Spending time yesterday at the Ordnance Survey partner day reminded me of how many different location-based datasets we use across our client base. At Integrated Skills Limited (ISL), we pride ourselves on delivering cutting-edge route optimisation and address validation solutions across a diverse range of sectors. Our success in achieving operational excellence for our clients—whether in waste and recycling collection, street cleaning, winter maintenance, parcel and postal delivery, drinks distribution, or energy meter reading—is underpinned by our strong partnership with Ordnance Survey (OS).

For a route optimisation specialist, one would expect our solutions to consume the highways related data (street attributes, road speeds, driving restrictions, etc) but, as our solution can cope with mixed mode routing (drive/walk/cycle) we also use the data relates to paths (as many a meter reader and postal operative will walk/cycle them). Not to mention (again) we can incorporate ferry crossing into our route plans! However, on occasions, we also validate addresses and locations prior to creating optimised routes. This blog explores the OS data sets we use to provide solutions to our client base.

Why Ordnance Survey Matters to Our Solutions

Ordnance Survey is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, renowned for its highly accurate geographic data and location-based intelligence. Our partnership with OS enables us to integrate their premium datasets into our software solutions, providing unparalleled accuracy and efficiency to our customers. Here’s how key OS datasets enhance our services:

Route Optimisation with OS MasterMap® and OS Highways

Our route optimisation software can leverage OS MasterMap® Topography Layer for precise geographic detail and OS Highways to incorporate comprehensive road network data. OS Highways includes detailed information on road restrictions, classifications, and turn restrictions, ensuring that our route planning accounts for the real-world complexities of urban and rural environments.

Accurate Address Validation with OS AddressBase®

In sectors such as parcel delivery, postal services, and energy meter reading, ensuring that the correct address is serviced is critical. We integrate OS AddressBase®, which provides accurate and up-to-date property-level data. This ensures that our address validation solutions can precisely match addresses and geocode them for efficient service delivery, reducing missed appointments and delivery errors. For some clients we also use Code-Point® - a postcode locator with postcode units in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Coverage includes over 1.7 million postcodes in Great Britain and Northern Ireland updated quarterly – the most authoritative and accurate depiction of all live postcodes.

Efficient Boundary Management with OS Boundary-Line and OS Open Map - Local

For waste collection, street cleaning, and winter maintenance services, understanding administrative boundaries is crucial. We use OS Boundary-Line to define local authority boundaries accurately and OS Open Map - Local to enhance our spatial analysis for effective service planning. These datasets ensure that no area is overlooked, and resources are allocated effectively.

Enhanced Network Planning with OS Open Roads

OS Open Roads data provides a simplified but detailed view of the national road network, which is particularly useful for managing large-scale operations like winter gritting and postal delivery. It allows us to optimise routes by understanding road connectivity and ensuring efficient vehicle movement across service areas.

National Geographic Database (NGD)

The OS NGD is a single store of all Ordnance Survey’s authoritative data for Great Britain. The OS NGD delivers the richest data available for optimum analysis and application to route planning challenges.

Transforming Sector-Specific Operations

Our use of Ordnance Survey data plays a critical role in improving outcomes across multiple sectors:

• Waste & Recycling Collection: Optimised routes that factor in road speeds, road restrictions, and accurate property data for consistent, timely collections.
• Street Cleaning & Winter Maintenance: Targeted service delivery, with data-driven decisions for sweeping and gritting operations in specific areas.
• Parcel & Postal Delivery: Increased first-time delivery success through enhanced geocoding and precise address matching.
• Drinks Distribution & Energy Meter Reading: Reliable scheduling and accurate location validation to ensure safety & compliance.

Delivering Real-World Benefits to Our Clients

By integrating Ordnance Survey’s datasets, we ensure that our clients experience tangible benefits such as:

• Reduced operational costs by minimising unnecessary mileage and optimising fuel consumption.
• Improved customer satisfaction with enhanced delivery and collection accuracy.
• Lower environmental impact through fewer emissions and reduced congestion.

