Construction technology provider Causeway Technologies has acquired Buchanan Computing, a leading provider of permanent traffic engineering and highway management solutions, for an undisclosed fee.
A key motivation behind the deal is Buchanan's ParkMap digital service, which is currently used by more than 90 UK local authorities to efficiently manage the complete lifecycle of traffic regulation orders (TROs).
Causeway said the acquisition builds upon its 'vision of digitising construction, maintenance and traffic management processes by connecting Causeway one.network with Buchanan's ParkMap, to create the UK's first unified platform for Digital Traffic Regulation Orders (DTROs)'.
Public beta testing of the Department for Transport's single platform to receive all DTROs for is due to go live early next year.
Buchanan Computing has worked closely with the Government on the planned roll-out of DTROs, with ParkMap customers such as Kent County Council, Essex, Lancashire and Transport for West Midlands using the system to participate in the DTRO private beta test this year.
Under the Automated Vehicles Act, highway authorities will soon be required to provide digital versions of all new traffic regulation orders, both temporary and permanent, with old orders transferred at a later date.
The deal will also see Buchanan's SignPlot and SignLoad software – for ensuring traffic sign and sign structure designs are correct and accurate – come into the Causeway suite of products.
AccsMap, Buchanan's third product stream, is a system widely used by local authorities and police forces to help make roads safer by analysing collision data and trends.
Phil Brown, chief executive of Causeway, said: 'The acquisition of Buchanan Computing reinforces our commitment to delivering a fully integrated, end-to-end solution for highways authorities and contractors, enabling them to seamlessly plan, monitor and communicate the management and maintenance of their infrastructure assets while ensuring full compliance with legislation.'
Simon Morgan, chairman of Buchanan Computing, said: 'For several years we have worked closely with Causeway, providing added value to mutual clients by providing links and integrations between our respective products.
'It therefore makes total sense to combine our resources in this way and to work more closely with the teams we have got to know at Causeway. Combining our highly complementary portfolios will bring huge value to our local authority customers, delivering all road data and design capability in a single asset management environment.
'I am very proud to have founded Buchanan Computing and taken it to this point where it has a wide user base and is massively respected. I am confident that Causeway is a great home in which to continue to advance the ethos of providing market-leading, time-saving products, together with excellent support, training and consultancy services.'
This transaction represents the fifth strategic acquisition by Causeway since Five Arrows made a significant investment in the company in 2021.
