19th March 2010

De Boer scans the horizon at Hyde Park!

While the average visitor to London’s Hyde Park might carry an ice cream, their sunglasses or a good book, staff at De Boer have opted for another “must-have” accessory – the latest in radar technology...

While the average visitor to

London’s Hyde Park might carry an ice cream, their sunglasses or a good book,

staff at De Boer have opted for another “must-have” accessory – the latest in

radar technology.

 

The

structure specialist has been baffling onlookers by conducting detailed

underground scans of a huge area of the park near to historic Speakers’ Corner

as it prepares to provide facilities for this summer’s spectacular Playtex

MoonWalk charity event.

 

 

De

Boer’s meticulous attention to detail follows the relocation of the annual

fundraising extravaganza from its previous home on the south-east corner of

Hyde Park because of routine grass re-seeding by Royal Parks’ staff.

 

As

well as presenting the everyday challenges of hidden utility pipes and cables,

the Speakers’ Corner site – near Marble Arch – also lies immediately above an

underground car park. It means De Boer’s team has had to use specialist radar

equipment to locate the roof and walls of the car park, in addition to carrying

out a detailed topographical survey of the entire area.

 

And

with The MoonWalk using De Boer’s huge Pink Galaxy structure, measuring a

mighty 152 metres by 60 metres and requiring more than 260 supporting poles, it

has involved the scanning of more than 9,000 square metres of London’s famous

park.

 

De

Boer Key Accounts Manager Kate Morrison explained: “Identifying underground

services such as gas, water and electricity is all part of De Boer’s everyday

work but our preparations for The 2010 MoonWalk have been complicated by Hyde

Park’s underground parking. By using radar equipment we’ve managed to confirm

the exact location of the car park’s walls and ceilings before any building

work gets under way.”

 

Having

completed its detailed scans, De Boer’s team now has several weeks to assess

the data ahead of its equipment moving on site. Building work is due to begin

in early May, ahead of The MoonWalk taking place on the night of Saturday May

15.

 

Now

in its 13th year, the charity spectacular involves 15,000 people

setting off from Hyde Park on a power-walk through the streets of London to

raise money for breast cancer causes. The event – which encourages participants

to wear decorated bras as part of their outfit – is one of a number of

fund-raising activities organised by charity Walk the Walk.

 

De

Boer has been a long-time supplier to The MoonWalk, with the company’s Pink

Galaxy designed and created in 2006 specifically in the charity’s vivid

corporate colour.

 

The

structure has since been used at successive events and will be accompanied at

this year’s gathering by a range of De Boer’s other products, including

Chalets, Walkways and A-frame structures, for uses such as baggage storage, VIP

facilities, kitchen, merchandising unit and information desk.

 

Kate

Morrison added: “The size of the Pink Galaxy – equal to the playing areas of 35

tennis courts and standing 26 metres high – means it has a huge impact on the

London skyline. But it also involves a lot of preparation work to ensure there

are no potential issues underground!”

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