A Partnership that Drives Innovation

Our collaboration with Ordnance Survey empowers us to continuously innovate and adapt our solutions to meet evolving industry demands. With OS’s commitment to data excellence and our expertise in delivering World leading route and address validation solutions, we remain at the forefront of operational efficiency for our clients.

As we look to the future, we are excited to explore new opportunities to apply Ordnance Survey’s NGD to further enhance the functionality and accuracy of our solutions, driving long-term success for the industries we serve.

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‘Posh village being ruined for months by roadworks to install EV chargers’ was a Sun headline back in October 2023. One local shop owner is stated as claiming that the disruption had led to the loss of thousands of pounds worth of trade. The aim of the roadworks through this village was primarily to deliver power to the new charging units at the nearby M1 service station. Installing EV chargers requires improving power supply which invariably requires digging up roads and causing traffic disruption.

Interestingly, recent research conducted by the RAC indicates that the Government is not on track to hit its motorway services target for EV charging points. Less than a quarter have the target number of chargers to serve the UK’s estimated 760,000 battery electric vehicles - EV charge point target for motorway services ‘at risk’ (fleetnews.co.uk).

But what about EV chargers in the streets near your home, office or school? Many local authorities are rolling out charging stations throughout their regions and disruption due to road works will get worse as a result. A 2016 English Housing Survey revealed that 62% of UK residents do not have driveways or the means to safely charge their own electric vehicle. There is a push by government to install chargers in locations more accessible to the public, such as car parks and public buildings. The UK government plans to support the market to reach 300,000 public electric vehicle charge points by 2030 – equivalent to almost 5 times the number of fuel pumps on our roads today.

As part of the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy (UK electric vehicle infrastructure strategy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) £500 million will be invested to bring high quality, competitively priced public charge points to communities across the UK. This includes a £450 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, which will boost projects such as EV hubs and innovative on-street charging, so those without driveways don’t miss out on cleaner transport.

Whatever happens, the road will need to be dug-up, as will some pavements. This will lead to temporary disruption and traffic management measures for some locations. However, this does provide opportunities for road and pavement improvements. The rollout of EV charging points presents an opportunity to upgrade and improve road and pavement infrastructure. For example, road works associated with EV charging point installation could coincide with road resurfacing or other maintenance projects, minimizing disruptions to road users.

The coordination of roadworks is a challenge for Highways Authorities and local authorities. They typically rely on a software system to coordinate activities, such as Trafficworx. Trafficworx (Road Works Coordination and Management - Integrated Skills (integrated-skills.com)) provides highways authorities and key stakeholders (utility companies, contractors, emergency services, etc) with digital mapping, a planning database and automated procedures to manage the road network effectively, to avoid traffic disruption and reduce the impact of road works. As information moves between highways authorities and stakeholders, permit applications for works, such as EV charger installation and related cable work, are approved and information is automatically published on a website, enabling the public to see live information on the current and expected status of road works and diversion routes.

Beyond the installation of EV charging points there is another challenge facing Highways Authorities. A number of experts have warned of increased road degradation over time due to the weight of EVs as they are so much heavier than carbon fuelled vehicles. This will potentially lead to more remediation work on roads as they deteriorate. Trafficworx handles a vast array of road work processes essential to effective road works planning and co-ordination including inspection and rectification procedures.

As we race toward a net zero future in our electric cars we must expect disruption and more traffic cones on the streets. The EV charging point roll-out is gaining pace and will peak over the next few years. Thankfully there are software systems available to Highways Authorities, such as Trafficworx, that will help ease the congestion.

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“Place matters to people” says the Local Government Association (Geospatial Information policy | Local Government Association) at least in the context of geospatial information policy, and we at ISL agree. The reality though is that, for most members of the public who consume geospatial data, it is just ‘data’ – they don’t necessary perceive or define any difference between data type.

