What Lies Beneath with Nick Hearn - The pressing issue of accurately documenting underground infrastructure

Dive deep into the unseen world beneath our feet in the latest episode of Sight Scene! We're joined by Nick Hearn, Managing Director of Reveal, a global technology company that's revolutionizing how we understand and manage underground infrastructure data. Key takeaways from this insightful conversation: The Hidden Risks: Discover the immense financial and human costs associated with unknown or inaccurately mapped underground utilities. Did you know a utility is struck every 60 seconds in the US during projects? Innovation from Isolation: Learn how New Zealand's unique geography and culture of innovation have made it a hub for geospatial technology, leading to solutions for critical infrastructure challenges. The Problem with "As-Builts": We discuss why traditional "as-built" drawings are often unreliable (sometimes only 25% geospatially accurate!) and the critical need for better data capture. Reveal's Game-Changing Approach: Nick explains how Reveal is transforming underground mapping by combining various data sources like lidar, photogrammetry, and ground-penetrating radar with AI to create a "unified utility model" – a 3D digital twin of what lies beneath. Future of Infrastructure: The conversation highlights the shift towards proactive risk management in pre-design phases, exemplified by partnerships like Reveal's work with "Before You Dig Australia," which achieved a 10x improvement in digitizing existing records. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in construction, engineering, urban planning, or interested in how technology is making our cities safer and more resilient! Tune in now and enjoy the episode!