Firm poised to ‘revolutionise’ utilities sector with its mapping technology

A Skipton-based highways surveying and mobile mapping company now intends to break into the utilities and telecoms sector.

The company has seen its technology widely used by local authorities and highways contractors over the past decade, but says it intends to exploit the increasing demands being placed on utility providers.

Gaist head of business development, Ian Job, said providing the rising level of services required by a growing population cannot be achieved using existing UK infrastructure.

He added: “There are over 800,000 km of sewer and water supply pipes in the UK that have an estimated average age of 70 years. One of the biggest challenges facing the utilities sector right now is that this ageing infrastructure needs to be upgraded and replaced to provide Britain’s population with the services they will need.

“A key focus for Gaist is supporting providers as they move through this process. Making projects more efficient – from the office or on-site – is really important to us and we think it is crucial to get work right first time, to minimise disruption.

“With an increasing focus on green technologies and initiatives, we want to reduce the effects that this work has on the surrounding environment so that as little time as possible is spent disturbing the highway and causing disruption to the public, while helping to ensure works are completed to the required standards. Having the tools that Gaist provides is absolutely necessary to be able to achieve this.”

Gaist’s “digital twin” of the UK’s road and pathways infrastructure creates a precise view of the highway network, allowing utility providers to plan and execute projects with an extensive knowledge of their working environment, without the need for costly on-site surveys.

In the past, utilities providers relied on visual inspection but now, with the tools provided by Gaist, providers can analyse the state of a road from their computer before any projects commence.

Gaist delivers surveys and professional services to over 30 local authorities and has been referenced for its innovative technologies several times in a House of Commons Transport Committee report.

Job added: “We are well established in the highways and government sector now and we will look to continue this into the future. With ever-increasing demands being placed on utility providers, now is the opportune time for Gaist to expand into other areas and the utilities industry is at a perfect stage where our technology can do a lot to support their work and reduce costs.”

He said the growing population, coupled with next-generation technologies enabling the future of smart cities, means demands on utility providers are not likely to subside.