OS supports Atkins to build underground map of UK's pipes and cables

New digital map of underground pipes and cables will improve efficiencies in construction, reduce disruption and improve workers’ safety

4 minute read
Ordnance Survey is pleased to be working with leading engineering and project-management consultancy Atkins to build a National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) for the UK.

The new digital map of underground pipes and cables will help improve efficiencies in construction and development, reduce disruption and improve workers’ safety.

The location enabled service will provide fast access to network data saving utilities companies and local authorities time and money, and reducing the disruption caused in trying to fix leaks and putting in new infrastructure.

OS has been supporting the utility sector for several decades with accurate and trusted digital location data helping gas, electric, water and telecommunication companies provide services to homes and businesses across the country. From connecting homes to utility networks and future network planning, to delivering efficiencies in maintenance and helping providers meet their own net zero targets.

OS's Head of Geospatial Solutions, Chris Tagg, said: "We are delighted to be part of this exciting transformative project. The development of a UK wide underground digital map of the nation's utilities has been an innovation focus for OS for several years and it is great that the National Underground Asset Register is now entering the build phase.

"We are looking forward to working with Atkins, 1Spatial and the other partners on the build and sharing our world leading geospatial data, as well as our know how and learnings from supporting customers across the utility sector for many years."

"We are delighted to be part of this exciting transformative project. The development of a UK wide underground digital map of the nation's utilities has been an innovation focus for OS for several years and it is great that the National Underground Asset Register is now entering the build phase."

Chris Tagg, Head of Geospatial Solutions at OS

Digital Director at Atkins, Guy Ledger, said: “By harnessing technology to enable data sharing, we’re able to transform on how we delivery projects and infrastructure by unlocking improvements in safety, certainty and efficiency.

“We now look forward to working with Ordnance Survey and our other partners to develop the National Underground Asset Register - a truly exciting and transformative project for the infrastructure sector.”

OS has recently been a member of a consortium, with utility companies and local authorities in the North East, developing a digital data exchange platform as part of one of the Geospatial Commissions NUAR pilot projects. The platform, underpinned by geospatial data, enabled any of the participating organisations to see an integrated, common and consistent map view of the underground assets in the location they are looking to excavate, with the most crucial operational information available, on a single device.

Chris added: "The response from users on the pilot project in the North East was overwhelmingly positive, and the predicted impact for national implementation is huge."

The National Underground Asset Register forms part of the Government’s efforts to build back better and greener and speed up the delivery of housing and infrastructure projects from design to build.

The digital map will be built over the next three years, starting in the North East of England, Wales and London.

Atkins has been appointed by the UK Government’s Geospatial Commission to help create the digital map of underground pipes and cables. Atkins will be working with OS, 1Spatial and other partners to deliver the build phase of the project to create a ground-breaking nationwide geospatial platform to view all underground asset data, helping to tackle the £2.4bn in lost value to the economy each year from accidental utility strikes.

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By Press Office

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