Stevenage, UK. 4 July, 2006. – Digital mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) software developer Cadcorp has announced that its Web-based GIS software, GeognoSIS.NET™, has been selected by the Bedfordshire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs). The CDRPs are a cooperative of statutory bodies, agencies and organisations that are developing strategies to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in Bedfordshire, including enabling map-based information sharing and analysis in an initiative known as Sharing Community Related Information in Bedfordshire Electronically (SCRIBE).

Joined-up information.
Developed on GeognoSIS.NET, the CDRPs’ new GIS enables information from a wide range of systems and a diverse collection of organisations to be stored and maintained centrally in a secure environment and accessed using a web browser. These disparate datasets are kept constantly up-to-date, enabling near real-time analysis and viewing over the Internet.

In the first phase of the project, a purpose-built data analysis work bench was rolled out across the partnerships to users at Bedfordshire County Council, Mid-Bedfordshire District Council, South Bedfordshire District Council, Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership, Bedfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (B:DAT), Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire & Luton Fire and Rescue Service, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Ambulance and Paramedic NHS Trust and Aragon Housing Association.

Users at these organisations are now able to easily access, view, query and analyse a single source of map-based crime, fire, ambulance and anti-social behaviour incident data in order to identify hot-spots, patterns and trends. This will help them target their finite resources when and where they will be most effective and to generate statistics in order to measure value and performance.

Through a simple, spatial web-based application, the general public will also be able to view appropriately filtered and anonymous data in order to better understand the real level of crime within various localities in Bedfordshire. It will also provide facilities for citizens to locate and report incidents of low-level crime and anti-social behaviour on the map, with the information being automatically sent to the appropriate agencies for action.

“We selected Cadcorp GeognoSIS.NET for this project for a number of reasons,” said Nick Adnitt, project manager, SCRIBE. “First was the software’s clear lead from a technical standpoint, especially its interoperable support for a wide range of data formats, as standard. Second was Cadcorp’s commitment to forming a strong business and professional relationship and their dedication to working with us towards a common objective. And third was the company’s ability to quickly understand and then to transform our requirements into a working solution.”

During Phase 2 of the project, which is currently live, partner feed-back and requests for enhancements are driving the development of more advanced reporting and analysis tools. In addition, the public interface is undergoing trials, with workflows and business processes being refined to improve response to the web anti-social behaviour incident feed. This work will culminate in the full-scale public launch of the system towards the end of 2006.

“The primary purpose of the CDRPs is to improve the quality of life for our citizens by reducing both crime and the fear of crime within Bedfordshire,” said Julia Beckett, deputy chief executive, Mid-Bedfordshire District Council and Local Authorities Association block leader on Safer and Stronger Communities. “However, we can only succeed in this aim through full cooperation between all of those agencies and organisations responsible for delivering services that support the various aspects of community life and community safety,” she added. “By sharing information via the Internet, the new Cadcorp-based GIS is a powerful tool to help us work smarter in winning the battle to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in Bedfordshire.”

“We are proud to be associated with this important project,” said Mike O’Neil, managing director, Cadcorp. “We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the Bedfordshire CDRPs and its individual members and to the on-going development and expansion of the system to all participants in the CDRPs.”

About Cadcorp
Established in 1991, Cadcorp is a leading UK developer of digital mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) software. With offices in the UK, USA and Australia, Cadcorp's distribution and VAR network stretches worldwide. The company also plays a pivotal technical role in the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.TM (OGCTM).

The Cadcorp SIS - Spatial Information System product range is fully integrated digital mapping and GIS software that uses OGC certified compliant interfaces. Cadcorp technical director Martin Daly is an OGC Gardels Medal holder for his contribution to the OGC. Cadcorp is an ISO9001:2000 certified company, an Ordnance Survey Licenced Partner and holds a UK government Catalist S-CAT agreement for category 15, GIS Software.

Cadcorp SIS applications exist in local government, central government, emergency services, insurance, oil & natural gas, mapping and surveying, commerce, utilities and many other markets. (For more information please visit: www.cadcorp.com).

ENDS

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