National Highways partners with FutureWorx event

National Highways is hoping to demonstrate how Connected and Autonomous Plant (CAP) can work successfully across construction sites as the transport industry comes together at Futureworx – with HS2 the latest high-profile partner to sign up for the event.

Amer Essa, Innovation & Continuous Improvement Innovation Advisor at National Highways, said, “Advances in technology and the introduction of CAP are transforming activities across the UK construction sector.

“CAP offers potential in a wide range of applications including the remote collection of data for design, autonomous extraction and movement of materials and robotic construction.

“Connected and autonomous plant makes work safer and quicker and National Highways is committed to making CAP techniques standard industry practice. Futureworx is a perfect opportunity to share that ambition and help the transport industry reach this goal.”

In June 2020, National Highways and i3P jointly launched a CAP roadmap with the aim of making it business as usual by 2035.

The roadmap was developed collaboratively with over 75 organisations and addresses the technical, business and legislative challenges, split into three key themes of people and society; technology and hardware and data and digital techniques.

National Highways joins HS2 Ltd - the specialist company established to build Britain’s new high speed railway network - and The Supply Chain Sustainability School in supporting the FutureWorx ‘future technology’ event, which is being delivered by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association), hosts of the PlantWorx exhibition.

The event will showcase what the construction site of the future will look like – embracing immersive technologies and exploring cutting edge innovations and the power of Data.

There will be a focus on people plant interface management, telematics, the connected site, GPS systems, safety systems and advances in autonomous and electric and hydrogen machinery.

The event aims to highlight sustainability, productivity and advances in future fuels such as hydrogen, electric and HVO.

FutureWorx, National Highways, HS2 and the Sustainability Supply Chain School, will bring together industry professionals keen to find out what is in the pipeline of ideas and technology which will shape tomorrow’s construction equipment experience. The two-day event will also include conference sessions, live product demonstrations and technical talks.

For further information visit www.futureworx.uk

*Subject to change due to Covid-19