Recent news from Iowa One Call shows that when it comes to underground utilities, skipping the basics can come with a heavy price tag. They recently handed out $50,000 fines to utilities that failed to properly locate lines before starting work, a reminder that even a little negligence can lead to major consequences. When underground utility locating is done right, …
“Protecting underground utilities isn’t just about avoiding damage—it’s about safeguarding lives, preserving resources, and ensuring the seamless flow of essential services beneath our feet.”u Denbow Grows Into Underground Utility Force: READ The Mandela Effect & Underground Utilities: READ Garney Partners With RodRadar To Enhance Utility Strike Prevention During Excavation: READ Can technology fill the locator labor gap? READ Baker’s …
The All-Star Panel on The Roundtable, produced by Planet Underground, had an insightful discussion among industry leaders on the evolving landscape of damage prevention, focusing on future technology and methods. Chaired by Jemmie Wang, the panel delves into pressing questions about leveraging new technologies to enhance the management of crowded underground utility rights-of-way. The discussion considers whether we are on …
What’s the Mandela Effect? Did anyone else feel like they learned that Nelson Mandela died in the 1980s? Yet Wikipedia insists he actually passed away in 2013. If you’ve had moments like this, you’ve encountered the Mandela Effect – that eerie phenomenon where a bunch of people collectively remembers something…wrong. Think “Berenstain Bears” vs. “Berenstein Bears.” It’s funny, even nostalgic, …
“In 2025, the construction industry will need to bring in nearly 454,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year.” – ABC I follow some of the BuiltWitt guys and they’re pretty passionate about communicating the labor gap in construction – I think we’ve got a …
We’re in Las Vegas this week for the CGA Fall Committee Meetings, a great chance to dive into the 2023 DIRT Report and connect with other industry stakeholders. Here’s some recent news from the past week in our industry: Underground worker pulled to safety after slipping 30ft below surface: READ The SUE Charade: READ Water & Sewer district …
Trench collapses are devastatingly lethal. They can claim the lives of employees, coworkers, and friends in an instant, turning preventable accidents into tragedies. Every collapse is a stark reminder of how crucial it is to keep trench safety a priority, not just in policy but in practice. To protect teams, all trenches must be safeguarded with proper protective systems, like …
In the world of underground utility detection, a troubling trend is emerging. The line between private utility locating and Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is being blurred, potentially compromising public safety and professional integrity. The Core Issue An increasing number of firms in the U.S. are providing utility locating, mapping, and modeling services without proper engineering or surveying licenses. While they’re …
The 2023 DIRT Report is out now and you can read at via the first link in this alert, but there’s lots more happening in the industry so make sure you stay up to date… The 2023 DIRT Report is out now: READ Subsurface Spaghetti: READ CenterPoint Energy Announces Collaboration to Improve Grid Resilience: READ Dallas homeowner denied claim …
This video recounts the story of a Dallas homeowner, Robert Brown, who faced over $350,000 in damage after a city-owned water main burst multiple times behind his home. The water main broke in February 2023, February 2024, and August 2024, causing severe flooding in his Preston Hollow neighborhood. Despite filing claims with both the city and his insurance company, both …