Symology - Infrastructure Asset Management Solutions for Highways, Land and Property, Structures, Public Lighting and Distributed Networks

Symology News Headlines

• Insight enables Rotherham MBC to Secure an Extra £5m Funding
• Insight passes 2009/10 UKPMS Annual Health Check
• Mike Bartlett appointed as Managing Director of Symology
• Integrated approach delivers efficiency savings to Tameside MBC
• Symology announces the release of Insight Version 3.1
• Symology Licences Module provides unique Street Works Efficiencies at Camden Council
• Symology Mobile Device Software Brings Multiple Efficiency Savings To Solihull MBC
• CIPFA publish new draft code on Asset Valuation for Transport Infrastructure Assets
• West Sussex choose Symology for TMA and Gazetteer Maintenance
• Symology awarded 2009 ESRI Partner of the Year Award
• North Yorkshire choose Symology for TMA & Asset Management
• Symology awarded Northern Ireland centralised Street Works System
• Utility Industry Team of the Year Award
• New Career Opportunities at Symology
• TMA - Meeting the Deadline
• Symology welcomes Three Valleys Water Plc
• ES Pipelines Ltd choose Symology for TMA
• Southend-on-Sea choose Symology for TMA & Asset Management
• Portsmouth Water Ltd choose Symology for the TMA
• Symology - Leading the Way on TMA
• Real-time roadworks information for the whole of Scotland
• Symology Launches Street Works "Pay-per-Works" service
• Scotia Gas Networks go live with Insight
• Symology NSG Users win National Awards
• Symology launch Asset Valuation software
• Northern Gas Networks Ltd go live with Insight
• Wales & West Utilities go live with Insight
• New Asset Valuation facilities receive praise from Sub-Group
• City of London switch to Insight for Street Works
• Full Map-based Street Works Coordination for Scotland

Insight enables Rotherham MBC to Secure an Extra £5m Funding

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is projecting long-term efficiency savings after allocating an extra five million pounds of funding to its A-road network. The action was taken thanks to the condition projection and budget modelling features within Symology’s Insight for Pavement Management solution.

Insight for Pavement Management is a fully integrated solution that can create projections of future road conditions, depending on levels of proposed funding, and present them as easy to understand, colour-coded maps. All the complex underlying data is shown as a simple street-plan, with roads marked red, amber or green, depending on whether they will be in a critical state, need moderate attention or still be in good condition, after a set period of time and with a given budget.

Rotherham has invested in Insight for Pavement Management and the result is a validated increase in allocated budgets.

Download/View the full Case Study (PDF)

Insight passes 2009/10 UKPMS Annual Health Check

Symology is pleased to announce that Insight Version 3.0.2 and Version 3.1 have successfully passed the UKPMS Annual Health Check (AHC). The purpose of the AHC is to provide assurances that UKPMS systems continue to meet UKPMS requirements including the current Rules & Parameters and national reporting. The Health Check is only carried out on UKPMS systems fully accredited to Tranche 3, and supplements rather than replaces the UKPMS Comparability Tests. The AHC is a self-test procedure with a specific element for user confirmation of the processes.

The 2009/10 AHC contains the new RP901 rule set, the new Footway Network Survey (FNS), a new Footway Performance Report in accordance with Technical Note 47 and calculation of the new Scanner Carriageway Condition Index (CCI) which will be used as the basis for providing asset management financial information required by HAMFIG.

View the results on the PCIS website

Mike Bartlett appointed as Managing Director of Symology

Mike Bartlett has been appointed the new Managing Director of Symology Ltd. Mike, who has been employed by Symology since 1993, has taken over the role from Ken Hickson - the company's co-founder and majority shareholder.

In preparation for taking on the role, Mike has been operating as Managing Director Designate for the last 18 months. His role previous to that was Chief Solutions Architect, which he carried out for over 10 years. Ken has moved into the role of Company Chairman.

Ken Hickson made the announcement at the Company’s AGM, saying: "I am delighted that Mike has taken on this role and I have absolutely no doubt that he will be an unqualified success. Ten years of planning have gone into building a management team to take Symology into the future. Mike has the trust and support of that team and all other Symology employees. As well as having the intellectual capability and business acumen required, I also know that the ethical policies on which the Company’s success has been built will endure with Mike at the helm."

Mike Bartlett said: "I am thrilled to be taking on this new role, especially at a time when we have such a strong financial base, a commitment to independence and a set of customers that are willing to talk to us and work with us, so we can solve the problems they are facing. I am particularly looking forward to the challenges ahead and adapting to the ever-changing legislative, technical and business requirements."

Integrated approach delivers efficiency savings to Tameside MBC

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council has achieved far reaching efficiency savings through the scale of their Symology infrastructure.

The Insight suite of asset management solutions is now used across all relevant business areas at the council, enabling full operational integration between all highways functions. The result is streamlined processes, improved customer service and a huge array of everyday economies of scale.

Read the full Case Study (PDF)

Symology announces the release of Insight Version 3.1

Symology, the UK's largest and most successful supplier of Street Works Register systems and a leading supplier of Integrated Highway Asset Management Systems, has begun the roll-out of the latest version of its integrated asset management system - Insight Version 3.1.

