October 16, 2009 -- Crossrail has used detailed mapping of the Thames estuary from SeaZone to identify a safe and effective route for the transportation of waste material generated in the construction of a new railway for London and the south east of England. As the largest civil engineering project in Europe the construction will generate 7.3 million cubic metres of surplus material.

SeaZone’s Charted Vector data was used to map the waste transport route from central London along the River Thames to the site on the South Essex coast. The Crossrail railway, when completed, will travel from Maidenhead in Berkshire to Shenfield in Essex, through central London, and will link up Heathrow Airport, the West End, the City of London and Canary Wharf, a route length of 74 miles in total.

To limit any adverse impacts on local communities and the environment Crossrail aim to remove as much excavated material as possible by rail and water transport and to re-use as much as possible. One venture that is benefiting from this goal is the Wallasea Island Project where the excavated material will be used to transform an area of arable farmland into a ‘Wild Coast’ by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Excavated material will be transported by barge from Instone Wharf on the River Lee, Isle of Dogs station, and Manor Wharf in the London Borough of Bexley, along the River Thames to Wallasea Island where it will be used to create new habitats, restore the landscape and create a special place for wildlife, helping adaptation to the challenges of climate change, and sea level rise by providing space for nature and a place for relaxation and enjoyment.

Using SeaZone Charted Vector data in conjunction with Ordnance Survey data and their own mapping Crossrail were able to identify and verify a safe and effective route for the transportation of excavated material along the River Thames. Bentley MicroStation CAD software was used to analyse the map data identifying possible hazards to the barges and restrictions to travel and mooring.

“The SeaZone Charted Vector data provided additional detail and context complementing and enhancing our existing mapping,” commented Ian Harris, Technical Data Manager. “This enabled us to select a suitable route and identify possible hazards the barges may encounter along the way.”

SeaZone Charted Vector is derived from navigational chart data supplied by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. It is ideal for users who require a replication of a navigational chart for non-navigational uses, in open vector formats for GIS or CAD, such as application developers and system integrators for vessel tracking and route planning.

Contact: Alison Smith, Marketing & Sales Manager, Tel: +44 (0) 870 013 0607, Email: Email Contact, Web: www.SeaZone.com