Reducing the roadworks

PA141/09 Cones, holes and temporary traffic lights.. the scourge of Britain's roads! But now scientists and industry have come together to reduce the misery of motorists caused by the repair, maintenance and upgrading of pipes and cables under the tarmac. They'll reveal how new technology will allow workers to virtually 'see' underground before they start digging. A sector-wide seminar at The University of Nottingham on June 11th brings together these pioneering researchers, utilities companies and local authorities to reveal the results of a major project that aims to unclog Britain's traffic arteries. For the past three years the VISTA project has been working to transform the technology for mapping the underground network of drains, water and gas pipes, as well as power and communications cables. Many of the older 'buried assets' date back to Victorian times, when accurate records of their location and depth were not recorded.