Announced by Symology earlier this year, Insight Version 3.1 features a range of enhancements to the system’s embedded mapping functions. As well as the major enhancements gained as a result of upgrading users to ESRI's Latest 9.3.1 products and Cadcorp's SIS 7.0 suite, Symology has also introduced a new concept within Insight called "Hot Layers" - a powerful new facility allowing mapping layers to be generated on-the-fly from the results of any of the numerous Insight Enquiry/Reporting screens.

The "hot layers" concept has limitless uses, and it only takes a small amount of imagination for users to utilise these facilities to there full potential. Example uses of this functionality could include creating layers containing:

• All Assets with a particular Valuation or Condition Rating
• All active Customer Service requests
• All Street Lights with current defects
• All Highway Inspections due next week
• All Assets with components which are out of warranty
• All the Bridges inspected in the last year
• All the gullies emptied last week
• All the Streets in a Survey Route
• All streets which are winter gritted

These exciting new facilities also include the ability to export multiple map layers in PDF format.

The ability of the ArcGIS and Cadcorp SIS family of software products to connect directly to spatially-enabled relational database management systems, such as Oracle, SQL Server and PostGIS, also helps Insight users to store, manage and access spatial data at a corporate level, rather than at a departmental level, and to benefit from the data sharing that this brings.

In addition, a suite of National Street Gazetteer Maintenance tools (with new DTF 7.1 enhancements), include the ability to use the Ordnance Survey MasterMap Integrated Transport Network™ Layer and also maintain associated street data such as traffic sensitivity and reinstatement category information.

"We are really proud of this new version of Insight, and with the fantastic enhancements we have received automatically as a result of utilising the latest GIS products from both ESRI and Cadcorp. Not only does it bring us right up-to-date with the latest versions of the mapping products we use, it has also given us the opportunity to introduce the new "Hot Layers" concept – the feedback we have received from customers to date has been extremely positive – said Scott Hutchinson – Sales & Marketing Manager at Symology.

Symology Licences Module provides unique Street Works Efficiencies at Camden Council

Camden Council has reduced systems complexity and the potential for error within its highway operations by adopting Symology’s Insight Licences module.

A Symology customer since 1989, the council was already using Insight for Street Works and Highway Maintenance. Adopting the Licences module has created further efficiency savings by enabling faster processing of applications and ensuring the viability of every licence granted.

Read the full Case Study (PDF)

Symology Mobile Device Software Brings Multiple Efficiency Savings To Solihull MBC

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council anticipates significant end-of-year efficiency savings after making all of its network inspection teams fully mobile. Leading the way with mobile devices, the council is showcasing the power of the technology and its capacity to revolutionise the role of inspectors, and thus improve service levels. This has been made possible through Symology’s Insight Mobile solution.

Read the full Case Study (PDF)

CIPFA publish new draft code on Asset Valuation for Transport Infrastructure Assets

At the New Civil Engineer conference on Highways Asset Management on 21st October, CIPFA announced the publication of the new draft code on Asset Valuation for Transport Infrastructure Assets for consultation.

The draft code, available at http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/infrastructure/consultation.cfm, follows on from CIPFA's 2008 review of accounting, management and finance mechanisms for local authority transport infrastructure assets. That review identified conflicts between the current Historical Cost method of asset valuation and the move to Whole of Government Accounts (WGA), based on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). At the Government's request, CIPFA has sponsored the creation of this new draft code, based on work by the Highways Asset Management Financial Information Group (HAMFIG).

The draft code describes the overall approach and key building blocks, and then identifies the models for calculating Gross Replacement Cost (GRC) and Depreciated Replacement Cost (DRC). Detailed guidance is then presented on how these are proposed to be applied to carriageway assets, footway & cycleway assets, structures, and other highway assets.

In the consultation process, CIPFA are seeking responses to specific questions but also welcome views on any aspect of the draft code. Responses are required by 14 December 2009.

Symology have been tracking HAMFIG's work and we are delighted to see the draft code reach the publication stage. We will be working to ensure that Insight's Asset Valuation module provides compliance with the code as and when it reaches the final publication stage, expected in February next year.

West Sussex choose Symology for TMA and Gazetteer Maintenance

Symology, the UK's leading supplier of Street Works systems and a leading supplier of Highway Asset Management systems, is pleased to announce that West Sussex County Council recently selected its Insight software solution for the provision of a spatially enabled fully comprehensive Street Works and Gazetteer Management System.

The solution provided by Symology for West Sussex addresses:

• Street Works Management
• Gazetteer Maintenance
• Mobile Working
• Full Reporting Facilities
• Embedded GIS facilities across all of the above functions

The Insight system has already been implemented and is in live operation - ensuring that the County Council fully comply with the latest EToN 5 requirements.

Insight handles the electronic sending and receiving of Street Works Notices and Inspection Results. Upon electronic receipt, notices are recorded in the system and automatically plotted onto the embedded GIS facilities. Whilst works are being plotted spatial coordination checks are carried out by the system and any potential conflicts are automatically flagged for the Traffic Managers attention.

The systems sophisticated embedded mapping facilities based on ESRI technology are fully integrated with the Council's corporate spatial database - allowing easy access of Insight data throughout other departments of the Council and the Council's own website. West Sussex is also utilising Symology's Gazetteer Maintenance solution to manage and maintain its Level 3 Local Street Gazetteer. These tools include the ability to import OS MasterMap ITN data, match it against the LSG and then utilise the spatial data element for LSG Maintenance purposes.

