iWORCS technology reduces road disruptions

The cloud-based iWORCS platform, designed to synchronise underground maintenance projects, has attracted the interest of multiple organisations.

Developed by NSW Streets Opening Coordination Council (SOCC), Sydney Water, local councils and Esri Australia, the platform ensures that roads are only dug up once to undertake maintenance and repairs.

It is estimated that iWORCS could save hundreds of thousands of dollars as councils and utilities harmonise their work schedules. A pilot program conducted in 2016 identified savings in the range of $300,000 by sharing the cost of road surfacing, surveying and traffic management.

“Sydney Water and nine Sydney councils uploaded their work programs into iWORCS for a few months to create a central record of planned works that all could access,” said SOCC Chair Dominic Puiu.

“Even in that short time, significant savings were able to be made by coordinating the various projects, so that there was just one road opening and resurfacing.

“More important was the improvement in safety through reduced traffic disruptions and damage to road and footpath surfaces, and the reduction in disruption to communities that road and footpath blockages cause.”

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council has been working with the iWORCS online platform since the initial pilot and had seen the program save time, cuts costs and reduce inconvenience for residents.

“For current footpath improvement work on Bourke Street, Surry Hills, iWORCS has delivered immediate benefits for the community by improving coordination and avoiding the cost and disruption of any unnecessary duplicated work,” Moore said.

“It’s an excellent example of government agencies and councils working together in a way that’s of real benefit to residents and businesses alike — it would be terrific to see more utilities get on board.”

Esri Australia Managing Director Brett Bundock said iWORCS has spearheaded a new era of collaboration between councils, utilities and other agencies.

“iWORCS will help ease the frustration felt by road users, with freshly resurfaced roads being dug up repeatedly for underground maintenance,” Bundock said.

“As well as saving money for all stakeholders through shared costs, iWORCS enables utilities and councils to actively demonstrate their commitment to put the needs of the public first.”

Stakeholders from across NSW have already joined the collaborative platform, including:

• SOCC
• Sydney Water
• Roads and Maritime Services
• City of Sydney
• Wollongong City Council
• Lane Cove Council
• Jemena Gas
• Randwick City Council
• Georges River Council
• Canterbury-Bankstown Council
• Northern Beaches Council

Image courtesy of Katherine Griffiths/City of Sydney.

(L to R): David Riordan, Director Operations, City of Sydney; Brett Bundock, managing director, Esri Australia; Dominic Puiu, Chair, NSW SOCC; Stuart McDonald, Network Asset Programs Lead, Sydney Water

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