NEAR MISSES MATTER

A few days ago, while driving on the highway, I almost witnessed a serious crash. The car in front of me didn’t see another vehicle merging until the last minute. In a frantic attempt to avoid a collision, the driver swerved, lost control, and nearly hit the central barrier before managing to regain control. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and …

UA / ISSUE 103

We’re in Nashville this week for the Common Ground Alliance Summer Committee meetings. It should be a good week connecting with other stakeholders. Here’s the latest damage prevention news: Sound Construction Inc. Faces $394,083 in Fines for Fatal Trench Collapse: READ The Economics of SUE: READ County Commissioners to survey right-of-way, ask farmer to move fence back: READ GOPHURRS $34M …

VHS | ARE PG&E LYING?

In the rural California community of Cool, residents like Stephanie Bus are frustrated with PG&E due to repeated power shutoffs, intended to prevent wildfires. Despite PG&E’s promise to bury power lines to improve safety, much of the work remains incomplete, with new poles and overhead lines still in place. Stephanie has experienced multiple power outages since May and feels the …

$34M FOR ROBOT WORMS, AI & LASERS?

I intially missed this news (though it was probably covered by Utility Alert at the time) but back in January the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $34 million in funding for various projects aimed at reducing the costs and increasing the efficiency and safety of moving power lines underground. This funding is part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) …

THE ECONOMICS OF SUE

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is often hailed as a game-changer in the realm of infrastructure projects, and for good reason. The minimal upfront investment in SUE sets the stage for substantial economic returns over the lifespan of the project. The precise mapping and identification of underground utilities facilitated by SUE not only averts unforeseen interruptions that can throw timelines off …

UA / ISSUE 102

Welcome to this week’s edition of Utility Alert, packed with the latest developments and insights in the world of underground infrastructure and damage prevention! Wellington launches platform to map underground infrastructure: READ Buffeting – Why damage prevention leaders should publish their own reports: READ Duquesne Light Company Crowdsources Underground Monitoring: READ Learn about FuzionView: WATCH Maui faces uncertainty over the …

VHS | FUZIONVIEW

Enhancing Underground Utility Mapping: The Journey of FuzionView In 2017, Gopher State One Call (GSOC) reached out to the Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) of the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council to explore ways to enhance the use of geospatial technology in the underground utility sector. This initiative sparked a series of discussions that led to the formation of the Underground Utilities …

BUFFETING

I was reading through some Berkshire Hathaway Letter to Shareholders the other day (don’t ask) and I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I did this for my stakeholders?! Better yet, wouldn’t it be great if everyone did it?! Now I know, we’ve got the CGA’s DIRT Report which is eminently valuable but the BH Letter to Shareholders is more …

UA / ISSUE 101

Hope you guys are fully rested and recovered after the holiday weekend! Here’s the latest damage prevention news to help bring you back up to speed: Underground water and sewer pipes are aging out: READ Are penalties enough for locate offenders? READ The Future of Underground Utility Mapping: READ 4 things the US is doing right! READ Predictive AI Is …

VHS | GAS EXPLOSION

This happened just a few miles from Daryl’s house in Ireland! Pretty scary. The incident occurred during some roadworks when a gas main was struck. Here’s an extra shot for context: RECENT POSTSDec. 13, 2024VHS | TINY ROBOT STAKEOUTDec. 12, 2024MY 2025 OUTLOOKDec. 09, 2024UA / ISSUE 123Dec. 06, 2024VHS | DIVERSIFIED UNDERGROUND AT THE SUE MEETINGDec. 06, 2024WHY WE …