In recent years geospatial data and business intelligence has become increasingly intertwined. As well as geospatial data being increasingly displayed on maps, local government is using data in geographical information systems (GIS) to inform key policy decisions. Public health analysis relies on a ‘location’ element as does flood risk assessment to name but two examples.
GIS data rich maps are de rigour. Not only are these maps easy to use, but they are easy to understand by those using them to inform them before making key policy decisions. A view of the data on a map is great but is not really sufficient where there is a need to correlate, analyse or research more deeply. Location based software platforms allow for the provision of geographic analysis to users in a way that’s easily accessible, whether via a desktop, mobile device or Cloud based software package such as that provided by ESRI and its network of partners, including ISL.

Location based data is also key in the management of operation activity. Within local government environmental services provision, geospatial data held in GIS software products is often used in combination with data in non-geospatial based systems to inform decision makers. For garden waste collection, for example, which is nowadays typically a paid-for service the collection location can comprise of more than just an address and postcode. Decision makers need to know (i) the geocode (x, y coordinate/easting & northing/latitude & longitude) of the exact location of the bin (which is especially important in rural areas where the bin is placed at the end of a long driveway or off the main road) and (ii) confirmation that the client renewed their annual service subscription. Other examples of paid for waste and recycling collection services that require confirmation of payment combined with a geocoded location includes commercial (trade) collection and bulky collections (sofas, white goods, etc).

Geospatial analysis is often applied to the investigations of fly tipping and graffiti removal. Analysing the location of fly tips over time can assist investigators pinpoint potential suspects, and possibly identify new likely fly tip sites. The municipal authorities in countries like Bahrain use geospatial based software solutions to pinpoint offensive graffiti that needs quick removal. It would be interesting to review the progress of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions combined with geospatial data applied to the prediction of fly tips and offensive graffiti.

In recent years a number of English local authorities have amalgamated into Unitary Authorities while others have created wholly owned private environmental services companies to operate a unified, cross borough boundary waste & recycling collection service, such as Ubico, which covers eight local councils in the west of England. In these situations, ‘location’ or ‘place’ is a key aspect of what they offer, and how they do it. If a member of the public sees an overflowing street bin in Stroud they can report it on their smartphone which will automatically record the geocode although that individual lives in a neighbouring borough and just happens to be visiting that day. Local authority boundaries were historically based on various factors one of which is geographical features such as the course of a river, edge of a floodplain or public highway. With modern building techniques and planning policies, combined with an ever-expanding street network, adhering to such boundaries create unbalanced waste & recycling collection routes. Using geospatial data provided via the Ordnance Survey combined with empirical data such as number of bins, bin size and expected weight, GIS based route optimisation and waste management software can provide balanced collection routes that cut across historical boundaries resulting in reduced mileage, reduced fuel costs and more even workload (and hours) across the fleet.

Pretty much all local authority services that rely on a fleet of vehicles can operate more efficiently after an optimisation exercise based on geospatial data analysis. Social care transportation is one as is cash collection.

Place and location, and the GIS software to manage this geospatial data, historically has been the preserve of the planning departments within local government. The digital transformation drive has led to GIS being applied beyond the planning department into environmental services, schools, etc. Increasingly authorities with centralised IT teams are hiring specialist GIS team members to provide a GIS impetus to their digital transformation programmes.

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A 2022 report from Accenture estimates that the streets of London will carry 1.5 times more delivery vehicles by 2026 than today if the ecommerce led door-to-door delivery model continues to boom (which I think it will). Road congestion!!! Parking problems!!! Last mile delivery will become even more challenging, especially for the software that plans the delivery routes.

For route optimisation software the need to incorporate historic traffic flows in the route planning is essential to avoid those pinch points on the street network and ensure that delivery time windows are met. In terms of route execution, it's also vital to have up-to-date live traffic information available to the dispatch team and/or drivers so they can deviate or replan on-the-fly to avoid delays.

As Last Mile delivery companies start to introduce more localised hubs and more collection lockers, as well as an electric vehicle fleet with mixed capacities (cycles to e-bikes to scooters to vans to drones), route optimisation software has to cope with regular fleet changes sometimes hourly let alone daily.

Where to park in a congested street and how far away from the delivery point that is in a vehicle restricted area? An accurate street network that contains certain parameters - road length, access restrictions, direction of travel information, parking restrictions - enables route planning software to optimally plan routes that include a "mixed mode" aspect to delivery, i.e. park and walk. In the UK, data form the Ordnance Survey contains much of the information required. Outside of the UK, data from HERE Technologies can provide similar vital information.

