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KEEPING OUR

STREETS GREEN

Having remediated more than 98 km of cast iron mains in the rehabilitate the gas mains in these
UK to date, CISBOT has proven itself as a critical technology areas often requires multiple large
in helping gas networks manage their Tier 2 and Tier 3 assets. excavations to replace or upgrade
the gas network, and in turn can be
The technology is also playing a role in the UK’s net zero plans costly to the networks to carry out as it
as SGN, Cadent and ULC continually push the boundaries of requires coordination with transport
innovation. For ULC, net-zero starts below the surface management systems and lane rentals.
CISBOT technology significantly
TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN buried Robot (CISBOT) across large diameter reduces the customer disruption caused
infrastructure, gas utilities perform cast iron mains. These large gas mains by conventional repair or network
hundreds of thousands of costly, are often located in densely populated upgrades, as the technology operates live
disruptive street excavations annually. and traffic-sensitive locations which within the gas main with no disruption to
ULC Pipeline Robotics, a leading can cause a notable challenge to access gas supply. This provides extraordinary
robotics-as-a-service solutions provider, for repair or replacement. cost savings for networks while extending
first expanded its operations into the UK Many of these assets were installed the life of the asset by 50 years.
in 2013 and has collaborated with gas to an excellent Victorian engineering ULC’s teams work across the UK
distribution networks, SGN and Cadent, standard, with empirical asset data daily to support cutting down carbon
to develop and deploy robotic systems collected showing that the cast iron pipes emissions by reducing the number
and technology to overcome some of the themselves are still in perfect working of excavations energy utilities would
typical challenges the utility sector faces order. However, the variable since traditionally face. Through the support
on a day-to-day basis. installation has been the environment of stakeholders, local councils and
Through the strong partnership above them and the gas they transport. strong communication with local
developed with SGN and Cadent Both of these factors have played a role in authorities such as Transport for
throughout RIIO-GD1, ULC witnessed increasing the risk of joint deterioration. London, ULC has been able to challenge
the deployment of the Cast Iron Sealing Using traditional methods to conventional methods of work to deploy

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