Asian Surveying & Mapping
Breaking News
HAL to build, market Isro’s SSLV in landmark deal
New Delhi, Jun 20: In a historic move for...
Taiwan developing space capabilities for all-weather imaging
TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan is advancing its space...
Honda hails successful test of reusable rocket as it looks to get into the space business
Tokyo — Japan's second-biggest carmaker, Honda, has successfully tested...
China’s space program provides larger platform for broader international cooperation
BEIJING -- Experts from China's manned space program said...
India To Launch $1.5 Billion Joint Earth Mission With NASA In July
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian...
Axiom-4 mission delayed again: ISRO confirms Subhanshu Shukla’s ISS spaceflight won’t launch before 22 June 2025
The Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station has...
Mengzhou spacecraft for China’s moon-landing mission passes landmark test flight
China has completed the inaugural test flight of its...
Space application for ITMA Asia + CITME 2026 opens
Shanghai – Space application for the 2026 edition of...
Yanmar, Chia Tai and XAG Empower Thai Agriculture through Innovation
Bang Nam Priao District, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand – On...
bitsensing Signs MOU with IKIO Technologies to Advance AI-Based Traffic Monitoring on India’s Expressways, Highways and Municipal Areas
Backed by proven success in South Korea and Europe,...

June 8th, 2020
Automation driving safety and efficiency in essential streetworks for Northern Gas Networks

1Spatial, geospatial software and solutions company and Northern Gas Networks (NGN) have been working together to create a prototype system to automate the creation of compliant traffic management plans at the click of a button. Whether responding to emergencies or maintaining underground pipes, excavating roads to access underground assets is often unavoidable, inconvenient and can lead to fines if work unexpectedly overruns.

In the UK, there are approximately four million street excavations every year. Each one must be meticulously planned, and many require an approved, standards-compliant traffic management plan. These plans are currently guided by the Chapter 8 Health and Safety Regulation. Its interpretation however is subjective both in terms of design and construction and this can lead to delays in approval and heavy fines if constructed incorrectly.

As the gas distributor for the North, NGN’s top priority after safety is to minimise disruption for customers in their homes and highways. NGN wanted to make the current process for completing traffic management plans more efficient, consistent and cost-effective, while capable of identifying potential customer and stakeholder impacts. After releasing a Call for Innovation, 1Spatial were selected due to their expertise in automating data-driven business processes through advanced rule engine technology.

1Spatial worked with NGN and the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) to build a prototype system combining OS data and 1Spatial’s automation technology. The system reduced the time taken to create a compliant traffic management plan down from days to minutes.

Richard Hynes-Cooper, Head of Innovation, Northern Gas Networks said:

“The ability for our own designers, planners and engineers to generate traffic management plans, at the click of a button, is a potential game-changer for the industry. Working together, Northern Gas Networks combined their technical expertise with 1Spatial’s automation technology to produce this award-winning and innovative system.” 

Jess Hampton, Head of Utilities, 1Spatial commented:

“We always enjoy partnering with NGN and were delighted to work together with their experts on this innovative project. The benefits of automating this process are wide ranging, but in particular will make the process of creating traffic management plans safer and more consistent.”

To read the full case study please visit: https://1spatial.com/client/northern-gas-networks/

1Spatial is currently refining the prototype system so that it can be adopted by other utilities, local authorities or any company engaged in streetwork excavation. Find out more https://1spatial.com/traffic-mangement-plan-automation.