KTUC26 – Putting Innovation to Work

New technology, fresh thinking and a community full of ideas. KTUC26 showed what’s possible when people come together to find better ways of working.

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14/10/26
Joe Beaumont
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New technology, fresh thinking and a community full of ideas. KTUC26 showed what’s possible when people come together to find better ways of working.

KTUC26 – Putting Innovation to Work

The outdoor demos were busy, the exhibitor zone was packed, and the conversations carried on long after the presentations finished. Nearly 200 people, over 40 sessions and two days of ideas, demonstrations and conversation. KTUC26 brought the geospatial community together to explore better ways of working… and there was plenty to talk about!

For us, one theme stood out across the event: innovation is as much about how you work as what you buy. There was exciting new technology to try, alongside plenty of discussion about getting more from existing equipment, improving processes and helping people adapt to change. The conversation kept returning to how we can work better, make more of our data and turn good ideas into everyday improvements.

“The conversation kept returning to how we can work better, make more of our data and turn good ideas into everyday improvements.”

Highlights from the day

Ron Bisio, Trimble

Ron Bisio, Group President of Trimble Field Systems, flew into the UK especially for KTUC, and he gave us all a deeply interesting and insight-packed keynote presentation. His talk included some exciting info about the future of Trimble’s innovation.

Podcast Recording

With some last-minute line-up changes, Liam H of Trimble gamely stepped in to host the Benchmark Podcast – watch this space for the episodes coming soon!

Live Drone Flights

The Wingtra RAY and DJI Dock were wowing customers and other exhibitors alike on our Flying Field. Also in attendance was our new mobile mapping vehicle, affectionately known as ‘The Beast’.

Technical Tracks

Across both days of the event, there was a series of classroom and practical technical talks covering the full range of Trimble technology, from tips on getting the most out of Trimble Connect, Mobile Mapping walkthroughs, integrated surveying, utilities survey tips, GNSS advice from the Ordnance Survey – and much more.

Innovation starts with how you work

Across the presentations and conversations between sessions, people were sharing ideas for doing things differently. Some involved ambitious uses of new technology, and others came down to taking a careful look at an everyday process and asking whether it could work better.

There’s far too much to cover in one blog, but I’d like to spotlight the customer stories track. Two customer presentations in particular give us a flavour of those discussions. One of the strongest examples came from Kirsty McGuinness of Lastmile. Her presentation made an important point: buying new technology is only one part of making a business more innovative.

The real work is in implementation. How do you introduce a different process? Help people become confident with it? Manage the transition from familiar routines to a new way of doing things?

These questions deserve as much attention as the equipment or software itself. Even the most capable technology needs people who understand how to use it, processes that support it and a clear purpose behind the change.

Kirsty’s insights gave that side of innovation the attention it deserves. They also reflected a wider message at KTUC26: finding a smarter workflow can be just as significant as discovering a new piece of kit. Sometimes the biggest opportunity is to get more from the technology you already have.

“Finding a smarter workflow can be just as significant as discovering a new piece of kit. Sometimes the biggest opportunity is to get more from the technology you already have.”

Pushing the boundaries in the field

Jacob Armstrong of Dynamic Ground Solutions (DGS) brought another perspective, showing how the business is pushing the boundaries of automation and remote operation using Trimble SX and DJI Dock technology.

His talk demonstrated the ambition within our customer community to rethink how work gets done. It takes curiosity and commitment to look at an established process and ask how much of it could be automated, operated remotely or organised differently.

That’s what makes customer presentations such an important part of KTUC. They give other businesses the chance to learn from people tackling these questions in practice, with all the decisions and adjustments that involves.
Together, Kirsty’s and Jacob’s contributions captured two essential parts of innovation: exploring what technology makes possible, and doing the work needed to make it effective.

Discover technology solutions

Thinking differently about data

Ben Legg’s AI talk was another highlight, exploring how technology and innovation are changing the way businesses think about data. It was a particularly relevant subject for an audience whose expertise lies in capturing and understanding information.

One of the standout quotes from the event neatly expressed the opportunity “A survey done once is a cost. Survey data used multiple times is an asset.”

It’s a powerful challenge to think beyond the immediate deliverable and it’s a thought worth taking back to the office. A survey may be commissioned to answer one question, but its usefulness doesn’t necessarily end when that job is complete. The same information could support another team, answer a different question or help with decisions later in a project.
That depends on people being able to find, understand and use it. How we manage and share data therefore deserves as much thought as how we capture it.

It also opens up a valuable conversation with clients. What else could this information do for them? Who else might need it? Those questions can change how people understand the value of a survey.

That idea connected so much of the event. Better workflows help good information reach the people who need it, when they need it.

“A survey done once is a cost. Survey data used multiple times is an asset.”

Getting hands-on with technology

Outside the DemoZone was busy throughout, with flights of the Wingtra Ray and DJI Dock, but also a particular buzz around the new Trimble ST30 smart target. KTUC26 gave delegates the first UK & Ireland opportunity to get hands-on with it, and plenty were keen to take a closer look.

There was the full range of Trimble and partner technology at KTUC26, and seeing equipment in action is often when the useful questions begin. How would it fit into your current setup? Where could it save time? What would it change about the way you work?

The outdoor areas gave people room to explore those questions with the kit in front of them and experts on hand. The enthusiasm around the ST30 made it one of the event’s most talked-about highlights.

Book a personalised Trimble ST30 Demo!

A packed exhibitor zone

Inside, the exhibitor zone was just as lively. Having customers, manufacturers and specialists together made it easy to follow up on something from a presentation, ask a specific question or investigate an idea.

Those informal conversations are a big part of KTUC’s value. A session might get you thinking about a different approach; a chat afterwards can help you work out where to start.

With so much expertise available, there were opportunities throughout the event to look at how equipment, software and processes could work better together.

Celebrating the people making a difference

After a full day, the gala dinner gave everyone time to relax and enjoy each other’s company. The awards that followed were a special highlight, recognising achievement across the community. Congratulations to our KTUC26 award winners! Formula 1 added a memorable touch with a video sent in from the track. It was a fantastic contribution to an evening celebrating the people and organisations taking our industry forward.

Trimble Innovation Award

Formula 1

Digital Construction Award

STRABAG

Emerging Talent Award

Owen Howells, Railscape

KOREC T.R.U.S.T Award

Nadia Oliveira

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mike Roller, Galliford Try

From emerging talent to a lifetime of achievement, the awards gave us the chance to recognise the commitment behind the progress, and to celebrate it together.

Time to be a community

The dinner, entertainment and networking received some of the warmest feedback of all. People appreciated having time to catch up, get to know new contacts and carry on the day’s conversations without rushing off to another session.

KOREC Managing Director Mark Poveda perhaps summed it up best as “giving the community an opportunity to exist”.

That really encapsulates up why we put on KTUC. There’s an enormous amount of knowledge and experience in the UK & Ireland geospatial industry, but busy working days don’t always leave much room to share it. Getting together makes that possible.

Thank you to every speaker, exhibitor, partner, colleague and delegate who made KTUC26 such a success. We hope you’ve gone back to work with useful ideas, a few new contacts and something you’re keen to try. We’d love to hear how you get on!