Combining traffic data with the street network data in a GIS application like ArcGIS Pro from Esri enables route optimisation solutions to produce the most optimal routes possible. But it is still challenging!

Rural last-mile delivery is a significant cost challenge for companies as more energy (electric charge or fossil fuel) may be required over the longer distances. Route planning software must be able to manage equally both the rural and urban delivery challenge.

One of the key themes at this years' ParcelPostExpo was sustainability. Being able to take account for CO2 output from the delivery fleet is another consideration for Final Mile route optimisation solutions.

The future of last-mile delivery, by Danny Hudson, Director at FarEye for UK/Europe.

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What The Ordnance Survey’s Highways Data Set Can Do For Businesses With GIS Based Route Planning Software

For users of a Geographic Information System (GIS) based route planning application, the Ordnance Survey’s Highways Data Set provides an essential part of the overall solution. Many would argue that route planning applications are only as good as the streets data sets, or “travel network”, it is provided with. If the streets dataset is not kept up-to-date with new roads, changes to priorities, road speeds, new bridges, weight limits and related road characteristics, the routes may be less that optimal and, moreover, will not take into account significant route planning constraints and worse, introduce a health and safety risks.

What is a GIS based Route Planning Software Platform?

GIS route planning software is far more advanced than previous incarnations of such software, with a set of intelligent route algorithms that take into account the latest mapping and geometry making the smartest business decisions for the best of all possible routes.
There are surprisingly few GIS based route planning applications available commercially, but those that are commercially available share certain core characteristics.

Firstly, the leading platforms have a web-based option, drawing on cloud-based data sets and updating all user platforms in real-time. Some of them use an alternative travel network than that supplied by the Ordnance Survey, such as from HERE (formerly known as Navteq), and only a couple provide a choice of which travel network to use. The web based solutions enable a higher degree of automation for logistics businesses with single sites or those with multiple bases around the city, county, country or continent; a significant advantage.

GIS mapping software also takes route analysis to another level. Powerful route planning algorithms allow users to carefully quantify data, comparing different route options, analysing cost based on time versus distance.

With such a powerful tool at their disposal, companies with fleets of vehicles or teams of people walking the streets (that either deliver or collect goods - or both) use their GIS for more than simply creating optimal routes. There are sales applications to using GIS software, allowing businesses to plan new supply and distribution depots, identify sales territories and model demographic changes that could affect their market. When integrated with demographic data, a GIS application can be used to gain a better understanding of a business’s customers, empowering logistics companies to provide a faster and more efficient service.

Benefits of Using Ordnance Survey Highway Data

The OS ‘Master Map’ Highways Network is arguably the most up-to-date and accurate set of road data available in the UK. It is regularly updated with street names, numbering, construction projects, planned developments and new roads giving logistics businesses, local authorities and contractors the very latest information about the best routes to plan for their deliveries and/or collections.

It is also possible to integrate your route optimisation solution with real-time traffic feeds creating routes ‘on the fly’ that take into account incidents, speed restrictions and heavy traffic volumes, allowing your planning & dispatch operations to make responsive adjustments to your routes and avoid delays.

If you already have a high quality GIS, accessing Ordnance Survey Highway Data equips your software to make even more powerful and efficient route planning decisions. The highway data map overlays your application’s mapping tool, showing the precise relationship between business assets, road networks and customer sites.

Route Planning & Business Intelligence

The combination of GIS route planning software and Ordnance Survey Highway Data completely revolutionises how companies manage their driving fleets, walking teams and distribution/collection operations. Investing in both solutions, which sync together perfectly, will yield almost immediate savings in time, labour and fuel, reducing wear and tear on your vehicles, reducing vehicle CO2 output and enabling greater productivity on each route, or set of routes.

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Throughout history, paper maps have played an integral role in logistics, transportation and route planning. Today is no different, except most maps are in a digital format and there are many map formats to choose from as well as mapping software with which to access them.

