As we harness the power AI and emerging tech, it becomes crucial to navigate the ethical dilemmas surrounding privacy, responsible data management, and community engagement. Today I’m not going to talk about ESG but instead how ethics actually I’m going to delve into the decisions we make within this industry and shed light on the path forward in utility locating …
The utility damage prevention field is currently at a crossroads, where human expertise and cutting-edge technological tools intersect. Striking the right balance between the two is pivotal for a proactive and efficient approach. In this article, we explore the symbiotic relationship between seasoned professionals’ intuition and the role of advanced ticket management systems, like Utilocate, in enhancing utility damage prevention …
The utility sector is a dynamic arena where choices have far-reaching consequences. In this context, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as invaluable tools, enabling us to enhance decision-making processes through the visualization of project data within a geospatial context. The transformative potential of GIS technology is still being under utilized, particularly in proactively preventing damages and optimizing project management. …
As someone deeply involved in damage prevention, I cannot emphasize enough the crucial role locators play in safeguarding construction and excavation projects by identifying and marking underground utilities. To continually enhance operations and reduce damages, I think you should consider implementing some or all of the following improvements: Technology integration: Adopt advanced technologies such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), ticket …
As someone deeply involved in damage prevention, I cannot emphasize enough the crucial role locators play in safeguarding construction and excavation projects by identifying and marking underground utilities. To continually enhance operations and reduce damages, I think you should consider implementing some or all of the following improvements: Technology integration: Adopt advanced technologies such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), ticket …
I was thinking the other day about how we can transfer skills between jobs and then I wondered how we could implement that mindset in damage prevention. So instead of looking down, I looked up, and started thinking about the aviation industry. Both industries are risk averse and safety is a top priority in both so I thought maybe we …
Any time there’s a major new product launch like the Apple Vision Pro headset, I try to think of where it could be implemented into the utility and damage prevention industries. The $3500 price point may be a bit of a sticking point so it’s hard to imagine giving them to locators in the field, but maybe supervisors could have …
I asked ChatGPT, “What is one feature that could improve the current One Call / 811 system?”The response I got was pretty detailed so I thought it was worth sharing:”One feature that could improve the 811 system is the integration of real-time mapping and geospatial data. By integrating real-time data on the location and condition of underground utilities, the 811 …
I was perusing through this comparative analysis of services provided by private locators on Science Direct and a few charts stood out to me so I wanted to share a few quickly, because I think SUE and our current one call system need to grow closer together. The study looks at how private locators provide their services and the difference …
Enbridge recently announced that they would be charging $200 for locates. Over the last week I’ve heard a lot of consternation over this and I’ve weighed it up in my own mind.Enbridge are kind of stuck in between a rock and hard place. On the one hand the current model does not serve their interests and the huge increase in …