XMAP Cloud GIS Connects Services Across South Somerset

Cloud GIS Powers Joined-Up Service Delivery

Basingstoke, UK – 28 March 2022 — South Somerset District Council (SSDC) has implemented XMAP, a next-generation cloud-based Geographic Information System, to strengthen service integration, improve community engagement, and enhance collaboration with town and parish councils.

The deployment supports SSDC’s Digital Transformation Strategy as it works alongside four other Somerset councils to establish a single unitary authority in 2023. Through the adoption of XMAP, the Council has restructured how geospatial intelligence is stored, accessed, and shared internally and with external government bodies.

A Robust Platform for Ongoing Digital Change

Developed and delivered as a cloud service by Geoxphere, XMAP provides SSDC with a scalable platform for future digital initiatives. The system enables real-time updates and streamlined dissemination of service information to residents and businesses via the Council’s website.

Paul Angulo, Digital Specialist at South Somerset District Council, emphasized that digital transformation extends beyond technology. He noted that reimagining operational processes through digital tools allows new methods of working and engagement, with XMAP serving as a key enabler. The platform ensures access to current national mapping data and supports the creation and maintenance of a unified data source across multiple applications. This centralized intelligence can then be shared with partner organisations and the public.

XMAP also reduces barriers between technical GIS specialists and non-technical staff. It integrates seamlessly with the Council’s desktop GIS infrastructure and supports public-facing mapping services. Parish council systems feed updates into back-office workflows, including planning and building control functions.

Evaluation and Implementation

SSDC selected XMAP following a comprehensive benchmarking and evaluation process. Factors considered included cloud maturity, local authority-specific functionality, integration capabilities, maintained base mapping, and overall usability. The platform was initially introduced through a recommendation linked to Parish Online, a tier 3 solution used locally.

Since implementation, SSDC reports expanded adoption across departments. Increasing numbers of users are leveraging the “golden thread” of location data that connects council services. The Council continues to integrate additional applications, further embedding spatial intelligence into daily operations.

Cloud-Native Web GIS for Local Authorities

XMAP is described as the only fully cloud-native web GIS platform purpose-built for local authorities. Accessible from any web-enabled device, it includes built-in workflows supporting planning, housing, waste management, recycling, and street services.

The platform incorporates more than 250 geospatial data layers and provides a fully maintained Ordnance Survey map stack. With over 4,000 daily users, XMAP offers unlimited access alongside encrypted, secure data storage.

About Geoxphere and XMAP

Geoxphere is a UK-based provider specializing in cloud GIS solutions, spatial data management, and cost-effective geospatial survey services, including aerial and ground-based surveys.

Delivered as a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, XMAP enables organisations to create, manage, and share business-critical map data without the fragmentation risks associated with open-source silos or the expense of traditional GIS infrastructures. The system provides access to Ordnance Survey mapping, aerial imagery, third-party datasets, and internal data resources for more than 1,700 government organisations as well as commercial clients.

Through its cloud-based architecture and structured data-sharing capabilities, XMAP continues to support local authorities and public sector bodies in advancing coordinated, location-driven service delivery.