This article was first published in ASCE Illinois Section News, Vol. 63, No.4 Winter 2022 There are several risks that might prevent a project from being completed in a safe manner, on time and within the construction budget. These risks typically include permits, rightofway acquisitions, unsecured construction easements, unexpected or changing site conditions, and utility conflicts and protection. This article will emphasize …
“You never know what you’re going to find underground” – well you definitely wouldn’t expect to find bats during an underground utility survey. This weeks VHS isn’t very educational but it’s worth a watch.RECENT POSTSDec. 13, 2024VHS | TINY ROBOT STAKEOUTDec. 12, 2024MY 2025 OUTLOOKDec. 09, 2024UA / ISSUE 123Dec. 06, 2024VHS | DIVERSIFIED UNDERGROUND AT THE SUE MEETINGDec. 06, …
Drone GPR has been hailed as the “next-gen” solution for underground utility mapping and locating. The promises are alluring: the ability to rapidly survey vast areas without any ground contact. However, beneath the sheen of innovation lie significant drawbacks and potential pitfalls that demand our attention. [There’s a few people on LinkedIn that I follow closer than others. Jan Francke …
South Dakota One Call* Renews Partnership with Texas811 Texas811 continues to strengthen Commitment to South Dakota One Call Richardson, TX – November 1, 2023 – After a competitive bid process, South Dakota One Call has renewed their partnership with Texas811 to provide services enhancing their mission of ensuring the safety of South Dakotans and the integrity of critical underground …
“Burying power lines is an expensive but sure-fire way to practically eliminate the risk of utility-caused wildfires, which have devastated towns across California. PG&E, the nation’s largest utility, has been found liable for numerous wildfires in the state. In an effort to prevent future disasters, the utility is planning to underground 10,000 miles of distribution lines in fire-prone areas, including …
I recently shared a video from the Barstool Sessions, where Jemmie and Mike engaged in a thought-provoking conversation. The central focus of their discussion revolved around the current state of the 811 locate process. In particular, they delved into the pressing issue of the significant shortage of staff in comparison to the ever-increasing number of locate requests. This discussion shed …
“On October 9, 2023, at 12:35PM, the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the area of N. Tryon Street and Lincoln Street for the smell of natural gas in the area. Firefighters arrived a short time later and determined a contract crew working in the area had stuck a 2-inch gas main inside a sewer line. Nicor arrived approximately 30 minutes …
The locating and excavation industries like any industries are only as effective as the people which are in them. While technological advancements have improved performance and safety measures, there’s another vital factor that often goes unnoticed: the psychology of the workers. In this article, I’ll focus on behavioral science and its potential role in reducing accidents and protecting critical infrastructure …
GFiber (aka Google Fiber) recently wrote an open letter to State Broadband Leaders on “on Planning for BEAD and Future Deployment Efforts”. This garnered a lot of attention and was in my estimation a good faith effort to open the discussion of reform within their industry. Since they mentioned damage prevention and 811 a lot, allow me to continue the …
“One of the key takeaways from the conversation was the concept of “daylighting” or “exposing utilities.” Chris explained that these terms are industry jargon for the process of uncovering underground utilities to locate and work on them safely. Ditch Witch offers a range of solutions, including their product, which can stand alone or complement their existing portfolio. The company’s goal …