Kingborough Council’s Local Links project, developed online by Hobart-based mapping and location intelligence company, Insight GIS, recently won the People and Community Award at the SIBA|GITA Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards (APSEA).

SIBA|GITA CEO Deanna Hutchinson said that Insight GIS’ input in the Kingborough Council’s Local Links project was an innovative use of their technology and lifechanging for local residents. “The project was designed to encourage and support walking and a healthy lifestyle within a local community,” said Deanna. “We commend Insight GIS for such creative use of spatial technology in making a real difference in the lives of people in the community.”

The awards, run by the Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA|GITA) and the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI), celebrate the achievements of top spatial information enterprises and individuals. Innovators with services and products related to surveying, mapping, remote sensing, geographic software, GPS technology, and location intelligence are recognised as part of the awards.

Insight GIS Managing Director Robert Rowell said that the team was incredibly honoured to receive such an acclimation. “It’s an amazing recognition of the work we’ve done, but also how we’ve been able to impact the lives of people living in Kingborough.

“Residents are now able to access information on the location of the closest bus stops, parks, schools, playgrounds, public toilets, fresh food outlets and community services, and how long it will take to walk there, within a 10 or 20 minute timeframe,” said Robert.

“What makes it unique is that it identified more than 140 “urban links” such as footpaths and cut-throughs that  aren’t highlighted on other sources such as Google Maps. “It’s great that the APSEA Awards are recognising us, and we’re looking forward to the National Awards next year.”

Insight GIS and other winners selected from each category in each region will be announced at the SIBA|GITA APSEA Gala Awards Evening in early 2018.

The Local Links project began in 2009 with the initial research undertaken through Kingborough Council’s award winning Conversations in Kingborough Youth Transport Consultation where school children identified that even though most students lived within a three to five kilometer radius of school, commuting was generally made by car. This was followed by further consultation from the council with three local primary schools (Illawarra, Kingston and St Aloysius) during the development of the Walking School Bus initiative.

The project came to fruition in 2016 with a $5000 Planning for Healthy Communities grant. This grant funded the work of Insight GIS as well as the Local Links signs which are located at the end of each track. Visit Local Links on Kingborough Council’s website, https://www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/recreation-facilities/local-links/