But which do you choose?

What is a Digital Map?

Simply put, the digital map is the electronic representation of a traditional paper map, with all the same information such as points of interest, boundaries, roads and conurbations, etc. However, unlike the paper map, digital maps empower users to do a host of things to the map, such as, add additional information such as a path, alley or new road, view points of interest in 3D if an image is associated with it and use the map to calculate distances.

The software products that contain the maps, such as a Geographic Information System (GIS), presents data on different ‘layers’, the ‘base layer’ is typically (though not always) the map itself. This type of software is very useful for the display of a host of data types ranging from rainforest destruction over a long period of time to the immediate aftermath of a hurricane to the more mundane average traffic congestion around a country’s main airport.

In logistics the digital map provides managers of operations, fleets and their drivers with vital information which, for route planning, relates to road speeds, road types, vehicle based road restrictions, distance and historic traffic congestion. For telematics the mapping data is the base on which a vehicle is tracked or the Satnav in the vehicle: A key dada layer for fleet is the live traffic reports that can alert operators to potential service delays.

In the vehicle tracking sector, vehicles are usually represented on a map as icons. How accurate this type of data is in terms of exact location depends on several factors including the rate at which the telematics device reports its latitude and longitude, the quality of the GPS device, signal strength and how accurate the underlying map layer is.

The GIS System

The GIS system treats each data set as a separate layer. For example, one layer may contain city street layouts, while another may display that city’s administrative districts. On top of those two layers, a third may show where in that city a crime was reported in the past year. Then by type of crime. And so on.

GIS systems were designed to not only capture and store location information, but also allow users to manipulate, analyse and manage that information. This allows users to obtain a more complete understanding of not one but all aspects of the geography.

GIS systems work in concert with digital maps to provide a richer amount of information to the user. When combined with a telematics and route optimisation solutions, users can ask the system questions relating to the locations their fleets visit. Some of these questions may include:

• Whether a location is on a street;
• Which route was the most cost effective;
• Whether or not a previously taken route can be replicated
• The impact of losing a key contract
• The impact of merging depot locations
• Assessing the most suitable location for a transport operation

For logistic intensive organisations, in addition to presenting the system with queries like the ones above, GIS systems allow for various location information to be integrated and scenarios visualised so that potential problems can be seen in advance and a contingency plan devised. Ultimately, a GIS system allows those at development and planning levels to develop more effective strategic transport based solutions.
GIS has been especially useful when integrated with telematics solutions. This has allowed large amounts of data to be made available for situations where information for a multi-drop route planner is required, such as, time windows at client site, a mixed fleet of vehicle capacities and a mix of rural and urban routes.

Software Capabilities: Telematics, Route Planning and ERP

The level of capability of any software solution that manages logistics and transport is dependent upon its architecture: most do not have ‘geodatabases’, that is, a data base that can manage geographical based data. While adding a GIS ‘wrap’ around the core software may present additional cost, the information obtained can be very valuable, allowing the user to solve complex operational challenges, providing a significant ROI.
The benefits of both digital maps and GIS solutions must be fully understood by fleet and operational managers, as well as how a combination of the two can benefit their company. Existing GIS solutions can be easily incorporated in a telematics solution when the project plan includes the following:

• A plan for how GIS information will be imported into the telematics/logistics solution;
• A review of GIS databases with your chosen vendor;
• The creation of a process where the chosen telematics/logistics solution continually updates GIS information;
• Documentation detailing which databases will be used with the telematics/logistics solution.

The reduction of costs is a top priority for all fleet and operational managers. The solution which best suits the needs of a fleet will depend on the full cost of the ownership of a combined digital map, GIS and telematics/logistics system.

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Utility companies surprisingly still rely on lots of paperwork to process work related to field engineers. Where mobile technology is in place it typically involves engineers lugging laptops from location to location. The rise of the tablet and large form factor smartphones are increasingly replacing laptops in the field… and the ‘App’ is becoming ubiquitous.

Lack of Data

Regardless of the hardware, data is still the key element of any mobile solution. Is it available? In what format? Can it be communicated successfully over an appropriate channel? Is it real time?

