About SnakeGrid

Testimonials

1. Chris Preston, BSc (Hons) FRICS FCInstCES MPWI, Senior Survey Engineer, Network Rail.

SnakeGrid has been developed to solve a problem that Network Rail experienced with rail alignment design along long route corridors. Previously, this meant having to change grid zones every 10km. It effectively removes the effects of scale factor and height above mean sea level along a defined corridor suitable for railway track design. This has now been introduced by Network Rail on all Primary routes throughout the UK.

2. Mark Combes BSc, Dip Svy, MRICS, MInstCES, Managing Director, Severn Partnership

Severn Partnership has commissioned eight SnakeGrids for several of its clients – including Fugro BKS, who undertook aerial mapping of the 267 km twin track mainline between Dublin and Cork.

The benefit to Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail – of the custom SnakeGrid DC08 was a high accuracy grid close to unity scale factor to eliminate horizontal and vertical distortions, enabling the collection of a comprehensive 3D data set by different survey methods to an agreed known engineering grid.

Laser scanning and high accuracy survey track work data sets could also be filtered through the SnakeGrid software using the 3D geodetic network constructed across the whole project. Irish Rail want to increase line speeds and network capacity and DC08 not only helps with mapping for design but will also be used in the construction and as-built proving stages, the latter essential when increasing line speeds.

SnakeGrid is an excellent example of technology transfer from UCL. I am very glad to note that UCL Business team has been able to successfully commercialize the technology and it is being used by major industrial clients including Network Rail and Severn Partnerships. Prof. Nick Tyler, Head of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering Department, UCL

UCL Business has been instrumental in identifying, developing and commercialising SnakeGrid . We provided proof of concept funding at an early stage to develop a commercially viable prototype and undertook all business support activities. Dr. Steven Schooling , Director, Physical Science and Engineering, UCL Business PLC.