Insight also provides comprehensive reporting and invoicing capabilities, including full functionality to manage and invoice Fixed Penalty Notices.

Symology's Insight Mobile software, which fully integrates with the main Insight system using web services, is also being used by West Sussex to carry out statutory Street Works inspections. The Insight Mobile software has been deployed on Trimble Juno devices allowing the full capabilities of the software to be utilised, including mobile mapping facilities, integrated GPS, an inbuilt 3 mega-pixel digital camera for taking photographs, and live in-the-field updating using 3G communications.

West Sussex's Street Works Team Leader - Roger Howard commented "Symology's selection was as a direct result of the confidence we gained in the company during the procurement process. What really stood out was Symology's detailed level of understanding of Street Works legislation, the impact of the legislation on Authorities and Utilities alike, backed by a fully comprehensive product in "Insight", which mirrored the obvious high level of expertise. We are delighted that our initial confidence was well founded, the implementation of the system was carried out smoothly and we now have a Street Works Management system in place which enables us to carry out our duties under the TMA more effectively."

Symology's Business Development Manager - Mr John Allison said "We are delighted to welcome West Sussex County Council on board, joining our ever expanding base of customers. Symology's reputation for providing the UK's most widely used and highest quality Street Works solution is matched only by our experience in delivering projects smoothly, within budget, and on time. We have already forged an excellent working relationship with our friends at West Sussex, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership supporting their business operations."

Symology awarded 2009 ESRI Partner of the Year Award

Symology, the UK's leading supplier of spatially enabled Street Works Systems and a leading supplier of Highway Asset Management Systems, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious 2009 UK Business Partner of the Year Award by ESRI.

The award was presented to Symology's Sales & Marketing Manager - Scott Hutchinson at the ESRI Worldwide Business Partner Conference in Palm Springs, California, in March 2009. The award recognises Symology's achievements in developing 'best-in-class' spatially enabled Street Works and Highway Asset Management Solutions, delivering excellent customer service to it's clients, and also delivering impressive business growth.

"This award, Symology's second in consecutive years, is a testament to the success of our partnership with ESRI and our utilisation of their ArcGIS product suite" says Scott Hutchinson. "The award validates Symology's credentials as the leading supplier in it's field. Combined Symology and ESRI technology allows our clients to access and share all Highway related information in a real-time multi-user environment across the enterprise, enabling better, more informed business decisions to be made.

We are excited by the direction ESRI is continuing to take with ArcGIS, and we are committed to utilising future advances in the product suite in order to provide our clients with faster and more sophisticated ways to manage assets, coordinate works and integrate their data for optimal decision-making."

One recent example of the Symology/ESRI partnership in action has been the adoption by North Yorkshire County Council of Symology’s Insight software solution for the provision of a spatially enabled integrated Highway Asset Management System. The solution is being provided as a Managed Service, with Symology hosting the application software and managing all server-side functions. North Yorkshire's end-users simply launch a website to log into a secure area and then launch and use the system. Symology's 'Insight Online' Managed Service enables all the technical overheads and workload, associated with traditional functions relating to database management, upgrades, new installations and re-installations, to be avoided by North Yorkshire County Council.

Mark Hodgson, Partners & Alliances Manager, ESRI (UK) commented ‘We are delighted that Symology has been named the UK Business Partner of the year – a real achievement considering the stiff competition they are up against. This award reflects the excellent standards Symology set both in their solution delivery and their customer support, and is testament both to the strength of our partnership and commitment to offer best in class spatial technology solutions.

North Yorkshire choose Symology for TMA & Asset Management

Symology, the UK's leading supplier of Street Works systems and a leading supplier of Highway Asset Management system, is pleased to announce that North Yorkshire County Council has selected its Insight software solution for the provision of a spatially enabled integrated Highway Asset Management System.

The solution is being provided as a Managed Service. North Yorkshire's end-users simply launch a website to log into a secure area and then launch and use the system. Symology's 'Insight Online' Managed Service enables all the technical overheads and workload, associated with traditional functions relating to database management, upgrades, new installations and re-installations, to be avoided by North Yorkshire County Council. Symology host the application software and manage all server-side functions.

The solution provided by Symology for North Yorkshire will initially address:

• Customer Services (including integration with corporate Lagan CRM system)
• Street Works
• Highways Maintenance
• Street Lighting & Traffic Signals
• Bridges and Structures
• UKPMS
• Asset Management and Asset Valuation
• Network Maintenance
• Gazetteer and ASD Maintenance
• Integrated GIS across all of the above functions

Insight's Street Works module has already been implemented and has ensured that the County complied with both EToN 4 and EToN 5. A conversion of all Street Works data held in the previous Street Works system has also been carried out and successfully implemented. Gazetteer and ASD Maintenance has also been implemented.

All other business areas are in the process of being implemented, with the aim of going live in the coming months.

'In this era of Asset and Traffic Management we recognised the importance of establishing an integrated system to manage all Highway based assets, co-ordinate both Utility and Highway Authority works, manage customer service issues, and help streamline our business processes' says Doug Huzzard, Highways Asset Manager at North Yorkshire County Council.'

