Public Sector Roundup: Smart tech upgrades

Dundee implements smart' library using Civica's Spydus library management system

The Dundee City Council is leading the way to introducing library smart cards in Scotland by implementing the Spydus library management system from Civica.

Spydus will support easier customer access by using smart card technology. The system will also enhance search capabilities, encourage online lending and speed up access to existing databases.

The library cards will also serve as an interface with Scotland's National Entitlement Cards, making them operable not only in the library, but in other public sectors.

"We wanted a system that was easy to use and allowed our citizens to navigate book catalogues more easily while meeting our technical criteria in terms of infrastructure and server requirements," Frances Foster of the Dundee City Council said. "We are delighted that Civica met our challenge."

3D mapping technology to capture North Tyneside's roads

Yotta, the 3D mapping division of Oxford Metrics Group (OMG), will survey North Tyneside's 900km road network using digital technology.

The survey uses a specially designed Y270 vehicle equipped with six high definition cameras. Each camera will take an image every two metres to capture all of the roads, signs, traffic lights and other assets bordering North Tyneside's highway.

The video taken will then be extracted and processed automatically using special software before being imported into North Tyneside city council's asset management system.

"The Yotta survey expedites the collection of essential data to deliver a clear and precise view of our all our assets," said Mark Newlands, Assitant Engineering Services Manager of North Tyneside Council. "The survey provides highly accurate information together with a high-resolution video record that we can revisit whenever we need additional data."

Capgemini completes transformation programme with Welsh Water

A 15-month collaboration programme has been successful between Capgemini UK and Welsh Water in collaboration with Logica UK.

The programme, which improved upon the digital glue' concept of developing communication, also included monitoring and partnering techniques to promote collaboration between IT vendors.

"The transformation programme we have now completed has enabled us to upgrade overall service delivery to equally best-in-class standards and ensure that our multi-vendor environment is 100% effective," said Gill Busby, Deputy Head of IT at Welsh Water.

As a result, Welsh Water has seen higher service levels, greater management control, and improved cost efficiency.

Steria partners with Land Registry to provide ICT

Steria announced a five year, 50 million partnership with Land Registry today.

Steria will provide an underlying infrastructure to aid Land Registry in delivering services. The two companies will join together to provide an information and communication technology (ICT) service for the Distributed IT infrastructure and Extranet.

The partnership will begin July 2009, and is expected to improve cost effectiveness for the Land Registry.