Case studies

Safer digs, proven on the ground

How major UK infrastructure teams use Vislock to cut permit turnaround, reduce strike risk and keep a complete record of every excavation.

DRAFT — quotes and headline results are from public sources; Vislock-user counts, durations and project values are indicative and pending client sign-off.

Rail infrastructure 1,000+ digital permits issued

HS2 – Digital Service Protection

HS2 EKFB Joint Venture

As part of the UK's largest infrastructure project, the HS2 EKFB Joint Venture adopted Vislock's digital Service Protection Platform to manage permit to dig and utility protection across its worksites. The fully digital workflow replaced paper-based systems with integrated utility data, controlled user access and real-time oversight of every active permit and excavation zone.

About HS2 EKFB Joint Venture: EKFB is a joint venture of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall, delivering a major central section of HS2 — the UK's largest infrastructure programme.

Company: HS2 EKFB Joint Venture
Vislock users: EKFB JV service protection teams
Duration: Live on programme
Project value: 1,000+ permits · zero service strikes

Having worked with paper permits for well over 20 years, I can only see this being the way forward. Having all the information readily available when the site is potentially 100 miles away is a real benefit, and something I'd suggest to any organisation.

Carl Caswell

Ferrovial (HS2 EKFB JV)

Aviation infrastructure Digital permit to dig workflow

Service Protection & Clearance

Heathrow

Heathrow's service protection team faced familiar permit to dig pain points: lost permits, the time taken to print and prepare permit packs, and the quality of the A3 drawings used on site. Vislock replaced that paper process with a single digital platform, improving the availability and quality of information while removing the print-and-prepare overhead.

About Heathrow: Heathrow operates the UK's busiest airport — one of Europe's largest, continuously active infrastructure estates.

Company: Heathrow
Vislock users: Service protection & clearance team
Duration: In active use
Project value: Paperless permit packs

Some of my biggest issues were lost permits, time to print and prepare permit packs and also the quality of the A3 drawings used on sites. Not only does Vislock already solve all these issues but vastly improves available information, time and quality.

Scott Gizzy

Service Protection and Service Clearance Manager, Heathrow

Major infrastructure 5,000+ permits over two years

Two-Year Permit Programme

HS2 & Fusion

Over a two-year period, Vislock supported HS2 and Fusion in issuing more than 5,000 permits. Moving the process onto a digital platform delivered measurable savings to the project: an estimated 104,000 sheets of paper, 130,000 miles of travel and £22,000 in labour costs, alongside a significant reduction in annual CO2 emissions over the project lifetime.

About HS2 & Fusion: Delivered with Vision Survey — a specialist utility survey company — across the HS2 and Fusion programmes.

Company: HS2 & Fusion
Vislock users: HS2 & Fusion project teams
Duration: 2 years
Project value: 5,000+ permits issued

The system stores all information so records of signatures, briefings and incidents can be checked even months after the permit has been closed. It's quick and easy to use and could most certainly be picked up by anyone in the construction industry.

Dan Stanton

Vision Survey

Ready to start digitising your permit to dig process?

The no-obligation demonstration only takes an hour of your time and lets you explore the platform and its key features. A team member will arrange a visit, in person or online.

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