Doug Huzzard continues: 'Historically, we have operated a range of different systems, each unable to talk to the other, which, whilst still effectively serving the purpose, became increasingly inefficient in the face of such issues as TMA Legislation, NSG Requirements, Asset Management and Asset Valuation guidance documents,  Well Lit Highways guidance, Bridges/Structures guidance and UKPMS requirements. With Symology, we expect to run a seamless and highly efficient asset management operation across the county, delivering on current and future traffic and asset management directives and ultimately more effectively serving the people of North Yorkshire.'

'Symology's Insight solution provides North Yorkshire County Council with specialised detailed functionality in each specific business area, whilst at the same time providing all the benefits of fully integrated spatially enabled system,' comments Scott Hutchinson, Symology's Sales & Marketing Manager.

'We are delighted to have been selected by North Yorkshire County Council and have already established an excelling working relationship. We are confident that North Yorkshire will reap the rewards of its investment.'

North Yorkshire County Council selected Symology following an EU wide tendering process. Its ultimate selection was based on Symology's proven ability and reputation for delivering on its promises.

Symology awarded Northern Ireland centralised Street Works System

Symology is pleased to announce that the Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development (DRD) Roads Service, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Road Authorities and Utilities Committee (NIRAUC), has awarded a 5 year contract to Symology for the provision of a central Street Works Register system.

The Register is the focal point for planning and coordination of all road works that are carried out on all roads in Northern Ireland.

Symology's Insight software will convert existing data and provide a single full NSG Level 3 compliant Gazetteer. Comprehensive user training covering a wide scope of services to the DRD and Utilities are also being provided to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

The Northern Ireland Street Works Code of Practice is similar to the England and Wales Codes, but with some significant variations. Early in the life of the project a new Code of Practice will be introduced closely following the English Traffic Management Act and New Code of Practice.

The Insight Street Works Register is already capable of handling all of the England/Wales and Scottish variants, in one database. The Northern Ireland rules are likely to be based on the England/Wales standards, with possible minor variations.

This system will be delivered using the same method of operation currently in place for the Scottish Road Works Register, with a single Insight system used by all of the Utilities and the Roads Service, hosted by Symology in a secure data centre. Users access the system through an internet connection.

The key facilities provided by the system include:

• Map-based Level III Street Gazetteer for all of Northern Ireland
• Utility Street Works Notifications
• Geo-coding of Utility and Roads Authority works
• Map-based co-ordination of all activities
• Automated Conflict Detection
• Roads Service Responses and Directions
• Registration of the Roads Service Own Road Works
• Reinstatements and Inspections
• Damage Records
• Management Prompting and Reporting

Symology's Managing Director Ken Hickson commented, "The award of this major contract cements Symology's position as the UK's leading supplier of Street Works Register Systems. I look forward to establishing a relationship between Symology staff and the Northern Ireland Street Works Community based on openness and trust, in the same way as we do with all of our customers.

Utility Industry Team of the Year Award

New Career Opportunities at Symology

Continuing expansion of the Company's activities has created the opportunities detailed here. For the right candidates, the positions offer a long-term career opportunity, job satisfaction, and the further development of their skills in a growth area of activity. Symology offer attractive remuneration packages, which include a company pension scheme and employee share options.

TMA - Meeting the Deadline

How a collaborative approach to working eased the transition to EToN 4 for National Grid, and provided benefits for the whole Street Works community.

View/Download TMA - Meeting the Deadline (PDF)

Symology welcomes Three Valleys Water Plc

Symology is pleased to welcome Three Valleys Water as new customers. The water company purchased Insight Street Works Register and the Insight Universal Interface for automated Works Notice creation and update directly from their Works Management System.

The Insight solution was installed early in January 2008, complete with a history of Works records since 2003. The new version of Insight was delivered at the end of February, providing full TMA and New Code of Practice compliance, enabling the company to be in a position go live during March in time to meet the new requirements on 1 April.

ES Pipelines Ltd choose Symology for TMA

ES Pipelines Ltd, who provide residential and business customers throughout Britain access to mains natural gas, has become Symology’s latest customer using the fully managed “Pay-per-Works” system. This service is aimed at organisations that have a limited number of Street Works operations each year.

The fully managed service provides subscribers with the ability to record and monitor the progress of works, with full 2-way transmission of all EToN Notices, Comments and Inspections. The powerful, built-in exception reporting tools help minimise the costs that can occur with possible Section 74 Overstay charges. With the introduction of Fixed Penalty Charges for any incorrect or late notices, this service can significantly reduce the potential liability resulting from errors that can easily occur with a manual system. The service provides full compliance with the new Street Works Code of Practice, TMA and the new Web Services based data interchange.

Peter Peart, Operations Engineer at ES Pipelines, comments "We do a relatively small number of works each year in England & Wales and could not justify the cost of purchasing and administering a Street Works System ourselves. This managed service provides us with a cost effective and fully compliant Street Works solution, at a reasonable cost but without the hassle of system administration, or worries about changes to the Code of Practice. We are already using Insight in Scotland so it made sense to use the same system in England & Wales. It is clear that Symology’s staff have in-depth knowledge of Street Works legislation and understand our business processes".

