Online Bowser Maps
Services Provided Bespoke Software, Brochure Sites, Search Engine Work
Launch date August 2007
Website bowsermaps.php
Industry Local information
Location Cheltenham
About our client
Following floods in July 2007 many local residents had their mains water cut off and had to rely on bowsers (temporary water tanks) distributed around the region.
The brief
While Severn Trent Water provided a text list of bowser locations, we felt that a dynamic map would be more useful to allow residents to find their nearest bowser (and others if theirs was empty).
Our solution
We used Google Maps technology to plot the individual bowser locations on a series of local maps, including markers that provided a description of the area. We worked from the Severn Trent list to find locations on online satellite maps, and then transferred these to longitude and latitude references that we could apply to Google Maps.
Results
Our bowser map website was circulated locally by word-of-mouth email, and featured on several websites such as BBC Gloucestershire, the Environment Agency, This Is Gloucestershire, Facebook and Cheltenham Borough Council.
Almost 5000 people used our maps to find their nearest bowser and also got in touch with more accurate information so that we could update the maps. In just 24 hours we achieved top positions on Google UK for many key terms such as "cheltenham bowsers". Many local residents got in touch to thank us for providing the service.
Gloucestershire company puts bowsers on the map - 2nd August 2007
feedback
Some comments we received from members of the public:
"This website is a brilliant idea - you deserve a medal!"
"Thank you for providing this service."
"Thanks - you've put together a great resource, BTW!"
