For the most part SBL's Geological Map Digitisation Services support the oil & gas, mining, construction, forestry and ground water sectors in activities such as exploration, development and extraction. These businesses use a number of methods to capture geological data- geophysical investigations, geochemical investigations, field verifications – and geospatial services play an important role in the analysis of this data and any associated features. In particular, by combining geological data with terrain, topography, drainage, and structural features it is far more likely that questions of accessibility, economic viability, and quantity and quality of the extraction will be answered effectively, in detail, and with positive business outcomes.
Forestry
In today's ever-changing world, managing forests is becoming a challenging task. However GIS technology is increasingly being called upon to help meet these challenges.
In particular GIS is now an important tool in the production of strategic development plans as it allows detailed and scientific spatial analysis to support decisions on, amongst others: the right geographical areas to support the right types of vegetation; which geographical areas might be susceptible to problems like soil erosion (landslides); the calculation and monitoring of unhealthy vegetation and the identification of trends in this regard; accurate calculation of degraded areas, deforestation and the extent of wildfire so as to help map patterns and mitigate instances in future; crop and inventory management.
Mining
SBL’s GIS division includes a dedicated team of experienced geologists, offering cost-effective support services for mineral exploration projects. In the past three months we have completed two such projects for two different UK-based mining clients.
The team’s primary function is to identify mineral prioritisation zones using digital image processing. This allows clients to quickly and accurately segment the licence areas into low, medium and high deposit potential, saving both time and money.
The images are also used for lithology, geological investigations, and geomorphology. We apply lineament and tectono-stratigraphic analysis to identify the mineral rich areas, and to pinpoint the optimum sites for geo-chemical prospecting and geophysical studies.
All core GIS functions are included in our service as standard: For instance we will Geo-reference and digitise any existing geological maps and other collateral data; analyse all geo-chemical and geo-physical data within a geospatial context; digitise mine plans; create digital elevation models; produce base mapping and land use land cover mapping. All output will be presented in formats compatible with any existing GIS software.
Central and Local Government
Many Finance, Operations, and HR departments already use geographical data in their everyday business activities to simplify the supply chain, or collate market information. Indeed, according to independent analysis, Geographical Information underpins over £100 Billion of the British economy. This figure would further increase significantly if extrapolated to Europe as a whole.
From planning and housing, to licensing and environmental health, GIS can provide a consistent and scalable way to access the land and property information that is important for local government activities. GIS provides a range of `store-once-use-many` applications which reduce duplication of effort and resources, making local authorities more efficient in their delivery of vital public services. We can help with each stage of the process including, if necessary, going right back to the start and digitising paper records or maps. Beyond that we can create geospatial databases, integrate them with an enterprise GIS, or develop bespoke GIS applications. Finally, it is worth bearing in mind that one of the challenges for government is to ensure that the benefits of GI are experienced across the entire organisation. It is true that the heaviest usage usually occurs within the planning and infrastructure departments but the rise of web-based GIS applications, in conjunction with, in Great Britain at least, Ordnance Survey’s Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) means that all departments can have access to the same data, at the same time, and at no additional cost.
If you would like to discuss any of our services, including how we can help with the PSMA, please contact our UK sales team on +44 (0)20 7869 8076.
Public Health
GIS often plays an important role in identifying the origin of an epidemic, the affected areas, and the number of people affected. Mapping the onset of new cases can assist health practitioners in limiting the spread of the disease. GIS can also be used to plot and analyse instances of medical issues to establish trends, this data can be combined with various demographic datasets before being translated into geographical hotspots. This type of application is an important tool for preventative as well as responsive decision-making.
Satellite images can also help health organisations to respond quickly and effectively in emergency situations. Using high resolution images for mapping or monitoring changes to the landscape, GIS can provide an accurate comparison of the affected areas before and after events such as flooding, fires, or earthquakes. This leads to better informed decision-making, especially in terms of the prioritisation of support medical services to the most urgent areas, but also in terms of practical operational issues such as access routes and quarantine or evacuation logistics.
Hospitality and Tourism
GIS for Hospitality and Tourism is focused on effective provision of the right services, at the right times, and from the right locations. Without detailed location-based information it is impossible for service providers to assess the needs of their customers and, more importantly, understand to what extent they are meeting them. It is also an essential tool for analysing competitor activities and for planning one’s own marketing activity based on: demographics, the proximity of the competition; the proximity of high-profile tourist destinations that might drive traffic, opportunities or threats posed by the opening of new businesses in a neighbouring geographical catchment. GIS is also used extensively by those responsible for planning and maintaining the tourist infrastructure. It is very difficult to ensure that development work is fit for purpose, and executed with the right priorities in mind if questions like the following are left unanswered: "Which routes do tourists use?" "Are there times in the day when critical massing occurs?" "Do we have the facilities to cope, and are they in the right geographical areas?" "If not, where do we need to build, and which of the existing facilities can we afford to close?" "Can we cross-reference these questions with survey data, and map results in relation to complaints?" Once a GIS has been implemented for data analysis it can also be used in areas such as: facilities maintenance planning; security and emergency response planning; planning for seasonal or event-based upsurges in visitor numbers.