John Allison, Business Development Manager at Symology, said "We are delighted to welcome ES Pipelines to the ever increasing number of Symology customers. Our 'Pay-per-Works' Managed Service provides the perfect solution for organisations that only carry out a small number of works per year. The fact that we are able to demonstrate a fully comprehensive TMA system, and offer an assured implementation path to meet the requirements on time is testament to the extensive development that Symology has carried out over the last two years."

Southend-on-Sea choose Symology for TMA & Asset Management

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has purchased almost all of the Integrated Asset Management modules to build a full management system. Insight was installed in early January, starting with Street Works. The Street Works Notice files received from the utilities since April 2007 were back loaded, using a mechanism to ensure they were imported in the correct sequence, giving the council a flying start. By the start of the new financial year it is planned to have Cyclic Inspections in place to allow Inspectors to carry out Highway Inspections, record any defects and progress these into Works Orders, which in turn will be registered in the Street Works Register. More importantly it enables the Inspector to record “No Defects Found” recording the fact that inspection was carried out. Whatever the outcome of the inspection, the next inspection is automatically prompted in accordance with the Inspection Cycle. Further plans to integrate with the corporate Customer Call Centre, introduce Mobile Devices and build a full Highway Asset Register will follow shortly.

"Insight replaces a locally produced Street Works system that was labour intensive" said Martin Osborne at Southend-on-Sea, "We have already benefited from the automated import of Notices and the extensive exception reporting built in to the application to manage Street Works in the Borough and we will be able to discharge our Network Management Duties more effectively. We are confident that Symology will deliver a system that is fully compliant with the TMA and New Code of Practice, in time for us to be ready for the 1st April 2008.

"We are already looking into introducing Insight into other areas of the Council’s operations and discussing how we can introduce other modules, such as the integrated GIS, and the full UKPMS condition survey analysis and needs based budgeting".

Portsmouth Water Ltd choose Symology for the TMA

Portsmouth Water Ltd has purchased the Insight Street Works Register, strengthening the position of Insight Street Works in the Water Industry. The system was installed in December 2007 and included embedded GIS utilising their existing corporate GIS facility with ESRI’s ArcGIS products. This new system replaces the Street Works noticing that had been embedded in Portsmouth Water’s Works Management System (WMS). Portsmouth Water staff are now making changes to their WMS to output records using the Insight Universal Interface in a batch process to create and update Street Works Records.

Pauline Mousley, IT Services Manager for Portsmouth Water, led the project to evaluate the Street Works systems from various suppliers and commented "We were impressed with the way Symology's Street Works system operated and the provision of a fully documented Universal Interface will significantly reduce the development of the link with our Works Management System. We received very positive feedback from the Insight Customers we contacted, even those Symology had not suggested. We are confident that Symology will deliver a system that fully complies with the TMA in time".

Symology - Leading the Way on TMA

Symology has delivered the first TMA system. A beta version of Insight 2.5, with comprehensive coverage of the entire Street Works noticing life-cycle, was delivered to the first customers on 10 January.

National Grid is spearheading a trial exercise on TMA noticing, as part of a collaborative arrangement with Symology. NG is leading a team, which also includes Wales & West Utilities, United Utilities and Fulcrum Connections. Initially the testing team will be interchanging notices, using the new web services protocols, with Symology’s own managed service test site. At the end of January, London Borough of Camden will be joining the exercise, and interchanging notices directly with National Grid.

Thames Water has also been provided with the same software version. Like the other utilities, they will be using the system both for trial running and for testing interfaces that have been developed with their Works Management systems.

The close relationships that have been established for these exercises will help to ensure that the Insight 2.5 product, which is set for general release to all Symology customers from 18 February, will have been fully validated in simulated “real-life” environments.

Les Guest (Street Works Policy Manager at National Grid, and Director of NJUG) says "National Grid always aims to be at the forefront in implementing systems to ensure compliance with legislation. Given the almost impossible timescales for introduction of TMA, we are delighted that we are able to start noticing trials in co-operation with Symology at this early stage".

Scott Hutchinson, Symology’s Marketing Manager, commented "Symology's leading position is because of considerable investment over the last three years in a complete re-design of the noticing software to fully meet the demands of the TMA era. When the EToN Technical Specification was finally approved in November, the Insight TMA system was ready and waiting for the finalised noticing formats to be slotted in. Potential customers immediately recognise that we are providing the most comprehensive solution; way in advance of systems that simply provide the basics of noticing compliance. This is why we have seen an increasing number of new customers switch to Symology's Insight system."

Real-time roadworks information for the whole of Scotland

A new website has been launched (developed by Symology on behalf of the Scottish Executive) to allow the public to see where roadworks are taking place across the Lothians and Scotland.

The website - http://www.roadworksscotland.org - provides the public with real-time road works information in both textual and map-based forms for the whole of Scotland.

Scottish Road Works Commissioner John Gooday, said: "This site will, at the click of a mouse, allow the public to find out how long they are planned to last, what their impact is likely to be, the organisation responsible for the works and their contact details.

Roadworks often come in for a bad press, but the reality is that they are a necessary fact of life if we wish to have well-maintained, safe road networks and to continue to enjoy essential services such as gas, water and electricity and telecommunications."

