Mapping the way to joined-up street works

Utility companies and local authorities, equipped with Ordnance Survey’s most detailed mapping data, are transforming the management and coordination of street works in England.

New Traffic Management Act (TMA) legislation, due in April this year, declares that all road and street-works activities in England and Wales should be recorded. Utility companies must also provide local authorities with coordinates showing where work is to be carried out. Such additional spatial information is crucial – from helping to fulfil network management duties to ensuring a smoother coordination of works. And the process is also set to help reduce disruption for the travelling public.

A system, trialled by National Grid, Thames Water and London Borough of Camden, is launched by Symology this week. Insight 2.5 has Ordnance Survey’s OS MasterMap data at its heart. It allows utilities and highways authorities to record notices of intended works – and send them to one another electronically.

"Those using the system will get a new perspective of works, where they are planned and how they are progressing," says Scott Hutchinson of Symology. "It should make the task of providing publicly accessible geographic information a whole lot easier."

"We’ve completely redesigned our systems to fully meet the demands of the TMA era,” he says. "And, to have OS MasterMap as a core component of Insight 2.5 ensures that works promoters can accurately plot their works on the map – and send accurate coordinate information. The system also benefits local authority traffic managers because they can view all on going works and potential conflicts."

"It is great to see OS MasterMap data being used in innovative and really beneficial ways throughout utility organisations. Symology’s Insight 2.5 system allows users to have comprehensive coverage of the entire street works noticing lifecycle at any time and any place," says Ordnance Survey’s Marc Hobell. "All this is underpinned by OS MasterMap Topography and Integrated Transport Network (ITN) Layers, which only go to demonstrate, once again, the power of using intelligent geographic information."