Morrison Utility Services is reducing the number of aborted jobs, decreasing costs and improving collaboration with the 'Virtual Trial Hole Assistant' tool.
The challenge
Morrison Utility Services (MUS), the UK’s largest dedicated utility service provider and part of M Group Services, understand that the potential costs of getting street works wrong can be significant – not only in terms of operational resource and materials, but with non-compliance and fixed penalty fines. There is also the ongoing challenge of improving collaboration when carrying out streetworks to reduce disruption on the roads.
Critical factors in improving the planning and feasibility of works is ensuring accuracy of asset data combined with information on site restrictions and other planned works.
MUS previous working methods meant that ten to fifteen per cent of replacement schemes were deferred or delayed as the location of existing assets beneath the ground did not match with the plans provided.
These resulting delays had a significant impact in terms of aborts, re-plans, overruns, temporary reinstatements, traffic management compliance failures and Fixed Penalty Notices - all of which affects operational timescales and can have significant financial implications.
KEY BENEFITS
Reduce number of aborted works
due to digging on wrongly located assets.
Decrease costs
with less TM compliance failures and FPNs.
Improve collaboration opportunities
with auto alerts of other works scheduled on/near assets.
“So many potential benefits can be reaped from the Virtual Trial Hole Assistant software. It will enable our operational teams to conduct more comprehensive risk assessments and offer a more environmentally-friendly way of working, which is a huge consideration for our organisation and the clients we work on behalf of.”
Morrison Utility Services
The Solution
MUS has developed with Elgin the Virtual Trial Hole Assistant (VTA) tool. Based on Elgin's Clash & Coordination module, it utilises the one.network platform, displaying comprehensive information about current and planned streetworks, along with relevant operational data including lane rental scheme networks, Section 58 restrictions, bridges & structures, public transport stops & routes, etc.
By integrating ESRI mapping data, the platform allows MUS asset information to be overlaid as an additional layer. Automated clash detection provides an overview of where and when works are taking place and an integrated alerts system notifies planners of any third party or statutory undertaker work scheduled to take place above or near underground assets owned by MUS clients.
This is reducing the number of aborted jobs and costly delays which can result from concurrent excavation works due to digging on wrongly located mains, but also increases the opportunity for works undertakers to collaborate using the same excavation, further reducing occupation on the road network and potentially reducing permitting costs.
VTA won the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) Lions' Lair 2020 and has the potential to revolutionise the process of planning and executing underground excavation work and broaden the scope for more collaborative opportunities.
VTA tool with automated clash detection and scheduled third party or statutory undertaker work alerts to improve collaboration opportunities.