Utility detection and mapping, setting the standards for the future - by Graham Mills, Technics Group
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TODAY, TOMORROW AND BEYOND . . . 1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Utility Detection & Mapping Setting the Standards for the Future Presented by Graham Mills Chairman of Technics Group President of The Survey Association
Utility detection and mapping, setting the standards for the future - by Graham Mills, Technics Group
TRANSCRIPT
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Utility Detection & Mapping Setting the Standards for the Future
Presented by Graham Mills Chairman of Technics Group President of The Survey Association
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Hello role in Technics Group, size of TG, role in TSA, overview of TSA I am going to talk about Utility Detection and Mapping And particularly about setting the standards for the future
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Presentation Overview
Underground Environment Why do we need to map utilities? Who needs Utility Surveys and who uses them? Utility Survey industry background Utility Detection Methods Output Mapping & Models The Essential Guide to Utility Surveys New Initiatives PAS and The Essential Guide to Utility Surveys Conclusion
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Overview of the presentation: Underground Environment Why do we need to map utilities? Who needs Utility Surveys and who uses the drawings? Utility Survey Industry Background Utility Detection Methods Output Drawings & Models The Essential Guide to Utility Surveys New Initiatives PAS and The Essential Guide to Utility Surveys Summary
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Underground Environment
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The Underground Environment
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Why is it so complicated? Modern demands for utilities Demands on dense use of land Rise in population Explosion in cable companies Redundant services left in the ground Many more plastic services/pipes There are parts of London where there is virtually no room for stone between the cables and ducts
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Why Do We Need to Map Utilities?
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Why Do We Need to Map Utilities?
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Because they can kill and injure people Cost to business and the public, significant disruption 4 million road excavations a year by utility companies 0.5 million to 1 million a year in London Congestion costs £1.2 billion per year Savings knowing where they are to plan works
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Who Needs Utility Surveys and Who Uses the Mapping?
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Who Needs Utility Surveys and Who Uses the Mapping?
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Utilty Surveys are needed for any project where the current ground infrastructure is going to be affected Project planners, designers, architects, engineers, anyone who is breaking ground Importantly the drawings are both used by the professionals AND the person who is digging the hole The graphic display of utilities are therefore critical The medium for the mapping also varies from GIS and CAD to paper plotting
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Utility Survey Industry Background • 15 years ago there were 6 companies - now over 100 • More equipment manufacturers • Many topo companies expanded into utilities • No standards for survey • Clients not knowing how to procure a survey • GPR being a black art • Unable to check quality without digging unlike visual
checks of topo or building survey • anyone can push a GPR around and say they can’t find
anything
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Utility Survey Industry Background 15 years ago there were 6 companies now over 100 More equipment manufacturers Many topo companies expanded into utilities No standards for survey Clients not knowing how to procure a survey Ground Penetrating Radar being a black art Unable to check quality without digging unlike visual checks of topo or building anyone can push a radar around and say they can’t find anything
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Utility Detection Methods & Survey Issues
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Utility Detection Methods & Survey Issues
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The current primary instruments used are: Radio for metallic sonde and threading GPR for all utilities post processing It is not XraySpecs Limiting factors: depth penetration, complex dense utilities, ground conditions, size of utility, access to inspection chambers Mapping using total stations and GPS Fees verses time that needs to be taken. Clients just buying on price All leading to a wide variation in the quality of survey drawings Undermining and mistrust of best use of the technologies, particularly GPR
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Output Mapping and Models
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Output Mapping & Models
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The lack of standards means that utility surveys from one company look very different from another. Line types, colours, style, explanation of exclusions Now BIM is having an effect, do you show utilities as cylinders or lines?
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
The Essential Guide to Utility Surveys
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Presentation Notes
So with all that as a backdrop The Survey Association took action! In Nov 2009 the ‘Essential Guide to Utility Surveys’ was launched by TSA at the Ordnance Survey, Southampton. It was written by TSA with industry consultation Since then there have been 3 revisions including a model ‘Method of Measurement.’ Documents are a free download on TSA website. Total downloads to date: Executive Summary >1200 Essential Guide>2600 Method of Measurement>1160 This was the first document to address standards within the sector. It is written for both clients and practitioners. The clients - so that they can obtain comparable quotations based on different intensity (or levels) of survey. The practitioners - so they can follow recognised good practice.
