Effective Communication: Visualising OAC for Local Government

Policy Users

Laura EdwardsThe Local Futures Group

Visualising OAC

• Building OAC into Local Knowledge• Different ways of visualising OAC for use as a

policy tool• Future improvements/ Teresa Alcock’s MSc

project

What is Local Knowledge?

• LK is a geographical research and analysis toolkit

• Holds data at a range of spatial levels (regional down to Output Area level)

• Over 1,500 indicators with national coverage• Allows benchmarking of areas nationally and

locally• Toolkit includes thematic mapping, bar charts,

spider charts and tables

Who uses Local Knowledge?

• Local Government (Economic Development; Regeneration; Corporate Policy; Researchers; Planners; Housing)

• Learning and Skills Councils• Regional Development Agencies • Primary Care Trusts• Regeneration companies• Property companies• Charities

Policy issues

• Local Authorities and their Partners need to show a collective understanding of their communities

• Customer Insight/Improving service delivery• Transformational Government – i.e. efficiency

savings

OAC Colour Map

Building OAC into Local Knowledge

• Added Output Area spatial level, OA data and OAC

• Applied OAC colour scheme

• Adjusting toolkit to work with the new spatial level

• Added descriptive text and hyperlinks to background research

Mapping

The proportion of the population in OAC Group 7a – Asian Communities

Bar Charts

Bar Charts

Spider Charts and

Nearest Neighbours

Future Developments

• Adding new tools• Adding links between tools and contextual

information• More user-interaction with the outputs• Adjustment of colour scheme• KTP with UCL

Teresa Alcock’s MSc - Mapping

1. Mapping OAC at appropriate scales and with context using locational referencing

2. Review of available WebGIS applications to increase WebGIS functionality

Issues:• Mapping scale• Base maps• Locational referencing

• Labelling • Legend colours • Seeing surrounding areas/features • Inset map

OAC over Google backdrop

WebGIS Sample

Conclusion

• OAC should be used as a policy tool• Better understand areas and communities

and improve service delivery • Local Futures are continuing to develop our

tools and ways of visualising OAC to help this process

www.localfutures.com