Life-saving utility network map poised for national roll out
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
A life-saving underground mapping register that emerged from from Northumbrian Water's 2018 Innovation Festival, is poised for national roll out according to the North East water company.
The National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) draws existing data on underground pipes and cables into a single digital map. The register’s chief purpose is to reduce the risk to life, serious injuries and the widespread disruption caused when underground utilities are struck accidentally by workers.
The register enables workers to see underground utility assets on laptop computers, mobile phones or tablets before they begin digging, Last week minister of state (Cabinet Office), Lord True, unveiled plans for the register to form a central part of the government's new geospatial strategy, Northumbrian reported.
The register has been piloted in the North East during last year. Northumbrian has been working with partners including Ordnance Survey, Mobileye and 1Spatial, to improve the quality of underground asset data being collected. Northumbrian Water's Innovation Partnerships Manager, Clive Surman-Wells said "When workers strike pipes and cables, it risks lives and causes havoc for residents and road-users. The NUAR will help to improve safety for workers, the efficiency of planning jobs, reduce carbon emissions and most importantly, benefit our customers.”
Since Covid “threw a spanner in the works” Northumbrian Water has taken its Innovation Festival into a digital event running 14-17 September. Festival attendees will still be able to take part in online design sprints and challenges to help solve real world issues. Northumbrian announced confirmed partners including Wood, Wipro, Aiimi, CGI, IBM, Isle Utilities, Microsoft, Ordnance Survey, O2, UKPN and Visa.
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