Success for a service from Gwynedd at the Techfest Awards 2023

YGC (Ymgynghoriaeth Gwynedd Consultancy) was announced as the deserving winner in the Best Use of Technology: Smart Data Collection for Asset Management category at the TechFest 2023 Awards.

This award followed a face-to-face review by a panel of 30 industry leading judges and the TechFest Awards ceremony was held in front of an industry audience on 23 November at the Hilton Bankside London.

The event, which was celebrating its sixth year this year, brought together more than 300 attendees from all parts of the civil engineering industry for a day full of insightful information and a night of celebration, recognition, and networking. This included clients, contractors, consultants, architects, leading technology providers, innovators, and start-ups.

Belinda Smart, deputy editor of New Civil Engineer, commented:

“Having read through all the award-winning submissions for this year’s TechFest Awards, it is clear that the standard of entry this year was exceptional. Everyone on this year’s shortlist should be proud of making it to this stage.

“The innovations that we celebrated at TechFest have a key role in creating a better world for everyone; be it by reducing carbon emissions, using materials in a more efficient way or increasing site productivity.”

Councillor Berwyn Jones, Cabinet Member of Cyngor Gwynedd who is responsible for the Gwynedd Consultancy Service, said:

“The TechFest judges believed the use of technology to monitor floods, as part of Y Felinheli's Flood Protection Plan, was very deserving of the award. As part of the project, the YGC Water and Environment team (Robin Perkins, Elen Williamson and Emyr Gareth) installed a wireless system, using LoRaWAN technology, to monitor the tide level in the river Menai. By comparing the level in Y Felinheli with the flood warning equipment in Holyhead, it was possible to simplify the process of deciding when to close the flood gates at Y Felinheli - which is carried out by a team of volunteer Flood Wardens.”

“Another essential part of the project was the work of the Cyngor Gwynedd Information Technology team (Llŷr Owen Jones and Elfyn Evans) who set up a system to receive and record the data from the tide sensor. This data is available at any time of the day or night to the Flood Wardens of Y Felinheli and to YGC Officers.”

“The judges were complimentary of the community aspect of the project and of the opinion that the work could be duplicated in similar locations around the coast. Work has already started to see if the technology can be used to manage flood risk at Porthdinllaen near Nefyn”

"Many congratulations to the team for their success. It's nice to see recognition for all the hard work the service workers do here in Gwynedd."

 

Colin Marrs, editor of Construction News, said:

“The Techfest 2023 Awards and conference paint a picture of a construction and engineering industry that is truly coming of age on technology. We are at an exciting tipping point for adoption that is boosting productivity and helping firms drive up standards – from design to logistics to safety – higher than ever before.”

“I congratulate all tonight’s winners. Each firm and individual shortlisted is taking the industry to a new level and should be proud of their achievements.”

For more information about YGC's work follow the service on Facebook, X or go to the service's website https://ygc.cymru/