I was reading through this article that Tony Millikin sent to me from PCL Construction on their Construction Outlook for 2025. So I thought I’d put together my thoughts on what our industry might look like next year and what we can do to change our trajectory. The challenges are mounting, the stakes are higher than ever, and the need …

When my brother Greg and I took over Competers, our mission was clear: revolutionize damage prevention with technology. Over the years, we’ve built tools like Utilocate, a ticket management system that has become a trusted ally for utility locators, and UExcavate, which streamlines excavation workflows. We’ve always been driven by the belief that innovation in this field isn’t just about …

It’s Thanksgiving, and so I wanted to write a brief reflection on the things that make our lives better in this industry. In the world of damage prevention and utility management, it’s easy to get caught up in the challenges, but there’s also so much to be grateful for. This year, I’m focusing on the “5 T’s” that I’m most …

The first rule of doing business in the US is “don’t mention that you’re Canadian.” A few people have told me that in jest but there might be some truth to it. I’ve lived on both sides of the border and it’s surprising how similar and yet how different some things are. (Who remembers smuggling Kinder Eggs?) One thing that …

I was reading through this twitter/X thread a few days ago about the options for quantifying damages in conflict zones using satellite images. User @yohaniddawela put together a really good overview which is worth reading. The technology is called Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and his overview got me thinking about how we could use this technology for damage prevention. …

In the utility world, excavators often shoulder much of the responsibility for damage prevention – even though they don’t usually own the infrastructure they’re working around. Accidental strikes can be costly, delay projects, and potentially harm both workers and the public. Unfortunately, excavators are frequently left in the dark with incomplete or outdated utility maps, yet they’re still expected to …

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 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 …

Working in dense urban environments presents significant challenges for utility locating and safe excavation. Cities like New York, Boston, and others on the East Coast of the U.S. are prime examples of how older, densely populated areas have evolved into complex webs of underground infrastructure. These cities often have multiple layers of utilities—some still in use and others long abandoned—running …

The EPA has set a bold goal: to remove most of the nation’s lead service lines within the next decade. This initiative is not just about addressing a major public health issue – it’s also a remarkable opportunity for the damage prevention and utility sectors to evolve. As millions of homes still rely on outdated lead pipes, the removal effort …