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
New Initiatives
Utility Mapping Association
PAS 128
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Presentation Notes
New Initiatives At the end of 2011, two other initiatives were launched from within the industry: The formation of a Utility Mapping Association (UMA). The development of a British Standard for utility surveying called PAS 128
Who is behind UMA and what does it do?
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Who is behind UMA and what does it do? Wide variety of industry representatives including clients and utility companies UMA objectives are: Production & maintenance of common standards. Competence measurement. Training accreditation. Survey practitioner accreditation. Promoting client / industry awareness & understanding using PR and website. Contribute to overall process for the protection of underground assets.
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
PAS 128
PAS = Publicly Available Specification
An agreed way of doing something Driven by the needs of the client organisations Sponsored fast-track standard to BSI guidelines Produced by key stakeholders Endorsed by BSI Has the functionality of a British Standard Reviewed after 2 years Can be taken forward to formal British, European
or International Standard
What is a PAS?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
What is a PAS PAS = Publicly Available Specification An agreed way of doing something Driven by the needs of the client organisations Sponsored fast-track standard to BSI guidelines Produced by key stakeholders Endorsed by BSI Has the functionality of a British Standard Reviewed after 2 years Can be taken forward to formal British, European or International Standard So far: January 2012. Dynamic workshop held at BSI Complete support for a utility survey standard. April 2012. ICE appointed as main sponsors. June 2012 Steering Group formed. Type and scope of the document agreed as PAS. The drafting was undertaken in the second half of 2012 Industry consultation late 2012 Public consultation completed in July 2013. Publication in early 2014.
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
How will it improve Utility Mapping?
The current situation
How PAS 128 will help address the issues:
Utility Survey practitioners have to comply They must assess and categorise the results
Consistency across surveys should improve Limitations should be documented
Presenter
Presentation Notes
How will it improve Utility Mapping? The Current Situation Lack of Client / Consultant awareness of their responsibilities Lack of information supplied at tender stage Project start times that do not allow sufficient time to survey for buried utilities Insufficient budgets to carry out utility surveys Vastly different quality of surveys How will the PAS help? The PAS is a specification to which utility survey practitioners have to comply with regard their minimum performance. They also have to assess and categorise the quality of their results into different quality levels. This enables the user of the information to assess the risk from any constraints or limitations of the utility survey The PAS addresses the quality of underground utility information obtained from a number of different sources, namely: Records drawings (Quality Level D lowest) Site reconnaissance (Quality Level C) Detection using geophysics (Quality Level B) QL B will be divided into 4 sub-categories reflecting the different accuracy of detection obtained Verification using intrusive methods or inspection at access points (Quality Level A highest) As a result consistency across surveys should improve And the limitations of the survey should be documented.
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
What PAS 128 Will Provide
Clear definition for utility detection, location and
verification
Allow comparative tenders to be obtained
Recognises that further survey or intrusive verification
may be needed to improve the quality of the results
A basis on which survey practitioners can be accredited
Support training and assessing operator competency
Presenter
Presentation Notes
What PAS 128 will Provide: Clear definition for utility detection, location and verification. Allow comparative tenders to be obtained. Recognises that further survey or intrusive verification may be needed to improve the quality of the results. A basis on which survey practitioners can be accredited. Support training and assessing operator competency. However at this stage it will not include the standardisation of linetypes, colours etc
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
PAS and The Essential Guide to Utility Surveys
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Presentation Notes
So where with TSA’s Essential Guide stand? Alignment of PAS 128 and TSA ‘Essential Guide to Utility Surveys’ is necessary After PAS publication, the two documents must mutually support each other. Survey Practitioners must comply with PAS specification. PAS will not include guidance to clients on commissioning a survey. Clients must refer to TSA Guidance. Redrafting of TSA Guide for clients has started.
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Conclusions Tendering based on PAS will: Provide fair competition Easier bid evaluation
Overall benefits: Provide consistent service Reduce construction costs Improve risk management Improve safety Raise standards
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Conclusions Tendering based on PAS will: Provide fair competition Easier bid evaluation Provide consistent service Reduce construction costs Improve Risk Management Improve safety Raise standards
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Conclusions
What the Clients can do: Clients need to back PAS 128 Contribute to the review process Specify PAS 128 in future tenders Together clients and utility survey practitioners
can promote best practice
Presenter
Presentation Notes
What the Clients can do Clients need to back PAS 128 Contribute to the review process Specify PAS 128 in future tenders Together, clients & utility survey practitioners can promote best practice
TODAY, TOMORROW
AND BEYOND . . .
1963 – 2013 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
