Fast and accurate results
Within a month of purchasing the software full implementation and import of historic data was carried out and the system went live . Given the ease of use the interface provides , just one day of formal training was required to get Anglesey up to speed , upload the Council ’ s strategies , and allow them to produce its forecast for the Welsh Government .
“ Once the system was up and running , we were able to generate our 15-year forecast to support our prudential borrowing . The system helps us to show how we are using the additional funding and supports us in demonstrating that we are making best use of it . This has made it much simpler to justify what we wanted the money for and how we would spend it . The forecast can be based on future performance indicators or on fixed budgets or vice versa – the system performs the calculations for us ,” adds Iolo Jones .
Increasing transparency , facilitating the best decisions
Horizons has increased visibility of the network and its condition for Anglesey ’ s highways team . It is also improving ongoing decision making , supporting the Council ’ s approach to maintenance and repair .
“ Rather than us deciding what the priorities are , Horizons gives us more transparency by actually showing us what the priorities should be based on accurate data . This makes the network cheaper to manage and safer to use . We can extend its life and value based on reliable information ”
Iolo Jones .
“ It is so much quicker to identify potential schemes using the system than relying on conventional UKPMS outputs and feedback from inspector site visits alone . For example , we were able analyse and identify 21 schemes for 2013 to 2014 with an expected budget of £ 1.1 million and 37 schemes if the budget were increased to £ 1.2 million in a very short time .– in fact we were able to do it during our day ’ s training using Horizons and Yotta DCL support . Manually , it would have taken weeks to complete this work ,” he adds .
Historical visual record
Horizons now provides Anglesey with a rapid-access , visual historical record of all its surveys mapped out over the network . With annual survey data being input to the system , it is easy for the highways team to access information and see the improvements and deterioration of road surfaces over time . This means questions are answered quickly and accurately .