Revolutionising Anglian Water's Capital Investment with Innovative Aerial Mapping

The @one Alliance, a collaborative effort comprising seven companies tasked with delivering £1.2 billion in capital investment schemes for Anglian Water, is leveraging aerial mapping to enhance decision-making processes and minimise the need for on-site visits. Utilising Bluesky's data-as-a-service solution, GeoStream, the Alliance aims to provide high-resolution, regularly updated imagery through its Solution Web App, covering the entirety of the UK.

The @one Alliance, consisting of Anglian Water Asset Delivery, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), SWECO, Skanska, and MWH Treatment, is actively engaged in over 700 projects dedicated to enhancing and expanding the Anglian Water Network. The primary goal is to better serve existing customers while ensuring a stable water supply for future consumers.

At the forefront of this technological leap is the @one Alliance's Digital Team, pioneering the integration of earth observation technologies, including Bluesky's data. The GeoStream service delivers high and ultra-high-resolution imagery (12.5 cm and 5 cm, respectively) directly into the @one Alliance's web mapping app. This imagery complements 150 feature map layers, encompassing various data such as proposed design solutions, ecology survey information, utility plans, and publicly available resources.

Edward Hixson, Graduate GIS Data Technician within the @one Alliance, emphasised the efficiency gains from GeoStream, stating, "Because the data is streamed directly into our Solutions Web App, there is no requirement for data storage, and we have confidence in the data accuracy, currency, and coverage."

The Bluesky data serves multiple purposes within the Solutions Web App. For instance, the Alliance Enabling Team utilises it to assess a site's environmental features and potential project impacts. The data, integrated with map layers detailing flood zones, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and protected wildlife, aids in making well-informed decisions. Additionally, infrastructure design teams leverage Bluesky's data to validate existing asset information, facilitating more informed decisions about the need for further surveys and ground investigations.

Another application is the integration of GeoStream data into the @one Alliance and Anglian Water's Biodiversity Net Gain Tool. This tool allows users to record proposed habitat changes for biodiversity net gain, with Bluesky's data enhancing the accuracy of habitat type delineation, leading to more consistent reporting.

Emma Morgan, Geospatial Lead at the @one Alliance, highlighted the significance of digital advancements in their operations, emphasising the role of GIS in providing a collaborative platform. She stated, "GIS plays a huge role in this by providing a platform for our teams to collaborate and engage with projects, with the Bluesky GeoStream service integral as it provides us with quality base data in an easy to consume way."

Ralph Coleman, Chief Commercial Officer at Bluesky International, concluded, "Removing the need to visit a traditional eCommerce platform or host large volumes of data offers significant savings. Continuous update and upgrade programs ensure decisions are informed with the best available intelligence."

Anglian Water, the largest water company in England, covering 27,500 square kilometres, serves the drinking water and wastewater needs of around six million customers.

GeoStream is a geospatial data subscription service from Bluesky International, available in two versions – GeoStream Viewer, a browser-based application, and GeoStream Direct, used by the @one Alliance. The service offers additional products such as oblique imagery, 3D height models, and the unique National Tree Map.