Welcome to Utility Alert, your weekly news roundup dedicated to the latest in damage prevention and utility industry news. Each week, we bring you essential updates, expert insights, and key developments to keep you informed and ahead in the fields of damage prevention and utilities. Stay tuned to ensure you’re always up-to-date with the trends and innovations shaping our industry. Sinkhole …
VHS | LOCATOR TV W/ JASON VANE
In this episode of Locator TV, they sit down with Jason Vane, the owner and operator of Smart Scan Locators, to discuss the intricacies of the utility locating industry. The conversation begins with a lighthearted exchange about Jason’s background, including his entry into the field in 2017 after returning from overseas travels. Jason shares how he started working with a …
CHATGPT-4o & GOOGLE’S AI FOR DAMAGE PREVENTION
This past week has seen some big announcements from OpenAI and Google concerning new AI tools that they’re launching. I’ve discussed AI a number of times before and I’ll keep bringing it up because it’s the direction that technolgy is heading and thus the direction we as an industry will follow. As technology evolves, so do the tools at our …
HARNESSING TRANSFERABLE SKILLS FROM THE ARMY
USIC announced this week a partnership with the U.S. Army Reserve’s P3O Program where they would provide employment opportunities to veterans. I think this is a big win-win for everyone involved and I wanted to highlight it this week in my article. Every year I hear about high turnover in the industry and issues finding good staff. This seems like …
UA / ISSUE 93
Our goal should be to enhance the dependability and precision of underground utility infrastructure mapping records and associated supporting data. Underground utility safety bill advancing in Legislature READ Former Underground Utilities supervisor charged with theft from city of Emporia READ North Texas-Based EGW Utilities Acquired by St. Louis Infrastructure Services Company READ The Forgotten Piece in Damage Prevention READ How slit trenches improve …
VHS | HOW SLIT TRENCHES IMPROVE SUI SURVEYS
“Have you ever arrived at a construction site only to discover underground services that were not accurately marked, resulting in costly damages? Say goodbye to guesswork and expensive mistakes with the revolutionary technique of non-destructive digging and subsurface utility information (SUI) surveys. ” Thanks to Geoscope for sharing this video – make sure you subscribe to their channel here.RECENT POSTSApr. …
THE FORGOTTEN PIECE
I’m taking part in The Roundtable for Contractors today with Planet Underground and so I thought I’d spend some time highlighting what this roundtable is seeking to address. When it comes to damage prevention in the underground utility world, the focus is often on the one-call notification systems, locators marking lines, and utility owners protecting their assets. However, there is …
UA / ISSUE 92
“Just because you always did it that way, doesn’t make it right.” It’s always the right time to improve how we do things in terms of safety. Here are the top 10 stories from the last week: Decision on formal charges ahead after arrest of Emporia’s former Underground Utilities supervisor READ FPL puts Navarre Beach utilities underground READ Pix4D upgrades …
VHS | HOW TO FIND FIBER OPTIC SPLICE LOCATIONS
Ever wondered how to find fiber optic splice locations using the network design? There’s a few age old tricks in here and some new ones. With the amount of. fiber being installed it’s good to get a refresher on this stuff as we build out our damage prevention knowledge! Have a great weekend everyone!RECENT POSTSApr. 24, 2025THE RELENTLESS THREATApr. 21, …
ARE UTILITY LOCATORS FIRST RESPONDERS?
I was lurking on the Utility Locator subreddit this week and noticed two posts about Utility Locators being First Responders, these were posted in light of the tornadoes and then a gas leak at a home. So I thought I’d give my 2 cents on the subject. But first, let’s define what a first responder is: What is a first …