A leading multi-disciplinary geo-environmental and engineering consultancy has expanded its use of an innovative environmental reports service on the emapsite geoportal. GRM, which has a nationwide client base of landowners, developers and agents, is increasingly harnessing the power of GroundSure Insight for Phase 1 desktop and ground investigations.
The GroundSure package includes detailed site-centred maps and reports on ground stability, geology and natural hazards plus data on historical mining and surface workings.
Since turning to emapsite, GRM has used the reports service for construction projects in a range of sectors especially healthcare, education and housing.
GRM has worked with design teams working on major NHS redevelopments at Greater Manchester and Barrow-in-Furness hospitals plus a series of mental health trusts building secure residential care settings.
Education work includes new developments at Bury College, Leeds Met University and university student accommodation in Newcastle.
Key benefits of the emapsite service for GRM are the stability and reliability of the underlying web platform and the continually updated Ordnance Survey maps that can be viewed online.
Chris Storey, GRM’s geo-environmental divisional manager, said: “We order data from emapsite to help the Phase 1 desk study for each project we do. What we need out of environmental search reports is a history of what the site has been used for. It gives our clients reassurance about what they can expect further down the line such as determining the risk of contamination and what they need to do to assess and manage it.”
emapsite, which supplies the UK’s biggest portfolio of digital maps for professional users, offers the Insight package through a partnership with GroundSure.
Under a series of improvements to complement the online user experience, emapsite has introduced reduced rates for Ordnance Survey mapping, free, easy-to-use viewing tools before purchase, and cross-browser compatibility.
Mr Storey said: “We are more than happy with emapsite. They have a stable platform and a continually updated website that is very easy to use. You can switch between environmental data and a map product at a stroke. With emapsite we have been able to set up accounts for everyone so that all involved can view project work at any time. It’s all integrated and we avoided a long, laborious process to set up. emapsite look after us and they are always on hand to help out with any queries.”
emapsite is offering customers of its GroundSure Insight service the chance to claim a free environmental search report. From February 2011, if a customer recommends one of their colleagues to buy a report they can receive their next report free. For more details, visit www.emapsite.com/promotions/
