LEVERAGING TECH TO SPEED UP LOCATES – DPPRO

Shane Hart wrote an article for dp-PRO which we thought was worth sharing. It talks about some of the different approaches and techniques you can employ to get the most out of current technologies in the locating industry which will in turn drive efficiency and cut down on the amount of time spent locating. You can read the full article …

THE TRUE COST OF UTILITY DAMAGES

In the US, there are more than 35 million miles of underground utility lines for services like power, gas, water, sewage, & fiber optics. Working close to subterranean utility infrastructure is a serious matter, and neglecting to do an accurate and thorough locate assessment can lead to enormous financial responsibilities, legal repercussions, or even worse: significant injury or death. Underground …

5 IMPROVEMENTS TO REDUCE DAMAGES

The road to zero damages is not an easy one, but where there’s a will, there is a way. Whether through government mandates, economic incentives or a drive for safety the rate of damages has been decreasing and the membership of organizations like the CGA have been growing. In this NoDamage article I’m going to focus on 5 measures that …

LOCATES IN THE CLOUD

The top image is a bit of a troll, I’m not here to talk about UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles / Drones). The cloud I’m actually talking about in this NoDamage report is the virtual cloud. “The cloud refers to software and services that run on the Internet, instead of locally on your computer. Most cloud services can be accessed through …

DIGITALLY TRANSFORMING YOUR UTILITIES

The utility industry has achieved a “moderate” level of digitization, but unfortunately that is still behind many other industries. This means there’s an opportunity for increasing efficiencies and reducing damages. Tellingly, physical assets are where utilities have the most room for digital growth. 60% of digital investments typically go toward products and services, while the amount directed for supply chain …

WHAT’S YOUR END GOAL

Every successful person has a goal in mind for what they want to achieve! On the road to zero damages I think it’s imperative that we all have goals in mind, that help us reach the ultimate goal of eliminating damages. LOCATORS At the personal level you may be asking your self, “what more can I do?” The trend for …

TALK ABOUT SAFETY

June is National Safety Month and safety is a major part of reducing damages! Tailgate meetings & toolbox talks are essential for communicating hazards and improving safety on site. Utility locators are often in dangerous situations and having a morning meet allows for direct communication and a refocusing on safety. Here are some topics to consider sharing with your locators …

MAPPING OUT THE FUTURE

Utility Locates and mapping go hand in hand and as the industry continues on the road to zero damages we expect the need to improve accuracy and features within mapping to increase. Just knowing something unseen exists isn’t enough! Having access to your data isn’t enough anymore, now you need to see it. And specifically that means you want to …

DIGGING SAFE IN 2022

April is #DigSafe Month so I wanted to do a special edition of NoDamage focusing on the safe digging! According to the DigSafe.ca, “Dig Safe Month is designed to coincide with the unofficial start of spring digging season and to serve as a reminder to homeowners and contractors that they need to call or click before they start digging.” At …

ARE YOU STAYING UP TO DATE

How do you stay up to date with the ever changing utility locating industry? There are a number of resources that can keep you up to date with what’s going on, in terms of legislation, equipment and innovations. Here are a 3 ways you can stay up to date, gain a competitive advantage and win those bids! Staying up to …