13 February 2007

Growing interest in Points of Interest

The take-up of the Points of Interest dataset continues apace as more and more businesses and organisations realise the benefits of having the location information for 3.9 million geographic features at their fingertips.

The Points of Interest (POI) dataset has now been used to create POInt, a business tool developed by Forth Valley GIS. POInt, or ‘Points of Information Navigation Tool’, has been used on Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling councils' joint Intranet site to give staff quick-and-easy access to a range of location information.

Ordnance Survey data gives users access to 615 different classifications, and POInt allows them to be easily browsed through. This includes anything from hotels to cash machines and tourist attractions. One of the strengths of POI is that you don’t necessarily need an address to find the place, or places, that you’re looking for, which is especially great for providing excellent customer service.

For staff at the councils of Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling, the ability to easily browse between the 615 classifications by keyword, name, address or partial address and distance to a specific point on a map is a big asset. POI data allows Forth Valley GIS’ POInt software to display results directly onto a map interface, view the shortest route and directions, and export the results to an Excel spreadsheet or as a PDF file. Users can even create a custom map to illustrate the route to the chosen location or amenity.

A number of local authorities, NHS organisations, the emergency services and major mobile phone companies now have access to POI data. Local authorities across Great Britain have found that POI data gives them a valuable decision-making and customer-service tool, which is externally maintained and reliably accurate.

POI can give quick and simple answers to the questions that local authorities get everyday: "Where’s the nearest restaurant?", "Is there a cash machine near here?" and "How far is it to a recycling centre?" POI includes data on places as diverse as community centres, utility works, churches and public amenities. It can even be added on a council’s website for public use. The depth of information available has allowed customer service to be taken to the next level. Customers cannot only be directed to where they need to go, POI data can even provide local authorities with phone numbers.

Alan Moore of Forth Valley GIS says: "Points of Interest data is a valuable addition to our corporate GIS data warehouse. It provides users with a wide range of location-based data to support improved service delivery and decision making across many business functions."

Dominic Cuthbert, Strategic Development Manager at Ordnance Survey, says, "Points of Interest data is a very powerful business tool containing over 615 different types of feature structured within a three-tiered classification system. It provides a flexible means of identifying and ordering just the types of activity or services you are interested in. Organisations from all over the country and from a huge variety of fields have seen that POI has added value to their business."

For more information on POI please visit: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/products/pointsofinterest

Notes for editors

1. Ordnance Survey is Great Britain’s national mapping agency, providing the most accurate and up-to-date geographic data, relied on by government, business and the public.
 
2. The Points of Interest (POI) database is a product of PointX, a joint venture company between Ordnance Survey and Landmark Information Group.

3. Ordnance Survey and the OS Symbol are registered trademarks of Ordnance Survey.

4. Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Landmark is a registered trademark of Landmark Information Group. NHS is a registered trademark of the Department of Health.

5. Forth Valley GIS provides GIS services to the public sector. It is hosted by Stirling Council, and provides corporate GIS services to the neighbouring local authorities of Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, and Stirling. In addition to providing services to the partner authorities, Forth Valley GIS provide these services commercially to a wide range of other local authorities and public sector organisations. The range of GIS services provided include desktop and web-based GIS application development, GIS systems integration, data management, technical consultancy, business consultancy, project management, support, and training.

---

Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295