Benefits of Data Standards for Geospatial Asset Management

We went along to the first AGI (The Association for Geographic Information) Asset Management Special Interest Group event of 2017, which looked at data standards, and specifically PAS 128 Survey (Specification for underground utility detection, verification and location) and 256 (Buried assets – Collection, recording and sharing of location information data – Code of Practice).

GeoEnable Director Steve Eglinton chaired the event and guests were given an excellent introduction to the new PAS 256 document, which is the first step towards improving data collection, recording, maintaining and sharing information of buried assets. It is scheduled for release in March 2017 and officially launches on 11^th April at the Institute of Civil Engineers HQ in London.

David Varley of Aecom presented in detail on how Aecom applies the PAS 128 Standards whilst undertaking its buried services projects. Using some real-life examples, he gave an overview of the equipment and their range of methodologies used in different environments, outlining the difficulties and limitations they encountered.

The event closed with a group discussion to establish topical headings to look at in future meetings. Technics’ Survey Manager Andrew Webb raised the question of the need for the industry to standardise the survey deliverables, especially CAD standards, stating: “If we all delivered CAD data to the same standard this would undoubtedly benefit our clients with familiar data sets in a common data environment.” Let’s watch this space for more information on this over the next few months.

View from Aecom meeting room 16th floor looking east across London