The UK government has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Ontario, Canada, to exchange knowledge and technology related to the creation of digital maps of underground infrastructure. The agreement aims to foster collaboration and information sharing between the two governments in this area.
Signed by Viscount Camrose, Minister for Intellectual Property, and Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure for the Government of Ontario, the MoU outlines the sharing agreement for the knowledge and technology utilized in the UK’s National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) project. NUAR is a geospatial mapping initiative that stores the locations of underground pipes and cables to aid in infrastructure planning and development.
According to Viscount Camrose, this agreement highlights the recognition by the Ontario government of the successful work done in the UK by the Geospatial Commission in developing NUAR. He also emphasized the potential value this collaboration could bring to Ontario’s infrastructure and economy. On the other hand, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, Surma, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the benefits of learning from the Geospatial Commission and leveraging their expertise to expedite key infrastructure projects in Ontario.
Through this agreement, the UK’s Geospatial Commission will share best practices and technologies used in NUAR with Infrastructure Ontario. The collaboration between the parties will focus on improving worker safety, reducing the occurrence of asset strikes, and enhancing the accuracy of geospatial infrastructure data. Overall, the agreement sets the stage for continued cooperation and innovation between the UK and Ontario governments to address the infrastructure needs of their communities.