Symology Conference
2026
Agenda and Schedule
9:00 Arrival: networking & refreshments
Time to get you checked in and ready for the day. Tea, coffee and chat are provided
9:45 Introduction (Lee Bennett)
An introduction to the day, including how this year’s conference has evolved in response to customer feedback, with new demonstration stations giving delegates more opportunities to explore Aurora in action.
9:55 Ready for What’s Next (Mike Bartlett)
An overview of the key changes shaping highways, street works and asset management, and how customers, technology and Symology are evolving together to meet new challenges and opportunities.
10:15 Customer Showcase (Sarah Twigg)
Hear how the Symology community continues to grow, with new customers, successful projects and practical examples of how organisations are getting more from Aurora. This session will also highlight existing features that are already helping customers deliver value today.
10:35 Aurora Product Roadmap (James Smith)
What does the future of Aurora look like?
This session explores where the platform is heading next, from AI-assisted workflows and smarter network decisions to accessibility, mobile working and future industry challenges. Discover how Aurora is evolving to help your organisation grow, make better decisions and adapt to a changing world. Join us for a look at the roadmap, the thinking behind it, and the opportunities ahead.
10:55 Customer Awards (Lee Bennett)
A moment to recognise and celebrate customers who are using Aurora to deliver positive change, improve services and support better outcomes across their networks and communities.
11:10 Break-time: networking & refreshments
A chance to network with peers, speak with the Symology team and explore practical demonstrations of Aurora features at the demo stations.
11:45 Strategic Asset Investment: Prioritising Highway Outcomes with PAS 2161 & UKPMS 2.0 (Scott Hutchinson & Mike Bartlett)
How do you turn condition data into investment decisions? We’ll show how PAS 2161 data, mapping and analysis tools can help identify the right schemes, prioritise limited budgets, and demonstrate why investment is being targeted where it can deliver the greatest benefit to the network and its users.
12:30 Automating Smarter Network Decisions with Inspection Intelligence & APIs (Martin Large)
Discover how AI Defect Detection, APIs and Assisted HSI are enabling a more consistent and efficient approach to network management. Explore how automation and connected data can streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and support more informed risk-based decision making.
12:45 Lunch
Now for the most anticipated session of the day, lunch. Refuel, recharge and reconnect for the afternoon sessions.
13:30 Networking & Demo Stations
Another chance to get hands-on with Aurora, explore new ideas, speak directly with our specialists and discover how other organisations are tackling similar challenges.
14:15 From Challenge to Change: Central Bedfordshire’s Aurora Journey
Hear how Central Bedfordshire approached implementation, overcame challenges, and worked in partnership to succeed. This customer story shares honest lessons learned and what comes next. A practical look at turning ambition into delivery.
14:35 Aurora: Connected by Design (Mike Bartlett)
Disconnected systems create duplicate effort, inconsistent data and manual workarounds. This session explores how Aurora’s open integration approach helps information flow between highways, street lighting and wider council systems. Using the Street Lighting CMS integration as a practical example, we’ll show how connected systems reduce effort, improve data quality and support better decisions.
14:55 Go-Live to High Performance: Unlocking the Full Power of Aurora (Scott Hutchinson)
You’re live – but are you maximising it?
With the DfT increasingly pushing Authorities towards a data led approach to asset management, and tying that to funding through transparency reporting, this fast-paced showreel shows how to go from maker to shaper and become a leading authority in maximising Aurora to enable measurable operational efficiencies, and management of your Assets.
15:15 Question Time – Q & A session
A presenter panel will gather with a chance to discuss issues raised as we close the day.
11:45 Not Just for Street Works: A Customer Story
Hear how Oxfordshire adopted Aurora for Street Works in 2024 and has continued to expand its use since go-live. This customer story shares practical insight from a council using Aurora to support wider service improvement and future opportunities.
12:05 Creating One Network View with Aurora (Sarah Twigg)
Taking Control of Data, Mapping and Engagement. This session explores how our modern web portals, live traffic layers and integrated tools give one clear, connected view of your network. Discover how customers are simplifying complexity and taking back control.
12:25 Smarter Networks, Stronger Communities: Unlocking the Power of Data Layers and AI (James Smith)
From Community Layers and public transport data to third-party integrations and AI-assisted permit assessment, this session offers a glimpse into some of the innovations being explored within Aurora. Through a series of demonstrations and prototypes, we’ll explore how better information, richer context and emerging technologies could help authorities, utilities and contractors plan more effectively, collaborate more closely and minimise disruption for the communities they serve.
12:45 Lunch
Now for the most anticipated session of the day, lunch. Refuel, recharge and reconnect for the afternoon sessions.
13:30 Networking & Demo Stations
Another chance to get hands-on with Aurora, explore new ideas, speak directly with our specialists and discover how other organisations are tackling similar challenges.
14:15 Lane Rental Unlocked: Turning Policy into Performance and Value (Marc Buxton & Ed Cohen)
Lane Rental is gathering pace, and both highway authorities and works promoters need to be ready. This session explores how Aurora can support the successful operation of Lane Rental, helping teams manage requirements more effectively, improve visibility and maximise value from the policy.
14:50 Beyond Compliance: Practical Tools for Smarter Street Works Delivery (James Pattinson)
Explore the Aurora capabilities that help street works teams go beyond day-to-day compliance. From bespoke dashboards and mobile workflows to reporting and emerging standards such as the SWUK protocol, this session highlights practical tools that can improve visibility, reduce manual effort and support better outcomes for works promoters, utilities, fibre companies and highway authorities.
15:15 Question Time – Q & A session
A presenter panel will gather with a chance to discuss issues raised as we close the day.
