East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has introduced an innovative drone-led surveying approach designed to enhance wildlife protection while improving the efficiency of archaeological investigations across the planned rail route linking Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.
Developed in partnership with contractor Kier, the methodology combines thermal imaging drone surveys with specialist environmental expertise to identify and protect ground-nesting birds before archaeological trenching work begins.
The technology allows large areas of land to be assessed rapidly, enabling environmentally sensitive locations to be accurately mapped. This ensures archaeological investigations can continue safely in unaffected areas while nesting birds and their habitats remain fully protected.
The initiative is expected to deliver significant benefits during the peak bird nesting season, which runs from March to August and is traditionally one of the most challenging periods for archaeological and construction activity. By providing early identification of ecological constraints, the approach helps maintain project momentum, reduces delays and provides greater certainty for construction programmes.
Thermal drone surveys can assess extensive sites within just two to three hours, allowing project teams to identify nesting activity much earlier. This enables targeted vegetation clearance, the establishment of ecological buffer zones and the continuation of works in locations where it is safe to proceed.
As a result, the technology helps minimise programme disruption, reduce site stand-downs and avoid costly reprogramming of works during sensitive ecological periods.
Tristan Lincoln-Gordon, Director of Environment at East West Railway Company, said:
"Protecting the environment while delivering critical infrastructure is fundamental to how we build East West Rail. By embracing innovative technologies such as thermal drone surveys, we can identify and safeguard ground-nesting birds more effectively, giving our teams greater certainty to plan and deliver archaeological works responsibly.
“This approach enables us to enhance our ecological protection measures while improving efficiency and reducing disruption to ensure the effective delivery of one of the UK's most significant railway projects.”
Jonathan Pearce, Project Director for EWR at Kier, added:
“At Kier, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to improve delivery, creating value through safe and sustainable outcomes. East West Rail shares that same forward-thinking approach, and together we're able to develop solutions that not only improve project performance but also raise the bar for the wider industry."
While drone technology will become the preferred method for identifying and managing ground-nesting bird activity, EWR Co stressed that robust ecological safeguards will remain in place throughout construction.
These measures include the deployment of Ecological Clerks of Works to oversee key stages of activity, post-clearance ecological verification surveys, ongoing monitoring of ecological buffer zones and continued engagement with landowners and other stakeholders.
The latest initiative highlights how digital technology and environmental stewardship can work together to support the delivery of major infrastructure projects, balancing biodiversity protection with construction efficiency as East West Rail progresses towards delivery.
Image credit: iStock
