The Geospatial Commission today has launched a new digital map of underground pipes and cables - the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) is intended to revolutionise the way we install, maintain, operate and repair the pipes and cables buried beneath our feet.

Image: Person holding a mobile phone showing the NUAR platform on screen

The first phase of NUAR has been launched covering North East England, Wales and London; future releases will cover the rest of England and Northern Ireland. Scotland already benefits from a system of this kind and the Geospatial Commission has worked closely with colleagues in the Scottish Government on this development. 

Dr Steve Unger, Independent Commissioner, Geospatial Commission, said:

“This first release of NUAR is a major milestone in a programme that will benefit everyone. By using the power of location data to plan and deliver street-works more effectively, it will improve the efficiency with which we supply essential services and it will minimise the disruption experienced by other road users. Many different asset types are buried beneath our feet, owned by many different organisations, large and small. We are delighted by the number of asset owners that have recognized the value of working with us, to make the data that they hold more accessible.

“And this release is just the start! Whilst it contains data from over 80 organisations, we have already received data from over 100 more, and we are working with many more than that to progress their involvement in the programme. I urge any asset owner that is not yet engaging with us to do so as soon as possible, to start benefiting from the service and ensure it best meets their needs.”

The first phase of NUAR contains data from the public and private sector organisations who own pipes and cables in North East England, Wales and London. This includes all of the major energy and water providers, including Northumbrian Water, Wales and West Utilities, Southern Electric Power Distribution and National Grid, as well as smaller providers of these services, telecommunications companies, transport organisations and local authorities.

This first phase, also known as the ‘minimum viable product’ (MVP), is available to eligible organisations in the 3 areas. It is intended to complement current business practices initially and will allow users to both plan for future adoption and provide valuable feedback to enhance the service further. The MVP will provide the first cohort of users in North East England, Wales and London with access to the emerging platform.

Once fully operational across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, NUAR will help improve efficiencies in construction and development, reduce disruption to the public and businesses (from extended road closures and congestion), improve workers’ safety and is envisaged to deliver at least £350 million economic growth per year.

Peter Crosland, National Civil Engineering Director, Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) commented:

“CECA is delighted to be part of the NUAR initiative and we are really excited to see this next phase of the project rolled out. As a trade organisation with health, safety and wellbeing at its heart, the NUAR programme is seen as key to ensuring industry makes the necessary significant improvements in the delivery of all aspects of utility infrastructure. Adopting NUAR should provide a focus for working in a safer and more efficient manner.”

Melissa Zanocco, Head of Programmes, Infrastructure Client Group added:

“NUAR is forging a path that is critical for a National Digital Twin, demonstrating how we can collect shared data across organisational boundaries at a national level. It will help with making better and safer interventions, contributing to our aim of transforming infrastructure performance to achieve better outcomes for people and nature.”

There is estimated to be around 4 million kilometres of buried pipes and cables in the UK, and a hole dug every 7 seconds to install, fix, maintain or repair critical infrastructure water, gas, electricity and telecoms assets.

Approximately 1 in every 65 holes dug results in an accidental asset strike (c. 60,000 a year), causing around £2.4 billion worth of economic cost, putting workers’ lives at risk and disrupting our day-to-day lives.

There are 650+ asset owners across the public and private sectors (including energy, water and telcos) who hold data about their own assets, which they are required by law to share for the purposes of ‘safe digging’.

However, currently there is no standardised method to do this with multiple organisations having to be contacted for each dig, providing information in varied formats, scales, quality and on different timelines resulting in a complex process for installing, maintaining, operating and repairing buried assets.

The government-led NUAR programme will create a single, comprehensive data-sharing platform on the location and condition of underground assets. The fundamental purpose of NUAR is to streamline the data-sharing process, reduce the risk of potentially lethal utility asset strikes and promote more efficient management and maintenance of underground assets.

The Geospatial Commission appointed Atkins to deliver the ‘build phase’ of NUAR. Atkins are working with Ordnance Survey, 1Spatial, GeoPlace and the Greater London Authority.