Dependent on the business requirement the ‘real time’ (or near real time) issue may or may not be an issue. An emergency repair to a Sub PowerStation can require wiring diagrams to be immediately available whereas selecting and accessing the correct protocols for a water test and contamination rectification may not. Perhaps more important is the ability of the hardware and software to store the files locally or be able access them remotely for the mobile (cell) network or broadband. Where the latter is available tablets and smartphones can be deployed effectively.

Utilities that deploy mobile technology complete certain operations far more quickly compared to paper based processes. For example, mobile applications allow utility companies to assess and report damage in real-time, as well as decide on the best starting points for restoration of service. For utility crews, these mobile applications help communicate the extent of damage and area of the outage, along with offering them the opportunity to decide quickly on where to begin troubleshooting.

The Digital Recording of Mobile Working

With a smartphone app a team member can access past repair information instantly allowing them to become more efficient in completing a repair task. Using cameras, video and diagnostic software the entire process can be recorded digitally for future access by another engineer needing information. Any digitally recorded material can be compressed, that is, the file size is reduced enabling communication via the mobile network or broadband.

Work Order Retrieval

Yet another benefit of the mobile application to the utility industry is the ability to retrieve work orders without the need to manually collect them by having to return to the office. This allows crews to spend more time in the field working on issues, and less time driving back and forth for information about the next task. For those at dispatch, the real-time digital delivery of tasks allows them to see which crews are working where, and assign crews who are near to an outage.

Data Collection with No Mobile Signal or Broadband Access

The ability of an application to retain collected data while in the field can be very valuable to the crew located in a remote area that doesn’t offer a network connection. Instead of submitting data twice or manually recording it, the information is simply held on the application until a connection becomes available, after which data is uploaded automatically to the network.

Apps and the More Efficient Handling of Emergencies

During an emergency where quick decisions are crucial, data allows teams always to know what is happening. Many applications are allowing workers to communicate in real time with headquarters and other agencies, allowing for instant collaboration and faster exchange of ideas. Of course, the quality of the app being used by crews and headquarters alike is vital. Having to learn more than one application can slow things down considerably. An app must also be easy to use as well as intuitive so that all a crew member has to do is, for example, click a point on the map to add or change information. One key to gauging the effectiveness of an app is to determine whether it takes longer to use the app than to write information on paper.

Fast Information Flow for Effective Management

The effectiveness of the mobile workforce is directly related to the speed at which accurate information flows. Today, a fast flow of information is critical in order to get the job done. Not only can a team create a record of conditions and tasks they can share across systems and teams. Moreover, network knowledge is retained and shared thus reducing the reliance on knowledge of individual employees.

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Although GIS technology has been deployed previously in the Middle East it is often not used for route planning and route optimisation. Within the last two years however the technology has increasingly been applied to route optimisation in the environmental services sector, more specifically, the collection of household and business waste & recycling. This is especially so in Bahrain, Oman and the UAE (though interestingly not the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

What is the link between GIS and Route Optimisation?

A geographic information system holds layer upon layer of different data one on top of the other, the base layer of which is a map. The key function of a GIS is the ability to manipulate the data layers creating a relationship between the various data sets. An example being the location of a waste container on a map with the key attributes being latitude / longitude, type, size, physical condition, owner, due date of next collection. All these attributes can be altered and displayed on a graphical map interface. Creating the optimal route for a vehicle to collect the container is a result of analysing this data combining the GIS with the appropriate routing algorithms.

The Success of Route Optimisation Software in the Environmental Services Sector

In the USA and Western Europe GIS based Route Optimisation software is a proven tool for cost reduction and enhanced efficiency in the waste & recycling collection sector. Municipal government led the way adopting GIS technology for route planning & route optimisation in the late 1990s with their contractors following suit soon after. One of the key drivers enabling the early adoption of route optimisation technology is the availability of accurate mapping data. In the UK this mapping data is made available freely to the public sector by the Ordnance Survey under the PSMA (Public Service Mapping Agreement). Even contractors in the UK who service a number of municipalities qualify for a significant discount on the map data costs. In European and Middle East countries Here (formerly Navteq) data can be purchased. Other mapping providers are available.

