LAWR

TECHNOLOGY Managing waste: It's virtually reality We are seeing a technical revolution with the convergence of mapping and 3D visualisation that is moving us all into a virtual world. Robert Peel looks at the impact of this technology on the waste and resource management industry. t does not seem too long ago that we were amazed with those demos showing people wearing weird goggles looking at a screen and moving around a make believe computer generated room. Well, here we are in 2014 and future has well and truly caught up with us. Not only has mapping really moved into virtual reality with real life aerial photography replacing road maps but increasingly the world can be viewed in 3D. So what is the big deal for those us involved in waste and recycling? Firstly, mapping technology has been playing an increasingly important part in planning and managing operations. By using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with street maps, routing software and address data, rounds and routes can be planned and optimised, and the best locations for recycling centres can be assessed. Used in conjunction with virtual reality, planners can calculate catchment areas, predict population movement and model the proposed location, before, during and after development. Blue-sky thinking Aerial mapping companies are meanwhile employing laser mapping technology to provide highly accurate data for 3D computer modelling of buildings and entire cities. This technology was used by Viridor Waste Management to support the planning of a proposed waste facility near Cardiff. Supplied by Bluesky, the imagery and height data was used to create a virtual reality model of the site and surrounding area in support of Viridor's planning application. The 3D visualisation transformed the interactive model from a standalone illustration of the site to a real world visual representation of the entire locality. " Augmented reality is the next big thing for waste " These sophisticated systems are being joined by a new breed of web based mapping systems based on the popular platforms such as like Google Maps. The first to be adopted widely is a system called Horizons from Yotta, a company involved in highways surveying and asset management technology that last year acquired a provider of waste management software, Mayrise Systems. Known as 'visualisation asset management' Horizons provides a very easy to use map-based solution for operational staff. For those dealing with calls about missed bins, spillages, graffiti or fly tipping, mapping and street view systems can be a real asset. Customer service staff can quickly pinpoint the caller and literally 'visit' the location on their computer screen. That really helps when dealing with the call online but it is also crucial for reporting. Coordinating the correct response relies on accurate reporting and maps and street views, combined with map overlays with operational data such as refuse round routes and schedules, ensure all information is immediately on hand. Horizons is very intuitive and provides information visually in a very familiar environment; after all we increasingly use mapping platforms like Google Maps for locating places and navigating. Other systems use traditional Ordnance Survey (OS) digital maps. Mapping is also being extended beyond the office and used to support refuse and cleansing operations on the ground. Newham Council for example has introduced in-cab touchscreen computers to report illegally dumped rubbish. This allows frontline staff to report flytips while on the road, using GPS to pinpoint the exact locations for those tasked to clean up the waste. 28 Local Authority Waste & Recycling August 2014 I 3D image of Viridor's Trident Park energy-from-waste plant

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