Challenge
SGN, a major UK gas distribution network serving over six million customers, faced significant challenges accessing accurate and timely underground asset information. Field engineers often relied on outdated or incomplete maps, leading to delays, inefficiencies, and increased risk of accidental strikes during operations and emergency responses.
Solution
To address this, SGN partnered with Ordnance Survey to trial the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR), a government digital service providing instant access to a standardised, secure map of underground infrastructure. The four-week pilot in Oxford and Milton Keynes gave field teams real-time, on-site access to data from over 360 asset owners, supported by targeted training to integrate NUAR into existing workflows.
Result
The trial delivered clear benefits: engineers could access asset information in minutes instead of days, reducing reliance on back-office support, improving productivity, and enhancing safety. Standardised data also simplified decision-making. Positive user feedback and measurable efficiency gains enabled SGN to build a strong business case, leading to a wider rollout across multiple regions.
Overall, NUAR has strengthened SGN’s safe digging practices, improved operational performance, and accelerated adoption through effective training and internal engagement, positioning it as a key tool for future operations.