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 …
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 …
Recently I’ve been noticing a lot of digging in areas which were recently dug up – this is super inefficient and increases the risk of damages. Uncoordinated digging can lead to costly mistakes, public inconvenience, and safety hazards. By fostering communication, leveraging technology, and sharing data, we can manage underground utilities more efficiently and ensure the safety of our communities. …