Vision of geospatial mapping for all

Last month the government’s Geospatial Committee announced investment in an underground mapping tool developed by Ordnance Survey. However, it is not the first service to provide a blueprint of subterranean Britain. Utility Week profiles the Anglian-owned Digdat.

The development of an underground asset register with easily accessible information has received ministerial backing, but the Geospatial Commission’s objective does not cover some statutory obligations for water companies.

Following a pilot, National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) received the green light for roll-out across the country but it is not the first of its kind.

Anglian-owned digital service Digdat has provided access to maps of underground assets and information about who owns them for 21 years. The company said more than 40 million searches have been carried out, preventing an estimated half a million asset strikes. With each strike costing around £2,500, the service has saved £1.2 billion in direct costs.

Despite similarities, development manager John Bennett explained the services are complementary rather than competitive.

“The philosophy of NUAR is very much our tenet too – being able to share asset information. The focus on safe digging and the need to provide information between asset owners is absolutely what we do.”

However, he said in certain crucial areas the tools differ because NUAR is focussed on safety while Digdat also offers an accessible directory, record inspection and asset plans to anyone.

“The Water Industry Act requires all companies to make their assets available to view freely. The Geospatial Commission service is only accessible for white-listed approved contractors and statutory undertakers so the statutory obligation would not be addressed.”

He said another part of the Act requires water and sewerage companies to make assets available at a local authority for inspection by the public, something Digdat has offered for 15 years as a stripped-down version of a service that anyone can access.

“We all understand that utilities need access to underground asset information – there’s legislation in place that recognises subsurface asset information is key. But other companies and individuals need to be asset aware to build, develop or dig.”

One of the biggest users of the spatial map-based service during lockdown were conveyancers, to compile information about wastewater connections, sewage treatment works.

The Geospatial Commission has recognised that having all assets on a single register from day one is unreasonable, Bennett said he sees scope for a network of services working together and sharing information with common application programme interfaces (APIs).

This vision for multiplatform integration gives the asset owner the choice to engage with their asset protection service of choice depending on their statutory obligations.

Bennett praised the NUAR pilot for raising awareness and offering opportunities to collaborate with peers, while the Geospatial Commission’s work will increase the accuracy of data.