InstantAtlas for Community Indicators

What are Community Information Systems?

Community Information Systems are web-based solutions, often implemented and supported by a local partnership, that provide a range of end-user functionality from simple reports to more sophisticated analytical and data visualization tools. They are generally aimed at both internal staff within a partnership (managers, policy-makers, analysts and researchers) and external users (citizens, civic groups, non-profits and businesses). They provide direct access to an evidence-base to improve their decision-making and ultimately support improvement in quality of life in local areas.

Community Information Systems (CIS) bring together a wide range of social, economic and environmental data and information around objectives like:-

• Monitoring the health, social well-being and sustainability of communities through the management of Quality of Life indicators;
• Bringing together government performance indicators and community targeted indicators into a single solution;
• Widening the use of data by citizens and public officials to support decision-making, improve policy and target resources;
• Providing a wider local intelligence context to key performance indicators for government officials; and
• Communicating outcome measures to citizens, stimulating public debate and building confidence in progress towards societal goals.

"Community Information System" is not a universal term for solutions of this nature. Others include Neighborhood Information Systems, City Information and Monitoring Systems, Data Observatories, Local Information Systems, Area Profiling tools and Crime Mapping solutions. There is also overlap with the more mainstream technology areas of Business Intelligence (BI), Performance Management (PM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Common to almost all these types of solutions is the capability to manage and report on local statistics and indicators to a range of different audiences, making local intelligence more easily accessible and usable.

We have separate solution pages that cover Local Information Systems and Data Observatories, Area Profiling, Performance Reporting and Crime Mapping and Reporting. GeoWise have been working in the UK and internationally for over 10 years delivering innovative, market-leading data reporting and visualization solutions for location-based statistical data. We offer off-the-shelf products designed specifically to make it easy and fast for you to deliver visual data using maps, charts, tables and area profile reports.

GeoWise have been working in the UK and internationally for over 10 years delivering innovative, market-leading data reporting and visualization solutions for location-based statistical data. We offer off-the-shelf products designed specifically to make it easy and fast for you to deliver visual data using maps, charts, tables and area profile reports.

Community Snapshot, Jacksonville Community Council, US

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Scale: State Level

Purpose: Community Snapshot presents over 100 indicators in nine themes including Education, Economy, Natural Environment, Social Environment, Arts and Culture, Health, Government, Transportation, and Public Safety. These indicators provide a roadmap for the community in Northeast Florida.

This interactive InstantAtlas report prepared by JCCI presents the most current data together with historical trends, and will help define critical areas demanding community attention.

Community Indicators Victoria

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Scale: Region

Purpose: CIV has developed an online Geographic Information System (GIS) which is an interactive mapping and analysis tool to enable visual communication of wellbeing indicators.

The Wellbeing Map uses Instant Atlas to present wellbeing information in a geographical context, revealing spatial variations and patterns across Victoria.