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Ordnance Survey (OS) has been appointed as the future operator of the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) by the Geospatial Commission.
NUAR is an emerging digital service, which provides instant access to a map of underground assets (e.g. pipes and cables) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Currently, workers must contact multiple organisations and wait on average over six days to get the information they need. With NUAR, they can get that information instantly, any time of the day, any day of the year.
NUAR also includes features to keep data secure and improve its quality over time.
Emergency services will also be able to take advantage of NUAR for flood risk planning and to improve emergency response in situations where knowledge of underground features would be beneficial.
The Geospatial Commission says NUAR will lead to economic growth of at least £400m per annum through increased efficiency of data sharing and excavations, fewer accidental strikes on underground pipes and cables, and reduced disruptions for the public and businesses.
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said, “We are committed to unlocking the power of data to reduce disruptions to the public and help deliver economic growth across the UK. From spring, NUAR will minimise the chance of accidental damage to the pipes and cables beneath our feet, protecting the supply of gas, water and electricity to our homes and businesses.
“By harnessing the Ordnance Survey’s centuries of expertise in managing critical national geographic data, we will ensure this service can deliver for the public and industry from Newcastle to Newport and Brighton to Belfast”.
Related reading: Emergency services to benefit from most detailed location data from Ordnance Survey to date
NUAR is scheduled to be moved to public beta service in spring 2025, allowing eligible organisations to roll it out across their workforces, with the platform expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025.
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