Pléiades Neo Next launched to expand Earth observation constellation
Airbus has launched the Pléiades Neo Next programme to expand its high resolution Earth observation constellation. This new programme will result in new satellite assets and capabilities, including enhanced native resolution. As a first step of Pléiades Neo Next, Airbus is developing a new satellite which will be launched in the next few years.
Funded, manufactured and operated by Airbus Defence and Space, the full image capacity is available for a wide range of sectors, including defence and intelligence, agriculture, environment, maritime, disaster response, mapping, location-based services, civil engineering, urban planning and utilities.
Access to both above and below ground geospatial data to become easier thanks to geological collaboration
OS and the British Geological Survey (BGS) have teamed up to add a range of geological data products to the popular OS Data Hub, making it easier for users to access and use both above and below ground geospatial data. As a provider of geospatial data within Great Britain, OS, alongside BGS, the UK’s scientific earth data provider, both members of the Geo6, the partnership paves the way for further collaboration with other third parties. It’s the first time that products from another authoritative government data partner have been made available through the OS Data Hub and OS hopes it will be followed by more, to enable developers, data scientists and geospatial specialists across the nation with easier access to a broader range of geospatial data to support their activities.
The new development is funded by the Government Office of Technology Transfer’s Knowledge Asset Grant Fund which supports public sector organisations to explore or further develop new and exciting uses for their knowledge assets.
The Great Grid Partnership appoints several contractors
Appointments have been made to the £9bn framework to upgrade the National Grid. Known as the Great Grid Partnership, the deal will focus on design and construction work required by the end of the decade for nine major infrastructure projects across England and Wales. Those appointed so far include Laing O’Rourke, Taylor Woodrow, Morgan Sindall, Murphy and M Group-owned Morrison Energy Services. Vinci-owned Taylor Woodrow joint venture with sister firm Omexon, an AECOM and Arup joint venture and WSP.
New project aims to revolutionise tunnel infrastructure installation with robotic AI
A consortium of mechanical and civil engineering and robotic automation industry leaders, including Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd (TES), i3D robotics (i3D), the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Costain and VVB Engineering, has developed the first robotic and AI solution for the installation of mechanical and civil services in tunnels.
The prototype Automated Tunnel Robotic Installation System (ATRIS) can autonomously select brackets, locate where they need to be mounted along a tunnel wall, and install them.
The 22-month project, partly funded by Innovate UK’s Smart grant, was led by TES, which developed the initial concept in partnership with the consortium.
Once fully-developed, the final system can be deployed in tunnel construction for a variety of sectors including transport, water and energy.
In brief:
- Transport for London (TfL) is celebrating 25 years since the Jubilee Line extension was completed with special anniversary posters along the line. The major engineering project connected the West End to the rapidly developing Docklands in the late 1990s, linking every tube line and making travel in London more accessible.
- Griffiths Farrans JV has created two T Level placement positions at its transformational public transport project at Bristol Airport, as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of talent in construction and civil engineering.
- BIG and HNTB have won a competition to design new athletics ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. The 33,000-capacity covered ballpark will sit on nine acres between Tropicana Avenue and Reno Avenue. The new home for the Athletics has an expected opening date of spring 2028.
- Balfour Beatty VINCI has completed the excavation of the 22 metre deep west portal for HS2, marking a leap forward on work to build the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel bringing high speed trains into Birmingham. The portal at Washwood Heath has been finished in readiness for the two 1,600 tonne tunnel boring machines building the twin-bore tunnel to complete their journeys from Water Orton in North Warwickshire.
- Arup has entered a strategic partnership with Norwegian digital analytics company, InfoTiles to use data and AI, to empower water and wastewater utilities and maximise the value and sustainability of crucial water infrastructure.
- AECOM has been selected by the Regional Municipality of Peel (Peel Region) to provide design and engineering services for the expansion of the Clarkson Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) in Ontario’s Peel Region.