The Government of Ontario has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK’s Geospatial Commission to share the knowledge and technology behind the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR).
The NUAR is a digital map of underground pipes and cables. Once operational, it is expected to deliver £490m a year, or £5bn over a decade, over economic growth through increased efficiency, reduced accidental strikes of pipes and cables, and less disruption for the public and businesses.
The MoU, signed at the Geospatial Summit in London on 26 March, paves the way for the Geospatial Commission to share best practice and technology from NUAR with Infrastructure Ontario. The two parties will also collaborate to improve worker safety, reduce pipe and cable strikes, and improve the accuracy of geospatial infrastructure data.
Ontario minister of infrastructure, Kinga Surma, said: “The Ontario and UK governments have always been great partners, including sharing our collective knowledge and experience in the infrastructure sector. With this agreement, we will continue to learn from and collaborate with the Geospatial Commission, so that we can speed-up the delivery of key infrastructure projects in Ontario. I look forward to strengthening this partnership, as our governments explore and implement innovative solutions that support the modern infrastructure needs of our growing communities.”
Viscount Camrose, UK minister for intellectual property, said: “I am delighted that the Ontario government has recognised the excellent work that that has been done in the UK by the Geospatial Commission in developing the National Underground Asset Register, and the significant value that the work could bring to Ontario’s infrastructure and economy. This agreement both strengthens the longstanding UK and Ontario relationship and shows the strength of the geospatial sector in the UK.”
