GGP drives better transport planning in Blackpool

09 June 2008, 12:59pm

Britain’s popular seaside resort Blackpool is reducing traffic congestion with specially developed software from GGP Systems. Designed to manage requests for street works and create an accurate database of local roads and related infrastructure NGz, from GGP, is providing Blackpool Council with advanced tools to create, maintain and implement the National Street Gazetteer (NSG), a list of over 1 million named and un-named streets, footpaths and thoroughfares. NGz is also the first system of its type to incorporate an Associated Street Data (ASD) module that enables Blackpool to manage additional street related data, such as traffic sensitivity, specific street engineering or reinstatement instructions.

“Good transport is crucial to Blackpool’s regeneration as a world-class holiday destination and as a place to live and work,” said Will Britain, Principal Engineer for Network Planning. “Facilities need to managed so that people and goods can travel around the resort with minimum disruption.”

He continued “Using GGP’s NGz software we have created a top-level street gazetteer, which is regularly updated and maintained to the highest standards. Perhaps more importantly, by integrating this data within other systems and with other datasets we are facilitating informed decision making, reducing unnecessary administration and improving service levels.”

Using GGP NGz Blackpool has created and is maintaining their NSG to the highest level of detail and accuracy with more than 90% of the data at Level 3, which includes description by name, general classification, unique reference number together with classification into Elementary Street Units (ESUs) and full street geometry. The system is also used to provide monthly updates to the National Hub, for access by other organisations, and internally with users of Blackpool’s Geographical Information System (GIS) also from GGP.

“Information only becomes valuable when it is used,” continued Britain. “By integrating our NSG data within our GIS we can consider it in its real world context and in combination with other essential resources, such as the Council’s Local Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG), when considering requests from the public, other departments or third party organisations. We have also been able to reduce data duplication by consolidating data relating to the highway into this centralised dataset.”

NGz is part of GGP’s developments in gazetteer management software, designed to help Highways Authorities manage the NSG and comply with government legislation. The NSG is the definitive source for anyone with an interest in streets and their usage. Conforming to the national data standard BS7666, it is in regular use by over 300 organisations, including gas, water, electricity, telecoms, cable and communications companies. Following changes to legislation the Department of Transport deems the NSG’s USRN (Unique Street Reference Number) to be the only method of identification for notification of street works in England and Wales.

Enquiries to Prim Maxwell at GGP tel. +44 (0)20 8686 9887, e-mail: prim@ggpsystems.co.uk, www.ggpsystems.co.uk

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