Construction technology provider Causeway Technologies has acquired Buchanan Computing, a provider of permanent traffic engineering and highways management solutions, including ParkMap (pictured) which is currently used by over 90 UK local authorities to efficiently manage the complete lifecycle of traffic regulation orders.
The company says the acquisition of Buchanan Computing builds upon Causeway’s vision of digitalising construction, maintenance and traffic management processes by connecting Causeway one.network with Buchanan’s ParkMap, to create the UK’s first unified platform for Digital Traffic Regulation Orders (D-TROs).
It says this integration will give traffic authorities a crucial way to digitise all their permanent and temporary traffic regulation orders in a single platform, improving public consultation, reducing duplication and error, and boosting efficiency with a unified view.
ParkMap digitises everything from initial scheme design and public engagement, through to the generation of legal documentation and sharing real-time data about permanent TROs such as parking places, waiting and loading bays, and bus lanes.
Buchanan Computing has worked closely with the UK Government to inform the roll out of digitised traffic orders (D-TROs), with ParkMap customers such as Kent County Council, Essex, Lancashire and Transport for West Midlands using the system to participate in the Department for Transport’s D-TRO private beta test. The new legislation will require highways authorities to provide digital versions of all new traffic regulation orders, both temporary and permanent, during 2025.
The acquisition will also see Buchanan’s industry leading products SignPlot and SignLoad come into the Causeway suite of solutions.
SignLoad, for the design of sign structures, will integrate with Causeway’s PDS Sign to create a single solution that will transform infrastructure design productivity for local authorities, consultants and sign manufacturers, helping to minimise costs while ensuring that traffic sign and sign structure designs are correct and accurate.
SignPlot and SignLoad are the genesis and life-long work of Simon Morgan, chair of Buchanan Computing, and chair of the Traffic Signs Panel for the Institute of Highway Engineers, who will continue to support the integration with Causeway, alongside Buchanan chief executive Alex Smith.
AccsMap, Buchanan’s third product stream, is a system widely used by local authorities and police forces to help make the roads safer by analysing collision data and trends. Like other Buchanan products, it enables data to be shared, enabling authorities to work effectively.
This transaction represents the fifth strategic acquisition by Causeway since Five Arrows made a significant investment in Causeway in 2021.
Phil Brown, chief executive of Causeway, commented: “The acquisition of Buchanan Computing reinforces our commitment to delivering a fully integrated, end-to-end solution for highways authorities and contractors, enabling them to seamlessly plan, monitor and communicate the management and maintenance of their infrastructure assets while ensuring full compliance with legislation.
“By bringing our vision to life, we empower local authorities to operate more efficiently, maximising their limited budget and resources. This not only improves the level of service, but also benefits the public with better-maintained infrastructure and more timely, accurate information about the road network, reducing congestion, journey times and carbon emissions.”
Simon Morgan, chairman of Buchanan Computing, added: “For several years we have worked closely with Causeway, providing added value to mutual clients by providing links and integrations between our respective products. It therefore makes total sense to combine our resources in this way and to work more closely with the teams we have got to know at Causeway. Combining our highly complementary portfolios will bring huge value to our local authority customers, delivering all road data and design capability in a single asset management environment.
“I am very proud to have founded Buchanan Computing and taken it to this point where it has a wide user base and is massively respected. I am confident that Causeway is a great home in which to continue to advance the ethos of providing market leading, time-saving products, together with excellent support, training and consultancy services.”
Alex Smith, chief executive of Buchanan Computing, commented: “Being with Buchanan Computing for over 20 years has been an enjoyable and productive journey and I’m delighted to have been instrumental in its enormous growth and success over that time. With changes and opportunities ahead, such as next year’s legislation around D-TROs, now was the time to take stock and see whether we could serve our clients even better by combining with a company in the same field. This will enable us to continue to help authorities to break down application and data silos, by providing an integrated service needed to efficiently plan and manage their highway network.”
(Picture – Buchanan Computing)
