LANES Group is offering a new national highways drainage surveying service backed by a data processing centre and asset laser scanning technology.
One of the first major projects supported with the service has been the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, a scheme to improve the road between the M6 in Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner.
Ben Forsyth, Lanes head of highways, explained, “Developing our own in-house highways data capture and processing capability allows Lanes to deliver a faster, more agile, and safer surveying service for clients.”
Lanes said it can now deliver a range of highway survey services, including CCTV, GPS, full HADDMS and asset conditions surveys. The business has also invested in chamber laser scanning tech.
The CleverScan inspection system is described as ‘highly portable, fast and accurate’. It creates a flat scan and a dense point cloud image of chambers up to 10 metres deep that can be merged into CAD and 3D applications. Using CleverScan, Lanes teams can carry out more than 30 chamber surveys per shift. The laser scanner is lightweight and can be operated away from a vehicle.
Data is added directly to National Highways shape files which are sent via the cloud to a new highways drainage survey processing centre in Manchester. Technicians then compile reports in line with client needs.
Lanes added that it has proved the value of its new service while working on the A66 initiative, which is being progressed by contractors in a National Highways regional delivery partnership.
Between January and March this year, drainage engineers from the Lanes Newcastle depot completed 40 night shifts, working on the eastern section of the planned upgrade route. A team of Lanes drainage engineers from Preston and Manchester were due to begin a similar programme of works on a stretch of the A66 in Cumbria.
Lanes contract manager Andrew Lindsay added, “Combining the latest data capture technology like, CleverScan, with cloud data transfer and centralised processing is a game-changer for our clients. We can give them more tailored reports that are more accurate and delivered faster than ever before. Then, if remedial work is needed, we have all the assets and skills needed as well.
“It’s an end-to-end service that maximises operational effectiveness, sustainability – through multitasking and use of digital technologies – and value, through efficiencies created by service integration.”
