Press Release

Medway's Cadcorp SIS based Web maps join airport battle

Medway and Kent councils have joined forces to legally challenge the government over plans for an airport on the Hoo Peninsula. The views of local citizens is being canvassed online and to assist this process the Cadcorp SIS Active Server Component (ASC) is being used to provide interactive mapping of the controversial site.

Stephen Byers, when Transport Secretary, put forward the serious prospect of the Hoo Peninsula being turned into another airport for SE England based upon projections that air-traffic into the region will double in the next twenty years. Plans specifically outlined a four-runway airport at Cliffe, near Rochester.

Local protest can always expected when such major infrastructure projects are proposed. However, in this case the area is of major environmental importance. Over 200 hectares of Cliffe Pools is precious for wildlife because of its salt marsh environment. It has long been renowned by bird watchers for the number and variety of birds and is also home to a number of rare species plant and animal. Protected by British and international laws, the contentious site was purchased just last year by the RSPB with views to turning into a fully managed wildlife reserve.

With the controversy moving to the courts, Medway Council has turned to its well established Web-based GIS system 'GIS Medway Online' (GISMO) to play a part by showing the sheer scale of the planned airport to online browsers.

GISMO as a internal council resource has been available to all 2200 PCs in Medway Council since 2000. Subsequently as an internet service for local citizens 'Medway maps' gives citizens access to maps showing the location of Medway’s services and facilities. Recycling points, libraries, schools, parks, public transport and ward boundaries are some of the service provisions shown on the maps. The service was developed as part of Medway’s e-government strategy to provide electronic access to geographical information. The new maps of Cliffe Airport illustrate how a crucial subject can be addressed meaningfully and swiftly by forward thinking councils using GIS.

About Cadcorp SIS

Cadcorp SIS - Spatial Information System - is a suite of Windows-based and Web-enabled end user and developer digital mapping and geographic information system (GIS) software products. The desktop suite comprises: Map Viewer, which provides support for over 50 graphic and data formats, thematics and hard copy; Map Manager, which provides the mainstream user the ability to view, explore, query, symbolise and print digital map and associated tabular data; Map Editor, which in addition to the facilities provided by Map Manager, provides the GIS data custodian with tools to view, manage and edit map and tabular data; and Map Modeller, which adds 3D modelling, terrain analysis and several thematic and analytic mapping tools.

ActiveX based developer toolkits and Viewer, Manager and Modeller based runtime licences are popular products for the development and implementation of bespoke applications by third parties that take advantage of Cadcorp’s GIS know-how.

Cadcorp ASC (Active Server Component) extends the functionality of Cadcorp SIS for use over the Internet or a company-wide intranet. It is a dynamic, server-side Web-based GIS, not merely a map-publishing tool for pre-authored images. Cadcorp ASC provides a true, interactive Web-based solution for real time map creation and analysis.

Cadcorp SIS MasterMap Loader is supplied with Map Modeller for the loading and management of OS MasterMap data in relational databases.

Cadcorp apSIS is programmable component software for the development of geospatial applications for the desktop and Pocket PC platforms.

Cadcorp mSIS is a data collection package that incorporates a desktop data capture management application and a Pocket PC based data collection tool.

About Cadcorp

Established in 1991, Cadcorp is a leading developer of digital mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) software. With offices in the USA and UK, Cadcorp’s distribution and VAR network stretches worldwide. The company also plays a pivotal technical role in the OpenGIS Consortium. Cadcorp SIS is currently the only complete product family to attain OpenGIS conformance certification.

Cadcorp SIS applications exist in local government, central government, emergency services, insurance, oil & natural gas, mapping and surveying, commerce, broadcasting and many other markets.

ENDS

For further information, contact: Chris Holcroft, Tel: 01438 747996, e-mail: chrish@cadcorp.com

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