Case Study: Morgan Sindall Group achieves 24/7 rail monitoring and rapid response with Trimble

A massive infrastructure project uses geospatial technologies to streamline essential construction processes

Morgan Sindall was contracted to link new Crossrail tunnels to Network Rail in Newham, requiring 24-hour monitoring of an 860 m stretch of track during cut-and-cover construction to ensure passenger safety and protect existing rail infrastructure. The challenge was to deliver a robust, reliable and repeatable system that could detect small movements in real time and provide confidence to project stakeholders and rail operators.

The team implemented a dual geospatial solution: 10 Trimble S8 total stations with VISION and Trimble 4D Control managing hourly measurements to prisms spaced every 3 m, alongside several hundred wireless tilt meters, with data stored in an SQL database and uploaded to UCIMS. Automated alerts at 8, 15 and 20 mm—filtered to key staff—enabled rapid assessment (an 8 mm event was monitored without action, a 15 mm alarm prompted track realignment in under 12 hours). The system delivered timely reports, traceable data and the repeatable monitoring that satisfied clients and protected rail operations.

Morgan Sindall Group

Nick Giles

Chief Land Surveyor