Municipalities have saved significant cost savings through the reduction in fleet size as a result of GIS based route optimisation. The high operational cost of a waste collection vehicle means that by taking just one off the road makes a significant impact… not to mention a high level of return on investment (ROI). Cost reduction is also achieved through using less fuel as a result of less mileage. Less well known is the fact that through a more evenly balanced workload across vehicles and across a working week, municipalities reduce the amount of overtime paid to employees.

ROI can be enhanced further when the route planning software is applied to multiple services. Although best well known for waste & recycling collection operations, route optimisation has made significant inroads into services such as gully emptying, street sweeping and winter maintenance (snow ploughing and gritting).

The Rise of Route Optimisation in the Middle East

With a number of European waste and environmental professionals increasingly taking up positions in Middle Eastern governments and municipalities, the working knowledge & appreciation of GIS route optimisation software is becoming more widespread. Recent route optimisation projects in Oman, Bahrain and the UAE are examples of the maturing waste & recycling sector.

Mapping data for the Middle East has improved greatly in recent years but there are still notable data gaps. GPS enabled smartphone and tablets Apps are now being deployed to not only track waste & recycling collection vehicles (the breadcrumbs trail of which is used to fill in the gaps in the mapping data) but the same Apps are used to get a GPS fix of the container as well additional information such as condition, type and size.

The Smart Cities initiatives has also helped bring route optimisation to the fore in the Middle East. As well as cost reduction, GIS based route optimisation software helps reduce CO2 output from those diesel guzzling trucks!

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With today’s roads being an integral part of a country’s infrastructure it makes sense that the route planning function for vehicles delivering/collecting goods on those roads utilises a suite of software tools to make the process efficient and cost effective. And that means managing traffic congestion. GIS is an ideal solution, as it has provided several applications for this purpose, helping companies to design routes that consider traffic.

GIS and Route Planning

GIS’s role in delivery route planning is a critical one. When roads become clogged with traffic, delivery companies lose time and money. GIS helps businesses to figure out which route is best in order to get the optimum cost/benefit ratio, regardless of what their drivers are delivering. GIS allows for catchment areas to be analysed for different sites and overall drive times to and from a site to be calculated. It also allows for optimal accessibility, as well as the maximising of potential customer inflow.

Tracking and GIS

Any company who deploys vehicles not only wants to know the quickest way to get from one point to another, but also where a vehicle is at any given moment. GPS located on board a fleet vehicle monitors that vehicle’s position, and that information is transmitted to headquarters via GSM (global system for mobile communication). The final step is GIS, which displays the collected information on a map. Most important for the dispatch operation is the analysis of Plan versus Actual: Any deviation detected by the GPS tracking from the plan can be assessed and, if needs be, communicated to the customer.

Using GIS to Manage Traffic Problems

Currently, the UK Highway Agency monitors traffic at critical points 24 hours a day. This is done with cameras and counting devices, among other tools. Information is gathered and then communicated to the public, and is also analysed for future traffic control. SatNav providers also collate data from the devices in their customer’s vehicles. This data is sold to Route Planning Software providers who can include it when the software calculates routes thus providing optimal routes that takes into account traffic congestion.

GIS plays a crucial role in traffic control as well as route planning enabling software users to see the ‘big picture’ of traffic congestion along any route and make adjustments to route plans accordingly.

GIS and Navigation

For drivers, GIS plays an integral role in the day-to-day operation of their vehicle. Today’s in-vehicle system works in conjunction with GPS to provide drivers with a map database that provides navigation on a turn-by-turn basis. Not only that, but it provides drivers with all delivery and collection points and the route itself replete with site specific instructions and hazard warnings.

GIS and Logistics

Histrocially GIS was a ‘stand-alone’ system often only used for planning activity. GIS is no longer on its own when it comes to fleet management, logistics and route planning. Today, GIS is interfaced and/or merged into software solutions to become an integral part of the logistics function within organisations.

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