Project Summary
Severn Partnership was commissioned to carry out a comprehensive topographic survey of the Britannia Bridge and its surrounding road networks, including the major junctions on either side. The client required detailed, accurate survey data to support their future design works.
Our aim was to complete the survey safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption to traffic.
To avoid the weeks of traffic management and extended site time that traditional survey methods would have required, we turned to our advanced mobile mapping capability to deliver the results our client needed faster, safer and with added value.
The Challenges
The challenges on this project were as much about logistics and planning as they were about data collection. Surveying such a high-traffic site required precise coordination between survey teams, traffic management providers and local stakeholders. We needed to complete the survey work within a tight timeframe, minimise on-site risk to our surveyors and avoid significant traffic disruption.
The need for meticulous planning and the tight project timelines made the success of this project depend heavily on both the right approach and technology.
Our Solutions
To overcome these challenges, Severn Partnership deployed the Leica Pegasus:Two Ultimate, a vehicle-mounted mobile mapping system designed for rapid, high-resolution 3D data collection.
This advanced system integrates GNSS/IMU positioning with multiple LiDAR sensors and camera systems. With this technology, we captured the full road network across both bridge approaches in just two nights with only two surveyors on site – a result simply not possible when using traditional methods.
Crucially, no full road closures or prolonged traffic management were required.
The Pegasus system collected millions of data points while in motion, producing a rich point cloud model and full photographic coverage of the route. This allowed for both immediate CAD outputs and the option to revisit the data virtually, and the ability to extract additional information as needed without returning to site.
Our workflow was designed for both speed and reliability:
1. Desktop survey of the full survey extents to plan routes and access.
2. Coordination of traffic management only where needed, and primarily used for highway verge surveys.
3. Night-time data collection using mobile mapping to reduce disruption.
4. Rapid processing to stitch together multiple data passes into one cohesive and highly detailed point cloud.
The efficiency of our approach on this project meant the survey programme was delivered in a fraction of the time of conventional techniques, and with significantly reduced on-site risk.
Results
Mobile mapping doesn’t just make our data collection quicker, safer and cause less disruption, but it also redefines our deliverables.
While traditional methods would provide only 2D and 3D CAD drawings, our approach on the Britannia Bridge project also gave our client:
– A full point cloud model of the entire route and road network.
– The flexibility to extract new measurements without additional fieldwork and return site visits.
So, what were the key benefits of mobile mapping on the Britannia Bridge project, at a glance?
– Survey duration reduced from weeks to days
– No extensive road closures or traffic disruption
– Improved safety with fewer surveyors on the carriageway
– Greater long-term value with detailed 3D deliverables
What does this mean for future projects?
The Britannia Bridge project is a clear example of how mobile mapping can transform the way we approach infrastructure surveys. It shows how speed, safety and detailed data no longer must come at the cost of one another.
As the demand for smarter, faster data collection grows, mobile mapping with technology such as the Leica Pegasus:Two Ultimate is becoming a go-to approach for complex environments.
Want to explore mobile mapping for your next project?
Get in touch with our mobile mapping Project Manager, Luke Blakemore, or connect with him on LinkedIn to find out how we can support.