REBRANDING DAMAGE PREVENTION

The video below by Jason Camissa on Tesla’s Cybertruck sparked a wave of imaginative possibilities for me. Elon Musk’s pursuit of a futuristic design, prompted by his son’s question, “why doesn’t the future look like the future?” –  led to groundbreaking innovations like the stainless steel exoskeleton and cutting-edge technologies such as the 48-volt system and steer-by-wire technology. But rather …

VHS | STORY OF THE UTILITY LOCATOR

What does a Utility Locator do? How do they protect our underground utilities? Heavy Metal Learning and Planet Underground collaborated on this video to help answer those questions.In their own words; “Heavy Metal Learning is excited to partner with Planet Underground TV to share the underground construction stories of the utility locator. This episode features three veteran utility locators working …

ENGAGING THE PUBLIC

I shared a video this week with some pretty startling footage, and judging by the comments it’s a relatively common occurrence. In the video a homeowner is accosting a locator because she seems to believe he’s trespassing or is a threat. This mostly boils down to the ignorance of the general public about locating and the 811 industry as a …

VHS | BEFOREUDIG LOCATOR PERSPECTIVE

beforeUdig is the New Zealand equivalent of our 811 centers and they’ve produced this video with a locator’s perspective. It’s beneficial to learn from other places what works and what doesn’t. In their own words; “Our latest Front Runners episode is here, featuring the Locator’s Perspective while using beforeUdig services. Join the Locate Services team, as they guide us, through …

MEASURING SUCCESS IN DAMAGE PREVENTION

Excavation projects, vital for development and infrastructure, often encounter a lurking menace beneath the surface: ‘Ghost’ Utilities. These are the elusive, forgotten, or abandoned facilities that pose a substantial threat to safety and efficiency during excavation processes. The 2022 DIRT Report recorded 477 unique damages due to abandoned facilities, which isn’t a lot in view of all the other damages, …

VHS | HYDROVACING HOLES

Watch as Double H Construction use their hydrovac trailer to safely dig holes for light poles. In their own words, “Follow along as we dig holes for light poles using a hydro excavation trailer.”RECENT POSTSFeb. 14, 2025VHS | 20 WAYS AI CAN IMPROVE PROCESSES FOR SMALL WATER UTILITIESFeb. 13, 2025HOW STANDARDIZED DELIVERABLES FUEL ROIFeb. 10, 2025UA / ISSUE 130Feb. 06, …

THE DANGERS OF GHOST UTILITIES

Excavation projects, vital for development and infrastructure, often encounter a lurking menace beneath the surface: ‘Ghost’ Utilities. These are the elusive, forgotten, or abandoned facilities that pose a substantial threat to safety and efficiency during excavation processes. The 2022 DIRT Report recorded 477 unique damages due to abandoned facilities, which isn’t a lot in view of all the other damages, …

LET’S TALK ABOUT DEDICATED LOCATORS

We’re setting up a lot of new clients in Ontario, Canada right now who are jumping on the Dedicated Locator bandwagon and need a ticket management system. I thought it would be worthwhile sharing how the program works and if it’s worth rolling out in the US and into other 811 areas. For those unfamiliar with the Dedicated Locator model, …

RECAP FROM THE CGA FALL SUMMIT

The CGA Fall Committee Summit was a great event this year and worthwhile for any stakeholder involved in damage prevention and infrastructure safety. Gathering over 160 passionate professionals in the field, this years summit was an epicenter of innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategies. One of the standout features was the dedicated focus on leveraging precise mapping and timely locates to …

THE BENEFITS OF A RIGOROUS UTILITY INVESTIGATION FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

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 …