The Google Maps based mapping system reads data directly from the ESRI ArcSDE spatial database that is used for the full Scottish Road Works Register System which Symology also provide - for further information see - Helping Avoid Disruption.

Symology Launches Street Works "Pay-per-Works" service

Symology is pleased to announce the launch of the UK´s first fully managed web-based Street Works "Pay-per-Works" service in England and Wales. This service is aimed at organisations that have a limited number of Street Works operations each year and cannot justify the purchase and management of their own system.

The fully managed service provides subscribers with the ability to record and monitor the progress of works, with full 2-way FTP transmission of all EToN Notices, Comments and Inspections. The powerful, built-in exception reporting tools help minimise the costs that can occur with possible Section 74 Overstay charges, and eliminate charges imposed by Highway Authorities for sending "paper notices". With the expected introduction of Fixed Penalty Charges for any incorrect or late notices, this service can significantly reduce the potential liability resulting from errors that can easily occur with a manual system.

John Allison, Business Development Manager at Symology said: "We designed the service model to be straightforward for subscribers to work out their costs in advance. We provide the subscribers with the full Insight Street Works Register system, including the ability to define their own report layouts and download the results to their own PC, as well as emailing a report to any destination. The users have full access to the Symology Support Desk for day-to-day queries and advice. All upgrades to the system, including the new features required for the Traffic Management Act and New Codes of Practice, are provided at no extra charge, in line with our policy for all of our customers."

"The first subscriber of this service went live on the 2nd of July 2007. Envoy provides gas and electricity operations and maintenance services to independent utility asset owners. With over 450,000 metering assets, Envoy is the market leader in this very competitive sector. As a dynamic business that is growing fast, the success of Envoy had resulted in the need to develop an effective and robust system for managing projects that involve street works."

Tracy Jones, Network Asset Manager, Envoy: "In Scotland the group are members of the Susiephone community, which uses the central Insight register to record and monitor all Road Works in a service provided and managed by Symology. For our growing operation in England and Wales we needed a cost effective solution that will provide the full facility of a Street Works system and enable us to deliver the best possible service, both to our customers and the general public. Symology’s "Pay-per-Works" service fits the bill perfectly; it has all the features we were looking for plus a proven track record in Scotland. A single course at Symology’s offices fulfilled our training needs, and we can see a clear growth path for the service as our business expands."

Scotia Gas Networks go live with Insight

Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) has recently gone "live" with the UK´s most successful and widely used Street Works Register Solution - Symology's Insight system.

SGN acquired the Scotland and South of England gas networks from National Grid Gas in June 2005. They are now the company responsible for distributing gas to homes and businesses in Southern England, including South London, as well as the whole of Scotland. The SGN network comprises of approximately 73,000km of gas pipelines.

The implementation of the Insight system at SGN was complex. All of the Street Works data for the SGN regions, which was stored in the UK wide National Grid Gas Street Works System (also managed using Symology´s Insight system), was required to be extracted and converted to the latest release of Insight. In addition, real-time bi-directional XML/SOAP interfaces were required to be developed between Insight and SGN´s Maximo Works/Asset Management System.

The Insight system automatically sends all notices to English Highway Authorities, as well as to the Scottish Road Works Register. Insight is able to do this because it supports multiple simultaneous Codes of Practice.

Symology worked closely in partnership with SGN (and their outsourced IT provider - Tata Consultancy Services), and the project that commenced in late 2005 was successfully completed when the system went "Live" on-schedule in December 2006.

Mr Chris Semple of Scotia Gas Networks said "The introduction of a new street works management system, combined with the introduction of a new work asset management system, was always going to be a challenge given the implementation timescales. However, with the support of Symology and a good working relationship with our IT solution provider - Tata Consultancy Services, the implementation of Insight 2.3 successfully went live on schedule. The business looks forward to maintaining a good relationship with Symology, to ensure we get the most from their application, thus ensuring the business can maintain a good relationship with the different road authorities and respond to any new regulatory changes as efficiently as possible."

Symology´s Managing Director - Ken Hickson added "The successful completion of this implementation now means that the entire UK gas industry is based on using Symology´s Insight product for Street Works operations. This is the sixth Insight Street Works project that has been implemented smoothly, within budget, and on time in the last twelve months, all of a high-profile and complex nature. Both Symology and Scotia Gas Networks can be proud of the achievement. We are totally committed to retaining the excellent working relationship that has been forged with SGN, and helping to meet the challenges of the impending Traffic Management era."

Symology NSG Users win National Awards

Intelligent Addressing has announced the winners of the 2006 NLPG and NSG Exemplar Awards. The Awards, which attracted a record 53 entries, recognise outstanding service delivery by local authorities using the National Land & Property Gazetteer (NLPG) and National Street Gazetteer (NSG), and are supported by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).

The Awards Presentation took place at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester on Tuesday 10th October 2006. A workshop was staged immediately prior to the event to share best practice allowing senior members of staff to hear how the NLPG and NSG are delivering real, demonstrable benefits to both local and central government. A key part of the workshop included a presentation of an independent report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research into the value of the efficiency savings offered by LLPGs and how they can help local authorities meet public sector efficiency targets under the Gershon Review as well as their obligations under Transformational Government.

