Esh Construction has presented the latest UK digital mapping innovations on site after contributing to the technology’s development with Northumbrian Water Group (NWG).
The Geospatial Commission established the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) to digitally map data on underground power cables and utility services nationwide.
Clive Surman-Wells, Innovation Partnerships Manager at Northumbrian Water Group, introduced the idea during the firm’s Innovation Festival in 2018. Esh Construction was the first contractor to test the system and has collaborated with the water company on its development since 2018.
Norman Barnett, Framework Director at Esh Construction, stated: “NUAR will revolutionize health and safety in the construction industry, a view shared by all involved at Esh. Having access to this information 24/7 and being able to capture uncharted service data is a significant advancement. We are proud to have been one of the initial contractors nationally involved in NUAR’s development, from inception through trials to its current stage.”
NUAR, aiming to reduce accidents and enhance efficiency and safety in working conditions, comes as a response to over 60,000 accidents annually due to accidental network damage.
Ash Dunn, HSEQ Advisor at Esh Construction, emphasized the significant health and safety benefits of NUAR, highlighting the system’s clarity and ability to enhance hazard awareness, crucial in a construction environment.
Dunn played a key role in implementing NUAR within the Esh Construction team, noting the substantial shift from manual mapping processes to the new instant-access NUAR system, which simplifies hazard identification.
NUAR provides detailed underground maps from over 700 utilities providers, with asset owners granting access to their contractors. Esh plans to gradually introduce the system through the Runway 1 Repairs and Maintenance Framework with Northumbrian Water, expanding it across the business when available to all contractors.
Clive Surman-Wells, Innovation Partnerships Manager at Northumbrian Water Group said: “We’re convinced of the many benefits of NUAR: helping keep our people safe when they are excavating and minimising our impact on services to customers being just two. NWG have rolled-out NUAR more extensively than any other company and in the North East region there is increasing uptake across both utilities and local authorities. Throughout the development process we have worked collaboratively with Esh, the Geospatial Commission and other asset owners to design a really usable system.”
source: Esh Group
