Intelligence – Introduction

A new dimension to digital transformation

In digital transformation, the use of data is key to modernising operational practice and improving the experience for users across the full range of local authority activities. Location intelligence is an increasingly widely used term that describes how geographically-referenced data adds a new dimension to predictive analytics i.e. using data to predict future behaviour. 

This is not about re-packaging GIS. Location intelligence has its roots in big data management, advances in technologies for capturing and disseminating data and application of algorithms originally developed for defence and marketing to key challenges in local government. 

GeoPlace: United Kingdom 4 to 1 RoI on geocoded addresses for fraud detection, intelligent routing, data reuse. 



Geospatial Commission: GBP 11 Billion from “unlocking benefits” to UK Economy. 



Global Study for Google: Digital Maps generate consumer benefits worth over US$550 billion. 



Barcelona: savings of US$ 50m over 6 years from reduced traffic congestion.

Best practice

Advanced councils both in UK and internationally are already using these innovations in:

  • Social care: improved coordination with health and police, better targeted interventions for troubled families and the elderly.
  • Fraud reduction: identifying potential council tax and housing benefit fraud by finding signature “spatial patterns” in big data sets.
  • Smarter planning: smarter design and construction of new developments and better integrated transport.
  • Changing community engagement: through social media and smartphone apps that give people a more attractive and interactive experience, including 3D visualisation
  • Highways Asset Management: reducing costs by improving prioritisation and grouping maintenance tasks by proximity.
  • Public Health: use of national address gazetteer and unique property reference number to identify vulnerable people and match disparate datasets to aid epidemiology of the Covid pandemic.

Geospatial technologies and location intelligence

Socitm’s Public Sector Digital Trends collection addresses the critical role of geospatial technologies and location intelligence in a wide range of public sector applications, including insights that can inform decision-making, drive innovation, economic growth, efficiencies and cost savings.

Effective use of geospatial technologies and location intelligence also lie at the heart of connected places, overcoming barriers and breaking borders – cultural, administrative, organisational and structural – to achieve better social, economic and environmental outcomes for people, communities and places.

The UK’s Geospatial Strategy 2030 sets out a mission based approach to unlock the power of location data and technologies across the UK economy:

  • Mission 1: Embrace enabling technologies to accelerate geospatial innovation
  • Mission 2: Drive greater use of geospatial applications and insights across the economy
  • Mission 3: Build confidence in the future geospatial ecosystem