Symology is pleased to announce that two of its customers who use Insight for NSG Management won awards.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council were highly commended for their "Best Use of the NSG with partners".

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council won the award "Most Creative Use" of the NSG.

The photograph to the left shows Sandwell's Simon Gelenscer and David Crisp receiving their award.

Symology launch Asset Valuation software

In line with the recommendations in the document "Highway Infrastructure Asset Valuation Guide" produced by the County Surveyors Society (CSS) and the TAG Asset Management Working Group, Symology has launched a new Asset Valuation module.

With Benchmark Asset Valuations being recommended for submission by the end of this financial year, to support Asset Management and Whole of Government Accounts, this new module provides all the facilities necessary to meet these requirements.

The new facilities allow multiple Valuation Sets to be defined. Each Valuation Set comprises the Highway Infrastructure Asset Type e.g. Roads, Footway/Cycle Routes, Highways Lighting etc., and allows these to be divided into Asset Groups and Sub-Groups so that Unit Rates and Gross Replacement Cost (GRC) models can be defined.

Extensive selection criteria facilities are provided (in advance of the CSS guidelines), which allow the user to select Asset Details, Attributes, Street Gazetteer or Network Referencing data that are to be used in the valuation calculations.

The highly scalable facilities allow the user to adopt the approach that they wish to use, be it a very broad high level approach or at the other end of the scale users may wish to define values for very specific sub-sets of data. Whichever approach is required, the facilities provide the flexibility to accommodate the methods chosen.

Once an Asset Valuation process has been run, the valuation results are presented on screen in summarised form with further options to drill-down on each line to reveal the valuation of each individual asset.

A detailed audit report is also provided in order that the valuation results are able to be submitted in a fully auditable and transparent manner.

View/Download the Asset Valuation overview leaflet

Northern Gas Networks Ltd go live with Insight

Northern Gas Networks Ltd (NGN) went live in August 2006 with the UK's most successful and widely used Street Works Register Solution - Symology's Insight system.

NGN took over the north of England Gas Network from National Grid Gas in June 2005. They are now the company responsible for distributing gas to homes and businesses in West, East & North Yorkshire, the North East and northern Cumbria. The NGN network comprises of 36,000km of gas pipes, that's enough to travel from Leeds to Sydney, Australia, and back again.

The implementation of the NGN system was complex. All of the Street Works data for the NGN region, that was stored in the UK wide National Grid Gas Street Works System (also managed using Symology's Insight system), was required to be extracted and converted to the latest release of Insight. In addition, two real-time bi-directional XML/SOAP interfaces were required to be developed. One between Insight and NGN's SAP Works/Asset Management System, and the other between a separate Insight database (that is to be used for the connections side of NGN's business) and AMT Sybex's Ellipse system.

Symology worked closely in partnership with NGN (and their outsourced IT provider - Wipro), and the project that commenced in August 2005 was successfully completed when the system went "Live" on-schedule in August 2006.

Symology's Managing Director - Ken Hickson said "I am delighted to welcome NGN on board, joining our ever expanding base of Utility sector clients. Symology's reputation for providing the highest quality Street Works solution is matched only by our experience in delivering high-profile complex projects smoothly, within budget, and on time. We have already forged an excellent working relationship with NGN, and I look forward to a long and successful partnership supporting their business operations."

Mr Steve Thomas (Network Support Manager) of Northern Gas Networks Ltd said "What has impressed us about Symology is their breadth of knowledge and expertise both from a business perspective and in their understanding of the complex IT issues involved in this project. Overall NGN needed to get the new business up and running by migrating data and business processes from thirty seven old National Grid systems onto seven new systems of our own. To implement these systems and successfully integrate Insight with SAP and AMT Sybex was a huge challenge. The migration of the existing data and the launch of Insight 2.3 has been a great success. With the Insight system in place and further regulatory change around the corner (in the form of the forthcoming new Codes of Practice) we are confident, that in Symology, we have the ideal partner to allow us to approach these future changes with confidence."

Wales & West Utilities go live with Insight

Wales & West Utilities Limited (WWU), formerly part of National Grid Gas, went live in June 2006 with the UK´s most successful and widely used Street Works Register Solution - Symology´s Insight system.

WWU is a regulated gas distribution business with around 34,000 km of gas distribution pipelines located in Wales and the South West of England, serving a catchment area with a population of 7.4 million people.

The implementation of the WWU system was relatively complex. All of the Street Works data for the Wales and West region, that was stored in the UK wide National Grid Gas Street Works System (also managed using Symology´s Insight system), was required to be extracted and converted to the latest release of Insight. In addition to this a bi-directional real-time XML/SOAP interface was required between Insight and WWU's SAP Works Management System.

Symology worked closely in partnership with WWU (and their outsourced IT provider - Wipro), and the project that commenced in August 2005 was successfully completed when the system went "Live" on-schedule in June 2006.

Symology´s Managing Director said "Switchover to the new system occurred smoothly, within budget, and on time. This is a tribute to all involved, and a reflection of the excellent working relationship which had been established. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with WWU, supporting their business operations."

