{"id":316,"date":"2018-11-09T14:42:40","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T14:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/?p=316"},"modified":"2018-11-09T14:42:40","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T14:42:40","slug":"gravity-probe-could-spell-an-end-to-hole-digging-on-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/gravity-probe-could-spell-an-end-to-hole-digging-on-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Gravity probe could spell an end to hole digging on sites"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new research project has been awarded \u00a36m in its bid to end disruption caused by digging holes on construction sites.<\/p>\n

A UK consortium of leading scientific and engineering companies is developing new quantum cold-atom sensors that can detect sinkholes, mineshafts and underground services.<\/p>\n

The technology could revolutionise ground investigation work because it is twice as accurate as current systems and can penetrate far deeper.<\/p>\n

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The Gravity Pioneer project has been awarded \u00a36m in research funding from UK Research and Innovation.<\/p>\n

It is being led by environmental and engineering services company RSK and 12 project partners including the University of Birmingham and the University of Southampton.<\/p>\n

The project aims to build and test a new gravity instrument that will mean an end to unnecessary excavations.<\/p>\n

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George Tuckwell, project lead and divisional director for geosciences and engineering at RSK, said: “Our ability to detect objects beneath the ground has not improved significantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to attempting to locate a forgotten mineshaft, determine the extent of a sinkhole or assess the quality of infrastructure, we still often resort to digging or drilling holes.<\/p>\n

“This presents huge economic and societal costs as road networks are dug up, oil wells are dry or brownfield land is left undeveloped.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Existing techniques for ground investigation include classical microgravity, ground penetrating radar and seismic technologies but these can be limited in sensitivity, penetration or cost.<\/p>\n

Gravity Pioneer aims to develop a tested blueprint for a commercially relevant device that will overcome these challenges.<\/p>\n

Dr Richard Murray, business development manager at project partner Teledyne e2v said: \u201cA large factor in the bid\u2019s success was the prominent role of end-users in the project structure and the full supply chain of service, instrument and component partners involved.<\/p>\n

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“Together, we are working to build a gravity instrument that works, that the marketplace wants and that provides value to users such as RSK and client organisations such as BP, Network Rail, HS2 and Airbus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe UK is world leading in quantum technology and the project brings together the best the UK has to offer in this field.<\/p>\n

“Once we can demonstrate the advanced performance of quantum cold-atom sensors, the economic and societal benefits of this new quantum industry in the UK will be significant.\u201d<\/p>\n

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