WET News

4 WET NEWS DECEMBER 2017 NEWS+ Risk averse culture holding back digitalisation, finds survey • Atkins reveals nearly a quarter of UK infrastructure organisations are more than five years away from having digital ways of working embedded. A risk averse culture within the UK infrastructure sec- tor is restricting the ability of its business to capitalise on the global digital revolution, accord- ing to a survey report from Atkins. The design, engineering and project management consultancy surveyed leaders from more than 30 organisations in the UK infra- structure sector to understand the challenges and opportunities they face as a result of the sector's shi• towards digital. Around 60% of respondents said that their organisations were more than two years away from having digi- tal ways of working and service offerings fully embedded, with 23% stating that they were more than five years away. Although 97% of respondents saw the digitalisation of the industry as a positive develop- ment, they highlighted the rapid pace of change in technology and the lack of certainty about which investments would prove to be winners and which would be los- ers as significant barriers to adop- tion. The high level of risk that comes with trying something new, rather than sticking to tried and tested solutions, was also cited as a key factor in decisions about using innovation to boost the UK's infrastructure. Surprisingly, only 16% of the organisations questioned felt that there was a large skills gap in relation to new technologies which could have been a major barrier to adoption, although there were also some words of caution not to allow two distinct groups to form – the digitally CONTRACT WINS VolkerHighways has awarded Sapphire Utility Solutions a five-year contract with five further annual extensions available, to provide drainage maintenance services in Medway, Kent, as part of its highway infrastructure contract with Medway Council. Develop Training has picked by Severn Trent Water to provide electrical training following a rigorous tendering process. The three-year deal, which includes a two-year extension option, includes full training, assessment and certification. Servelec Technologies has been contracted to install its Seprol S2000nano devices on South West Water's wastewater EDM project. The devices will monitor sewer levels underneath the roads. sectors, the infrastruc- ture experts and the tech- nology experts, the funders, the designers and engineers, and the end users. We must ensure the right people are hav- ing the right conversations and making informed decisions, so we can reduce risk as far as pos- sible. By understanding and addressing business transforma- tion, the pace of change, people, skills, the use of big data, secu- rity and resilience, we believe organisations can embrace the opportunities the fourth indus- trial revolution offers and grow successfully alongside it." When asked which technolo- gies would be the most disrup- tive, 29% of survey respondents Atkins said it believed organisations can embrace the opportunities the fourth industrial revolution offers "We must ensure the right people are having the right conversa- tions and making informed deci- sions, so we can reduce risk as far as possible" Nick Roberts, Atkins Good monthT- Bad month For trees, as Yorkshire Water launches an ambitious and innovative pilot to reduce flooding in Calderdale which involves planting of around 200,000 trees. For innovation, which helped Wessex Water speed up a Coker Hill reservoir refurbishment in rapid time. For leakage, as Ofwat challenges water firms to save up to 170bn litres of water a year by targeting leaks as it cracks down on leakage. For the 250m-long "monster" fatberg, which was blocking an east London sewer has been cleared after a nine-week "battle". Thames Water and SSE Enterprise Telecoms partner for 'fibre in the sewers' project • Connectivity supplier expects a 60% network deployment cost saving by installing fibre optics in sewer network. T hames Water and SSE Enterprise Telecoms are partnering to install fibre optic cables in the capital's wastewater system. The agreement is expected to allow networks to be created up to ten times faster, "more directly and securely" using the existing wastewater system in business areas such as the City of London. Connectivity supplier SSE Enterprise Telecoms has signed an 'operating licence to deploy' agreement with Thames Water, which will enable the distribu- tion of its fibre optic cables throughout Thame's Water's wastewater network. The deal also allows Thames Water to utilise its existing infra- structure without "any disrup- tion" to general operations, while meeting EU and UK guide- lines and helping to "support the UK's digital strategy". Richard Hill, head of property at Thames Water, said: "Our Vic- torian sewers are already home to a number of pipes and cables belonging to other utility compa- nies and we're glad to also now be supporting SSE Enterprise Telecoms. Reducing roadworks and traffic congestion is some- thing hugely important to us, so it's great to help a fellow utility company do the same by allow- ing them to make use of our existing infrastructure." Mike Magee, director of ser- vice solutions at SSE Enterprise Telecoms, added: "Businesses fundamentally rely on their net- work to underpin everyday oper- ations. With an ever-increasing demand for connectivity, net- work infrastructures require higher resiliency and improved diversity. "Estimates suggest there are as many as 3,000 enterprises in the finance and insurance sec- tors in the City of London area alone, each vying for connectiv- ity. This has made the demand for unique, truly diverse network routes hard to achieve. We've identified a way to solve this by leveraging the wastewater network." By utilising Thames Water's already existing wastewater sys- tem, SSE Enterprise Telecoms said it will be able to reduce net- work deployment costs by 60% and deploy connectivity services up to ten times faster than through traditional digs. Ireland's largest water event bringing key stakeholders together to address the economic, regulatory and environmental challenges facing the sector Expert speakers at our 7 th annual conference include: Organised by: > Discover the innovative solutions to environmental protection, drinking water quality improvement and ıood risk management being adopted > Gain insight into the Commission for Regulation of Utilities's regulatory vision for the Irish water sector > Hear key policy updates and learn about the infrastructure investment priorities in Ireland Maria Graham Assistant secretary for water Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Tom Collins Chair Public Water Forum Sheenagh Rooney Director of water, operations and customer care Commission for Regulation of Utilities Colm McCarthy Economist, School of Economics University College Dublin Brian Sheehan Head of asset delivery Irish Water Andrew McDowell Vice president European Investment Bank www.ireland-water.net Supported by: Supported by: Need to know Just 16% of organisations quest felt that there was a large skills gap in relation to new technologies Other technologies including mobile computing, 3D and 4D modelling are used by less than a third of companies The appetite to embrace the opportunities that digital offers is strong More than 30 organisations in the UK infrastructure sector, including water pointed to big data and analytics, 25% highlighted artificial intelli- gence, and 13% said the Internet of Things (IoT). A number of positive opportu- nities were also flagged by the contributors. At present only 13% of companies are using big data and analytics despite it being one of the most disruptive and benefi- cial developments. The research included respondents from firms in a range of infrastructure sectors including aerospace, architec- ture, construction, defence, energy, oil & gas, as well as water. connected new generation and the rest. Nick Roberts, chief executive officer for Atkins' UK & Europe business, said: "The message from the government is clear – disrupt or be disrupted. The research shows that the appetite to embrace the opportunities that digital offers is strong, but we need to find a way to overcome our aversion to risk. If we can't fix this and meet the aspirations set out in the government's Digital Strategy and the Industrial Strat- egy, then delivering world-class, modern infrastructure for less cost will not be achieved and Brit- ain will be le• behind." "We need better collaboration between the public and private

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