The visit included a trip to see the project that will allow remote operation of a bridge on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, and a visit to the Grand Union Canal at Hatton to see the new waterway control centre, which houses technology to help manage the Trust's fleet of workboats and vehicles, issue work notices and schedules to staff and monitor incidents and emergencies.
Working together
Delegates included waterway managers, technicians and experts from the Netherlands, France and Belgium. They were brought together through the ‘Numericanal' project, which looks at best practice across Europe of using technology to better run the waterways. Representatives from Scottish Canals and pan European boating group the Barge Association (DBA) were also present.
Steve Higham, European funding manager at the Trust, said: 'We were really pleased to welcome experts from all across Europe to see the work that we've done, and it's encouraging to be leading the way when it comes to canal technology. Ultimately this is all about how we can work together across Europe to find the best ways of managing the waterways, and it's great to have so many partners bringing a huge range of experience to the table'.
‘Numericanal' is a €3.3 million project funded by Interreg NWE, that aims to use technology to enable more efficient management of inland waterways.
