Over 100 highways professionals met at the UK’s Heritage Motor Museum yesterday (20 November 2012) to learn about the latest developments in highways surveying technologies. According to organiser Yotta DCL, the level of attendance was double that of a similar event held last year, reflecting the growing interest in the use of new technology and services needed to manage ageing road networks with very limited budgets.

The annual event included presentations by industry specialists from Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), the New Road Condition Management Group, and Richmond-Upon-Thames and Blaenau Gwent Councils. Yotta DCL co-presented its latest technical developments in road surface surveying and demonstrated Horizons, the ground-breaking system for visualising, analysing and optimising highways asset data in conjunction with any other data source related to it.

“There is little doubt highways authorities are very concerned about the deterioration of their roads in view of budgets cuts. The day provided a great opportunity for authorities to swap notes and learn about advances in innovative technology that make it possible to maintain highways with less funding than previously,” said Nick Smee, CEO of Yotta DCL. “The key message of the event was clearly the need for improved asset information and that better use of that information is vital to success.”

Dr Alex Wright of TRL presented research into improved road surface surveying techniques as part of a joint presentation with Dr Manish Jethwa of Yotta DCL. Dr Jethwa explained how new laser surface scanning technology was being developed by Yotta DCL in order to meet new TRL specifications for improved road surface data, which will help authorities better target maintenance priorities using Horizons.

Other presentations were by Stuart Walmsley of Richmond-Upon Thames on how the authority balances local and national strategies to deliver a “Whole Street Approach to Asset Management”. Amanda Richards of the Road Condition Management Group and Dr Ro Cartwright of Linhay Consultancy both talked about the UK Pavement Management System (UKPMS) and Paul Gray of Blaenau Gwent explained the Council’s innovative approach to asset management using Horizons.

CONTACTS: Nick Smee, Tel: +44 (0) 845 45 96882, Email: Nick.Smee@YottaDCL.com