Unveiling the PAUSE Process by D2 and SymTerra

D2’s Utilities Management team, one of the leading utility management firms in the Southeast region, has been working on a solution to mitigate the impact of uncharted utilities alongside SymTerra.

Background

D2’s initial approach to the problem of uncharted utilities was to create an in-house solution relying on existing, standard software systems. However, a chance meeting with the SymTerra team in October 2022 revealed the potential of a collaboration as SymTerra’s digital platform could provide an ideal framework already in use across many projects.

The Solution

Working together, D2 and SymTerra developed The PAUSE (Proving of Abandoned & Uncharted Services Exercise) process. SymTerra’s cloud-based platform serves as a one-stop solution, which refers to a single platform or service that addresses multiple related issues, for managing unforeseen services, aiming to standardise the process across the board.

The PAUSE process involves identifying, documenting, and managing uncharted utilities with real-time communication features enabling different teams on the ground to share information quickly, aiding in quicker decision-making and problem resolution when uncharted utilities are encountered.

Implementaion and Results

Trials of the PAUSE system began in June 2023, specifically within Network Rail’s Transpennine Route Upgrade, West of Leeds Alliance programme. The benefits were immediately evident. For instance, during the initial trials, the PAUSE system helped resolve a scenario where planned excavation works were at risk of cutting through unidentified underground cables.

Through real-time communication and data sharing on SymTerra’s platform, the teams were able to quickly identify and reroute around the cables, avoiding significant delays and additional costs. As construction activities are set to ramp up later in 2023, the use of the PAUSE system is expected to grow significantly, not only within the Network Rail’s Transpennine Route Upgrade but also in other projects managed by D2 and SymTerra, as the benefits of streamlined utility management and real-time communication become more apparent.

Notably, SymTerra’s real-time communication capabilities have bridged gaps between site workers, the utilities management team, and Statutory Undertakers (SUs), enabling swift identification and resolution of uncharted services. The success of this collaboration has not gone unnoticed, leading to the deployment of SymTerra on two additional projects to enable the PAUSE process to be implemented.

Conclusion

The collaboration between D2 and SymTerra exemplifies the power of partnership and innovation. Their joint effort not only addressed a longstanding industry challenge but also paved the way for safer, more efficient construction practices and greater communication. The PAUSE process has been recognized as an industry example, setting a precedent for how utilities management can be enhanced through collaborative initiatives and real-time communication technology.

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Project teams of all sizes are using SymTerra to change their projects for the better. And we have the case studies to prove it.

“Instead of WhatsApp, we used SymTerra on the Liverpool St Project to obtain live updates from site on over 500 planned activities during our critical 10-day Easter blockade to update the hour-by-hour programme in real-time, identify any change and re-sequence works.”

Matthew Stimson - Project Manager, MTR

“With previous systems, we took photos on one platform and allocated the activity to the engineer on another for comments from site. This was time consuming and meant we'd have to limit or loose data, photos or miss information. With SymTerra, all info/photos are in one place to view/document making data sharing simple without having to transfer from multiple systems.”

Joe Taylor, Operations Manager, Lanes Group