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Bristol, UK, 17th September, 2019, (www.1spatial.com) 1Spatial and Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, were proud recipients of the award for Application of Digital Technology at UKSTT’s annual awards this month.

UKSTT (the United Kingdom Society for Trenchless Technology) is a registered charity involved in the development and promotion of Trenchless, or “No-Dig”, techniques to reduce the impact of unnecessary road excavations.

The award was won for Northern Gas Networks’ and 1Spatial’s Smart Signage, Lighting and Guarding project which involved the development of a software programme which can lessen the impact of essential roadworks through the creation of instant plans that are sensitive to local conditions.  The approach could dramatically reduce the time, travel, cost and carbon emissions involved in excavating roads and minimise the impact of essential roadworks.

Excavating roads to access utility pipelines and cables is often unavoidable. In the UK, there are approximately four million such digs every year. Each one must be meticulously planned and a significant amount require an approved, standards-compliant traffic management plan.

Traditionally, the process involves  site visits, communications, exchanging documents and obtaining approvals. However, the award-wining technology automatically generates sophisticated traffic management plans on a scheme-by-scheme basis, which can be shared with local authorities, customers and other key stakeholders at the touch of a button.

A wide range of criteria can be used to generate each plan, including location of the works, proximity to local homes, businesses and schools, traffic flow data and compliance with industry rules and regulations.

Northern Gas Networks’ Head of Innovation, Richard Hynes-Cooper, added: “We are incredibly proud to have been awarded Best Application of Digital Technology in this year’s UKSTT awards. This is not only a great achievement for Northern Gas Networks, but also recognises a major step in the industry as a whole. Our colleagues at NGN, supported by our Innovation Team are constantly striving to deliver innovative ways of working and become early adopters of new technologies for the benefit of the communities we live and work in. We’re delighted that our work with 1Spatial, to enable us to design schemes that are even more customer focused, less disruptive and more sensitive to local issues, has been recognised on a national scale.”

Jessica Hampton, Head of Utilities at 1Spatial, says, “It’s a privilege to collaborate with Northern Gas Networks, who continue to make a name for themselves as trailblazers of innovation in the Utility sector. It is particularly exciting to engage on a project which has the potential to benefit not just the utilities sector but anybody planning, managing or delivering an excavation in the UK. This UKSTT award is wonderful recognition of how transformational unlocking the power of location data can be for organisations, customers, the environment and society as a whole.”

 

Notes to Editors

About 1Spatial

1Spatial is a software solutions provider and global leader in managing geospatial data. We work with our clients to deliver real value by making data current, complete and consistent through the use of automated processes - ensuring that decisions are always based on the highest quality information available.

Our unique, rules-based approach delivers enterprise-scale, cross-platform, automation to all stages of the data life-cycle. It builds confidence in the data while reducing the time and cost of stewardship.

Our global clients include utility and telecommunications businesses, national mapping and land management agencies, government departments, emergency services, defence, census bureaus and transportation organisations.

A leader in our field, we have a wealth of experience and a record of continual innovation and development. We partner with some of the leading technology vendors including, Esri, Oracle, and SAP.

For more information visit www.1spatial.com

For further media information please contact:

James Wood, Marketing Manager, marketing@1spatial.com  01223 420414

About Northern Gas Networks

Since we started operating in 2005, we’ve been leading the way as one of the most cost-efficient of the UK’s eight gas distribution networks. We deliver great value for money to our customers, as well as a whole host of social and economic benefits to our region. We’re recognised as a dynamic, passionate, conscious and people-focused team that safely and reliably delivers gas to over 2.7 million homes and businesses across the North East, northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire.

Although we don’t source the gas, fix boilers and appliances, or get involved with plumbing, we work with those that do to deliver it through a vast network of underground pipes that are constantly being invested in and upgraded. It’s more complicated than it sounds so we’re always exploring cutting-edge thinking, revolutionary engineering practices and world-class science to find new ways to provide sustainable sources of energy. And while our customers may not see us very often, they can sleep soundly knowing that we’re working around the clock to keep them connected and make sure they stay safe.

For more information visit the Northern Gas Networks website. Alternatively, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

You can contact Northern Gas Network’s press office on: 0113 322 7950 during office hours (between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays) or call the out of hours service on 0113 322 7978 at any other time. You can contact the Northern Gas Networks Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766.