Boosting location powered innovation

• Sarah Hodgetts, Director, Geospatial Commission

• Nick Bolton, Chief Executive Officer, Ordnance Survey

• Representative from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Digitalising the home moving process

• Beth Rudolf, Director of Delivery at the Conveyancing Association and Deputy Chair of the Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG)

Running through the need for the digitalisation of property data in home moving and home ownership to comply with the law, bring faster certainty and to improve the customer satisfaction. Beth will cover the Why? What? Where? And the How? To create a positive home moving process for all.

Panel session questions and answers

Delivering for customers, supporting collaboration between utilities, planning and highway authorities

• Chris Chambers, Deputy Director, Geospatial Commission, Leading the NUAR digital transformation programme

There are significant economic and societal advantages in bringing utilities into line with the work of planning and highway authorities as early as possible. In this session, Chris will look at the importance of data-capture from and for new installations, and the developments in improving the ecosystem that supports new developments and infrastructure - the work of Custodians in this arena is vital.

Reducing costs and supercharging connectivity by intelligent infrastructure planning

• Viv Beck-Infrastructure Engineering Manager, Freedom Fibre

As a UK FTTP wholesaler, Freedom Fibre is building a reliable, resilient, and lightning-fast full-fibre network for homes and businesses across the North West. Founded by industry leader Neil McArthur, Freedom Fibre has positioned itself as a leader within the AltNet sector, accelerating the UK-wide rollout of gigabit-capable infrastructure. Throughout this process, DataVia has been essential to Freedom Fibre optimising its design processes. Viv will discuss how this has enabled Freedom Fibre to; Improve the accuracy of predesign assessments and build cost estimates, avoid private roads where possible, start wayleave applications prior to build, improve overall accuracy of customer connection times.

Connecting the new build process

• Anders Harrison, Data Consultancy Manager, NHBC

The early, authoritative identification of individual properties is essential for an efficient, low-risk build process. It also paves the way for smooth, stress-free ownership and occupancy. Anders will explore how NHBC could utilise UPRNs to identify properties with precision and accuracy. These insights are valuable for all housebuilders and could potentially drive improvements throughout the entire property lifecycle

Panel session questions and answers

• Mick Dunn, Business Development Specialist (GIS | 3D | Digital Twins), Geographical Information Services, Nottingham City Council

This session will focus on Nottingham City Council's journey into virtual reality urban planning. Leveraging 20 years of expertise and collaboration with geospatial industry leaders, it has developed a highly detailed 3D model of the entire city. This embryonic digital twin accelerates planning processes, fosters interactive discussions, enables scenario testing, and conducting of geospatial analysis, all within a unified 3D GIS framework. With additional funding secured via the DLUHC PropTech Innovation Fund, Nottingham has expanded its 3D capabilities to enhance engagement activities and is actively contributing its expertise to advance the 3D movement across the UK and beyond.

New operating model Blueprint

• Graham DeAth, Programme Director, The Healthy Homes Project

Where we live impacts how we live. At the intersection of housing and health, there's a call for more analysis that can help improve living standards and well-being throughout society - and UPRNs can hold the key. Graham DeAth considers the practical implications for 'Healthy Homes', and looks at ways in which local authorities can benefit from better-integrated data sets, and actively join this Health Homes ‘conversation’ to shape a healthier future.

Linking data dynamically, a national buildings dataset for energy use

• Paul Ruyssevelt, Professor of Energy and Building Performance, UCL Energy Institute, Building Stock Lab

Anyone who analyses building stock to identify retrofit priorities and grants, energy costs or potential changes in green policy will know it is a complex process. Paul Ruyssevelt will look at the value from linking multiple datasets dynamically in NEED (the National Energy Efficiency Data-Framework). Intrinsically, linked via UPRNs, this kind of dataset is an invaluable means to support long-term policy-making, help reduce costs, and, ultimately, accelerate the transition to Net Zero.

Driving healthy communities: alleviating congestion and minimising disruption caused by street and road works

• Sam Guiver, Network Assurance Manager, Suffolk County Council

As we look at the impact of congestion and disruption caused by street and road works, we should ask - is congestion always a negative influence on society? Sam will be taking a holistic view on this topic, looking at the unexpected positives of congestion on our highways. He'll also be exploring the evolving ways in which that congestion is being mitigated when originating from street and road works.

Panel session questions and answers

State of the nation

• Cathy Coelho, Principal Chair of the DCA Regional Address Group and Kerry Pearce, National Address Data Manager, GeoPlace
• Keith Curran, Principal Chair of the DCA Regional Streets Group and Jonathan Bates, National Street Data Manager, GeoPlace

Our update from the Principal Chairs of the DCA Regional Address Group, reflecting on the challenges and success of the past 12 months.

Championing the role of the Custodian

• Juliet Whitworth, Head of Research and Information

Juliet will be looking at some less obvious examples of ways in which Custodians are providing an invaluable service to local authorities - and how their work brings efficiency and effectiveness to the heart of many departments.

Addresses make the world go around

• Stephen Rowlands, Office for National Statistics, Head of Location Indexing

From Census to labour force surveys, and population estimates to data linkage, addressing is the key to producing the statistics that support better decision-making, nationwide. Stephen will be looking at the dynamic, AddressBase infused tools in the Location Index used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Streets keep the country moving

• Matthew Eglinton FIHE, Head of Local Highways Policy, Department for Transport

Assessing the importance of data to keeping our streets moving: Whilst street works are something we must live with to repair and expand existing networks, access to accurate data, planning and co-operation are all fundamental. This session looks at the systems and policies behind the use of the USRN and street data into policy-making and funding.

Presentation of the Exemplar Awards 2024

• Claire Holloway, Head of Corporate Services, Local Government Association, (Chair of the GeoPlace Board)

Recognising outstanding achievements over the last 12 months.