Residents could benefit from fewer road closures and faster power services as distribution network operator UK Power Networks introduces a new automated traffic management tool.
The electricity network operator is the first utility company worldwide to introduce 1Spatial’s ‘1Streetworks’ tool across all teams that plan roadworks to upgrade, install, or maintain essential power cables along public roads.
The company says that, within two minutes, the tool can produce site-specific, safety-compliant traffic management plans – as required by highway authorities for permit approval – transforming a labour-intensive task that previously took experts several hours.
Test results
In a trial involving 1,800 roadworks in the South East, 1Streetworks reportedly helped to streamline plans and improve efficiency due to quicker turnaround of traffic management plans within the areas of small connections, disconnections, and highway services, demonstrating the potential to further reduce road closures.
This also showed potential to increase customer satisfaction and reduce repeat site visits, lowering environmental emissions.
A desktop trial which retrospectively applied 1Streetworks to 50 road closure requests found using the tool could have avoided 39% of them, a result mostly confirmed by site checks.
By rolling out 1Streetworks access across all of its teams that plan roadworks in London, the South East, and East of England, UK Power Networks will explore whether the benefits can now be multiplied to improve services for customers, highway authorities, and employees.
Once trained, users will be able to pinpoint their work location on a mapping system which generates roadworks layouts that comply with the industry’s ‘Red Book’ code of practice for signage, temporary traffic signals, barriers, and diversion routes.
The designs will factor in bus stops, schools, crossings, permanent traffic lights, speed limits, and width restrictions.
Estimates suggest the tool can be used for up to 30% of approximately 40,000 roadworks the company delivers each year, including disconnections of damaged electrical equipment, new or altered small power connections, small-scale infrastructure upgrades, and emergency repairs.
Industry comments
Richard Boissieux, Streetworks Manager at UK Power Networks, says, “We’re excited to be the first utility to adopt 1Spatial’s automated traffic management tool across all our operations.
“This innovation will help us to minimise road closures, reduce costs, streamline traffic management permits, [and] deliver power connections and other works quickly and safely, efficiently improving services for customers, highways authorities, and our teams.”
Claire Milverton, CEO at 1Spatial, adds, “We are delighted to agree this milestone contract with UK Power Networks. It is testament to the demonstrable value provided by our innovative 1Streetworks solution.
“We are proud UK Power Networks have recognised the significant efficiency savings, improved customer services, and a reduction in road closures that can be achieved. We look forward to continuing to work with UK Power Networks to unlock further value across their network.
“We believe the benefits of the UK Power Networks programme has value for all electricity, gas, water, and telecommunications companies and has the potential to become a blueprint for the organisations who work in – or coordinate essential work in – the highway.”
Peter Osborne, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Kent County Council, comments, “We welcome UK Power Networks’ adoption of the 1Streetworks tool.
“Innovations like this have the potential to significantly reduce disruption on Kent’s roads, helping communities access services more and improve coordination with us, as the highways authority.
“It’s encouraging to see a utility company take the lead in streamlining traffic management, and we would certainly like to see other organisations follow suit to deliver smarter, faster, and less disruptive infrastructure works.”
Traffic management specialists will still check the accuracy of the automated plans, while enabling surveyors to concentrate on more complex streetworks layouts that cannot be produced by the tool.
For more from UK Power Networks, click here.
