Sensat's New Features to Support Option Selection and Logistics Planning

This quarter we have focused on streamlining option selection and logistics planning workflows in Sensat’s platform. Product Managers, Holly Tyler and Aifric Delahunty reflect on their extensive user research and the features built to streamline infrastructure planning. 

Listen to Holly and Aifric talk about these new features at our feature update and Q&A webinar at 3 pm, Wednesday 24th April sign up here.

New Features to Support Option Selection: 

Across infrastructure sectors, the journey towards net zero is a complex puzzle involving intricate projects like Asset Management Period 8 and the Great Grid Upgrade. Project Managers expressed a need for tools that allow them to sift through options more efficiently, focusing on viable paths, and supporting these decisions with data. 

Our latest platform updates enable workflows for in-house early optioneering, significantly reducing the iterative process. It's about making early-stage decisions smarter, quicker, and more cost-effective.

How to bolster options selection using Sensat’s new features:

Sensat empowers teams to draw, annotate, and upload models, overlaying them onto real-world environments. Planning teams outline design footprints and incorporate models to explore various options within real-world contexts. To enhance this workflow, we've introduced several new features and capabilities.

Move annotations and models: Rotate and move annotations and 3D models to explore different site layouts. The power to adjust the location of both annotations and 3D models offers a dynamic approach to help you decide on the optimal use of space and resources. Quickly draw and move outlines e.g. to show the footprint of the asset, or upload your proposed designs to explore your options with more accuracy and confidence. 

Duplicate annotations: Easily replicate annotations to compare various site layouts and assess the impact of different options instantly. Additionally, investigate earthworks requirements by drawing footprints to calculate volumetric measurements for a flat-level plane. Duplicate and relocate this shape across your site for comparative analysis. Sensat’s earthworks tool has been reported to come within 10% of standard 3D modelling (read more).

Export annotations: Export your annotations as GeoJSON or CSV for a smoother workflow and integration with other systems and a comprehensive visualisation of plans and options.

How teams are using Sensat to support their options selection: 

A National Grid Connections team is in the early stages of planning a new substation. The team used Sensat to streamline their options selection process by bringing models of the substation into the real-world context in Sensat to explore its viability across different locations across the site. This has enabled the team to come to two clear frontrunners in a single meeting using the contextual data made available by Sensat. 

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Above: Sensat platform visualising how teams can rotate their annotations. 

New Features to Support Logistics Planning: 

Infrastructure Logistics planning is a complex, multi-faceted challenge, involving intricate supply chains and the ever-present demand for faster, more efficient delivery mechanisms. Recognising the complexity of coordinating multiple teams and activities on-site, we've introduced new features to enhance clarity and streamline logistics planning on our visualisation platform.

How to support your logistics planning using Sensat’s new features:

Upload Custom Icons: Make Sensat more aligned with your project. Upload custom icons, ensuring seamless alignment with the existing planning symbols and terminologies used across your project sites. This feature empowers teams to explain plans more easily to on-site teams using symbology already familiar to the project or industry.

New Annotation Colours: Dive into our expanded colour palette. Assign specific colours to signify different subcontractors or denote different areas' status. This visual differentiation aids in clearly demarcating work zones, enhancing on-site coordination and further customisation.

How teams are already using the new features: 

On a complex and vast project with multiple contractors, one logistics team has utilised these logistics features for better planning. They have assigned different colours to each contractor to map out their work zones, and are using their uploaded icon library to denote approvals and permission levels around the site. 

Above: The new extended colour palette added to Sensat’s platform alongside the ability to set new icons. 

Web mapping services are here 

Sensat has introduced Web Mapping Services (WMS) and Web Tile Map Services (WTMS), allowing for the seamless integration of GIS data into the Sensat platform. This release unlocks access to information often held in expensive and specialist GIS systems (like ESRI) so that all users can benefit from the GIS data in Sensat. 

With this new feature, Sensat can auto-retrieve layers from your existing systems for a seamless workflow and to ensure the data visualised in Sensat is up-to-date. Any changes made in the source program (e.g. Esri) will be reflected in Sensat. This will help teams maintain a single source of truth and facilitate more inclusive access to data without the cost of additional licensing for specialist software.

What’s next for the Sensat platform?

Looking into Q2 we have started work on some really exciting releases continuing on the theme of optioneering workflows. You will soon have the ability to duplicate your 3D models. This will allow early-stage planning teams to assess the associated costs between options in-house before engaging external consultants.

Additionally, Sensat is enhancing its BIM model functionality. While currently, users can view BIM models, the forthcoming update will allow for the examination of attributes and metadata of BIM models, or even specific components, directly within Sensat. This improvement aims to provide all users with the necessary information to make well-informed decisions.

Listen to Holly and Aifric talk about these new features at our feature update and Q&A webinar at 3 pm, Wednesday 24th April sign up here.