The UK and Ontario governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to exchange knowledge and technology related to the creation of digital maps of underground infrastructure. 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.
The NUAR project is a geospatial mapping initiative that stores the locations of underground pipes and cables to aid in infrastructure planning and development. This agreement highlights the recognition by the Ontario government of the successful work done in the UK by the Geospatial Commission in developing NUAR. According to Viscount Camrose, this collaboration could bring significant value to Ontario’s infrastructure and economy.
Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, Surma, expressed enthusiasm for this partnership. She emphasized that learning from the Geospatial Commission would help expedite key infrastructure projects in Ontario while leveraging their expertise to improve worker safety, reduce asset strikes, and enhance geospatial infrastructure data accuracy.
Under this agreement, the UK’s Geospatial Commission will share best practices and technologies used in NUAR with Infrastructure Ontario. The two parties will focus on improving worker safety, reducing asset strikes, enhancing data accuracy and fostering collaboration through information sharing between them. The agreement sets stage for continued cooperation between both governments as they strive to address their communities’ infrastructure needs.
In conclusion, this MoU is an excellent example of how countries can come together to share knowledge and technology for mutual benefit. By collaborating on creating digital maps of underground infrastructure, both governments can improve worker safety while advancing their economies through efficient infrastructure development.
