What is critical utility infrastructure?  

Critical infrastructure refers to the systems, facilities, and assets that are vital for the functioning of society and the economy; their disruption would impact public safety, security, economic stability, or public health. Examples of critical utility infrastructure include energy sector facilities like electrical grids, systems that support transportation like fuel lines to airports, water treatment plants, telecommunication networks, and utilities supplying healthcare facilities like hospitals. 

As the population continues to rise and our cities grow at a rapid rate, the importance of mapping critical infrastructure cannot be understated. Without knowing the locations of critical underground utilities, any developments that involve excavation could lead to severe repercussions if these utilities are hit and damaged.  

What are the benefits to mapping critical infrastructure? 

The benefits of long-term resilience in the face of urbanization by mapping critical infrastructure are: 

Improved operational resilience: Unforeseen events such as natural disasters, accidents, or system failures can have a severe impact on infrastructure networks. Mapping critical utility infrastructure enables authorities to identify vulnerabilities and develop contingency plans to maintain essential services. During emergencies, the availability of this information facilitates the implementation of resilience strategies, reducing downtime, and ensuring continuous operation during recovery. 

In Japan, the ROADIC system was established in 1986 after a utility strike caused a large gas explosion, killing workers. The ROADIC system collects data from all asset owners and maps it within a centralized database. The original business driver of ROADIC was crisis management and coordination of roading construction. ROADIC is now enabling government agencies and public utility companies, using GIS technology, to increase coordination and sharing of vital facility-related information to support disaster planning and recovery activities, such as after the Kobe earthquake. 

Auckland, New Zealand, would have benefited from such a system in 2023, when three sinkholes formed in the road corridor within a few months of each other. The cause of one was a major sewage pipe collapse, that pumped tons of sewage into the streets and surrounding bays. The recovery time for this incident was extended due to the authorities being unable to locate all the damaged pipes because of the lack of documentation supporting the network’s route.  

Lower-cost maintenance and repairs: Mapping critical infrastructure provides a clear overview of asset location and condition, enabling better and proactive maintenance planning. It can also unearth issues within an underground network that often go undetected until they appear as an issue at street level. In 2021, a sinkhole forming below the pavement was detected during a surveyed investigation in the Wellington, New Zealand CBD. This early detection alerted the asset owner, and proactive remediation was taken before the sinkhole opened. Repair work was undertaken, reducing disruption to the community to a single weekend, rather than an estimated six-week road closure had the sinkhole fully opened. Mapping critical infrastructure minimizes downtime, enhances the longevity of infrastructure components, and optimizes resource allocation for repairs and upgrades.  

Reduction of invasive investigations: By knowing the location of water, electricity, gas, and communications assets, maintenance and development planning can be streamlined. This reduces the amount of and improves the targeting of required invasive investigations, and in the worst-case scenario, reactive remediation as infrastructure is damaged during excavation. More targeted invasive investigations lowers operational costs and contributes to better ESG outcomes through the reduction of carbon-emitting materials, less travel, and less disruption to transportation routes.  

Future-focused planning and expansion: By creating a clear understanding of where critical infrastructure exists, new construction can be planned with less compromise to existing assets. With rising population and every new project to expand infrastructure capacity, the underground becomes more crowded, creating more risk every time an excavation is initiated. By mapping critical infrastructure, all stakeholders can access asset location information to better inform decision-making and reduce risk. 

The UK government has built the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR), a digital map encompassing around 4-million kilometers of critical infrastructure assets. The aim is to combat the occurrence of utility strikes and their subsequent impact on the economy. As of 2023, there are 60,000 accidental utility asset strikes per year in the UK, during maintenance and installation work of infrastructure, costing around £2.4 billion. By mapping critical infrastructure in NUAR, the UK government aim to reduce accidental damage to pipes and cables, enhance construction efficiency, and improve worker safety, reducing location data acquisition time, and ultimately boosting the overall growth of the economy. 

Conclusion  

Don’t be reactive, be proactive. In the face of a rapidly changing world, the importance of mapping critical infrastructure cannot be overstated. From enhancing emergency response capabilities to optimizing maintenance, resource allocation, economic growth and protecting quality of life, the benefits of mapping critical infrastructure are hard to ignore. Invest in comprehensive critical infrastructure mapping and pave the way for a more secure, efficient, and resilient future. 

#DamagePrevention #ResilientInfrastructure #UtiltiyMapping #SUE