Simon Trivella (Commercial Support Manager) of Wales & West Utilities Ltd said "to replace all our IT systems and successfully integrate them was always going to be a challenge, the migration of data and launch of Insight 2.3 has been a great success, Insight not only provides a solution for us to comply with our notification requirements but allows us to manage, monitor and report with greater visibility than we have ever had. With the new notification regime (TMA) coming in 2007 we hope that we can continue to work closely with Symology, build on our strong working relationship and be well prepared for the future."

New Asset Valuation facilities receive praise from Sub-Group

At the recent Asset Management User Sub-Group meeting in Sheffield, Symology demonstrated the new Asset Valuation facilities that are scheduled for release in October 2006. The new facilities were warmly received by the sub-group members, and the overwhelming consensus was that Symology have once again come up with a flexible and scalable solution that exceeds the base requirements.

Comments from sub-group members included:

"This is a really flexible solution that operates via a transparent mechanism."

"It has multiple levels of usefulness. It can be used by the engineer or the accountant."

"It allows us to choose the level of detail. We can perform a summary ‘fag-packet’ run or we can go down to incredible levels of detail."

"This facility provides the final cog for Insight to be a complete Asset Management solution."

"Previously any attempts at valuation were just a best guess, and were very difficult to defend. Now when the auditor says 'show me', we can."

"This allows us to find the gaps in our Asset Register."

"If we keep our Asset Register up to date, we know that our Asset Valuation will always be up to date as well."

"Asset Valuation strengthens the need for us to keep all our asset information in a single integrated Asset Register."

"It provides a user-friendly way of presenting masses of data."

The minutes of the meeting and the associated PowerPoint slides are available for download (for existing Symology customers) in the Symposium section of the website.

View/Download the Asset Valuation overview leaflet

City of London switch to Insight for Street Works

Symology is pleased to announce that the City of London is the first authority to place an order for the all new 'Insight for Street Works' system, which contains extensive new facilities to meet the requirements of the Traffic Management Act.

City of London will be switching to Insight from their existing Street Works system, and their existing data will be converted as part of the implementation. City of London have also ordered Symology's new Licences module, embedded mapping facilities and mobile data collection software.

Symology's Business Development Manager - Mr John Allison said 'City of London's decision to switch to Symology is a clear indication that the new "Insight for Street Works' solution is way in advance of competing systems. We are delighted to welcome City of London as a Symology customer, and we will work closely with them to ensure that they can approach the new Traffic Management era fully prepared and with confidence.'

Full Map-based Street Works Coordination for Scotland

Symology implemented the new web-based Scottish Road Works Register for live operation, as scheduled, on Monday 3 April 2006. The Register is the first fully map-based national coordination system in the UK, and the most advanced system of its type. It is used by approximately 1000 users within 32 roads authorities, 18 utilities, the Scottish Executive and Trunk Road operators.

The Register is the focal point for planning and coordination of all road works that are carried out on Scotland's roads. It covers all noticing requirements of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, as well as Plant Information Requests, Damage Notifications, and the "Dial Before You Dig" One Call service. It is also designed to accommodate the strengthened provisions of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005, and enable all Scottish organisations to prepare for its statutory introduction.

Symology's Insight software is replacing a system supplied by Moleseye Ltd, part of the MapInfo group of companies. Symology has established a new operating centre in Larbert to support the operation, as well as to provide consultancy and business development functions covering a widening scope of services to the Scottish nation.

In addition to its leading-edge Street Works functionality, the SRWR is also a showcase deployment of Symology's Managed Service offering, called Insight Online. The key facilities provided by the system include:

• Map-based Level III Street Gazetteer for all of Scotland
• Plant Information Request Regime (including One Call)
• Utility Street Works Notifications
• Geo-coding of Utility and Roads Authority works
• Map-based co-ordination of all activities
• Automated Conflict Detection
• Roads Authority Responses and Directions
• Reinstatements and Inspections
• Damage Records
• Management Prompting and Reporting

Symology's Managing Director Ken Hickson commented, "The successful implementation of this showcase system cements Symology's position as the UK's leading supplier of Street Works Register Systems. We have established an excellent relationship with the Susiephone implementation group, based on openness and trust. Our common objective has been to provide real benefits to Scottish Authorities and Utilities in managing and improving the co-ordination of road works.

Since the award of this contract in June 2005, a great deal has been accomplished, including establishing the managed service infrastructure and a new Scottish Office, enhancing the Insight product, the migration of all existing data and training of end-users and managers. The delivery of a live national system, on time, is testament to all involved, and to the first class cooperation between Susiephone and Symology project team members."

Brian Cooper (a Director of Susiephone Ltd and chair of the contract implementation group) commented, "Awarding this contract was a major commitment for the Susiephone Community, as it impacts on every Roads Authority and every Utility Company in Scotland, as well as the Scottish Executive. It was therefore essential that we carried out a thorough and rigorous assessment of each tender submission.

Symology's bid clearly demonstrated their high level of expertise and knowledge in relation to Road Works, and all the associated Acts and Codes of Practice, and their submission exceeded the tender requirements, particularly in relation to the functionality/technical merit of design, operational delivery and support provisions.

We have established an excellent working relationship with Symology and are delighted that the system is now in live operation. I have no doubts that we made the right decision in choosing Symology, and the Susiephone team are I are extremely excited by the additional benefits that we can now provide to the Scottish community."