Subsurface Information Sharing in Action
PART THREE
NUAR, the FPS Piling Map, and a Strategic Shift for the UK
This article forms Part 3 of a three‑part series by Matt White, Senior Business Development Manager at 1Spatial, examining how subsurface information sharing is moving from principle into practice across the infrastructure sector.
In part 1 and part 2 of the blog series, we explored why subsurface information sharing matters and how organisations can make it work in practice using geospatial information management and FAIR data principles. In this final piece, the focus shifts to real‑world examples and what they tell us about the direction the industry is heading.
Subsurface data sharing initiatives aim to turn fragmented underground asset and ground data into trusted, standardised, and accessible information, improving safety, reducing costs, and enabling better planning at local, national, and global scales.
Subsurface Information Sharing in Action: NUAR, the FPS Piling Map, and a Strategic Shift for the UK
Across the UK, several major initiatives are demonstrating how powerful subsurface information sharing can be when supported by strong information management and interoperable data standards. These examples show what’s possible and where the industry is heading next.
NUAR: A National Step Change in Subsurface Data Sharing
For the past five years, 1Spatial has been instrumental in helping Ordnance Survey deliver the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR), a secure, integrated platform that brings together subsurface utility information from organisations across the UK. In March 2026, NUAR reached a major milestone: more than 350 asset owners are now live on the platform.
1Spatial’s work has focused on four key areas:
Data Stewardship & Governance
Establishing clear expectations and accountability for asset owners.
Interoperability & Standards
Applying the OGC’s MUDDI model to ensure data can be consistently shared and interpreted.
Data Integration
Transforming CAD, GIS, and other formats into a harmonised schema through the NUAR Data Transformation & Ingestion Service.
Data Quality & Usability
Using validation rules, metadata, and transparency to ensure information is reliable and fit for purpose.
For infrastructure projects, NUAR delivers concrete benefits: safer excavation, faster planning, fewer delays, and a dependable single view of the underground assets.
FPS Piling Map: Unlocking Decades of Geotechnical Insight
While NUAR focuses on utilities, the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) has partnered with 1Spatial to solve another long‑standing problem: the lack of accessible historic piling information.
Launched in March 2026, the FPS Piling Map provides a national, cloud‑based platform where FPS members can securely share non‑sensitive metadata about piling projects. Users can see where piling has taken place and contact members for further details.
This delivers major benefits:
- Enhances understanding of subsurface structural conditions
- Supports safe and efficient design
- Reduces embodied carbon through potential foundation reuse
- Gives engineers visibility of decades of geotechnical expertise
This initiative marks a cultural shift toward openness, sustainability, and collective learning in geotechnical engineering.
The Strategic Opportunity: A Unified Subsurface Information Ecosystem
Momentum is building at a national level.
The Geotechnical Data Bill, introduced by MP Mike Reader, proposes incorporating geotechnical data into NUAR, a major signal of political appetite for broader subsurface data integration.
The British Geological Survey is developing new geothermal and ground source heat datasets (running to 2027) to support the energy transition and provide organisations with location‑specific heat information.
Together with the lessons learned from NUAR and the FPS Piling Map, these developments point to a future where:
Together with the lessons learned from NUAR and the FPS Piling Map, these developments point to a future where:
- Subsurface data is more accessible
- Ground risk is reduced at national scale
- Public funds are used more efficiently
- Sustainable design becomes easier and more reliable
FAIR data principles and GeoIM will be the backbone of this transformation.
Conclusion: Turning Data Into Long‑Term Value
By embedding FAIR and GeoIM principles into everyday workflows, organisations can move beyond compliance and toward meaningful collaboration. Subsurface information becomes not just a technical resource but a strategic asset. Enabling trusted decisions, safer delivery, and more resilient infrastructure for decades to come.
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