Accelerating change to break tradition

24/01/2019 |

Paul Schelhaas, CEO of Sunstone Systems, on why the highways sector should be optimistic about tomorrow

With more than 38 million vehicles registered for road use in the UK in 2018 and a with a reported 61% of all trips being made by car in 2017, it is not hard to see why ongoing investment in our road network is absolutely critical for the UK.

Thankfully, the UK is prepared to embrace technological innovation and engage with up and coming SME’s to challenge the status quo and bring our roads firmly into the 21st Century.

Investing for improvement

The Highways England Innovation Fund is a fantastic scheme and one which our company has utilised in partnership with another forward-thinking prime contractor in Kier Highways.

We worked closely with Paul Wilson, network technology director at Kier Highways, Simon Waterfall, technology asset manager and the team to bring our innovative solar powered security and communications system to the Highways Network. A product that offers huge safety, environmental and cost saving benefits to Highways England.

In total £150m of funding has been made available specifically for funding Innovative projects, which meet the overall objectives of Highways England. Our experience with Highways England and Kier Highways is proof that there are opportunities and that support is available to Innovative SME’s.

Delivering clean roads from the ground up

Traditionally, cutting carbon has been a major challenge, especially in the highways sector where jobs tend to be either relatively short, and therefore difficult to justify major investment on cutting-edge clean technology, or incredibly long, where much of the budget is focused on actually delivering the project. Thankfully, there are innovations coming to market that will help cover all bases.

One of the biggest challenges that technology is helping address is in the area of groundworks. Traditionally, this has been a necessary evil when it comes to construction. On major projects, the time and expense required to deliver something as basic as power and lighting can be astronomical and the work required in delivering hard-wired power and the use of diesel fueled generators increases emissions considerably. Then there is the added cost of bureaucracy when it comes to process and sign off, which can be incredibly lengthy and complex.

Of course, road repair and maintenance isn't solely confined to motorways and well-travelled roads. There are many smaller, remote and difficult to access roads, which also require essential work especially in parts of Scotland and Wales.

In instances where there is no existing power infrastructure or accessibility for heavy machinery is impossible, jobs that could and should have been relatively straightforward have proved extremely challenging and incredibly costly.

Yet there are products in the market that address every conceivable barrier when it comes to road repair. Devices that are portable, cost-effective and operational within minutes are not only digitising and vastly speeding up the analogue processes of maintenance, but slashing CO2 emissions at every stage. These products, combined with progressive and open-minded local and national government bodies, are driving our highways sector into the 21st Century.

The road ahead

While these improvements and innovations are happening now, there is also a bright future ahead. The boom in Internet of things (IoT) technology will lead to improved communication between multiple facets of the highways - drivers, cars, signals, maintenance and many more. By integrating IoT compatible products now, the UK is getting on the front foot and taking the right steps to realise its strategic road network plans.

When it comes to improving our highways, the stage is set. There is money to invest, a desire in government and business to address pain points, appetite from local government to engage solutions from local businesses and new, technology-savvy companies developing solutions future-proofed for tomorrow’s world.

With all parties seemingly driving in the same direction, there is no reason why the UK cannot be seen as the barometer of excellence when it comes to delivering truly innovative and cost effective solutions to real world problems for the world’s highways.

Paul Schelhaas is CEO of Sunstone Systems

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Electrical Engineer

Grade 9 £34,314 to £37,938 - Grade 10 £37,035 to £40,476 - Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 - Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 p.a.
The Construction Consultancy Services (CCS) team provide client-side construction consultancy services across a range of professional disciplines to d Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW