GPRS recently carried out a utility locating and mapping project at the historic McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, ahead of its planned demolition to build a new high school. Project Manager Daniel Sperduti, who has personal ties to the ballpark, utilized electromagnetic (EM) locating and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to map utilities around the site accurately. Given the age and …
When I talk to friends outside of the utility industry they’re often shocked to learn that the the utility industry, surprisingly lags behind in embracing cutting-edge technology. This reluctance has significant consequences, particularly in damage prevention. One major factor contributing to this technological lag is a deep-seated risk aversion. Maintaining critical infrastructure carries immense responsibility, naturally leading to hesitation when …
We hope your 2025 is off to a safe start! Here’s the latest damage prevention and utility news: Accuracy Over Aesthetics: READ Sunk cost fallacy: READ Western Power network goes underground: READ How locates protect your projects & profitability: READ How to locate low pressure gas lines: READ Residential gas line ruptured near Fort Worth’s NASJRB: READ United Rentals Launches …
“At some older properties you will sometimes find that, even though the gas in the area has been upgraded to high pressure gas, there will still be a low or medium pressure gas pipe, laid underground within the ground of the property. And whilst it probably won’t be connected to the actual gas main anymore, it can still be a …
As we ring in the New Year, many of us reflect on the past – assessing where we’ve been and considering where we want to go. While these reflections are often productive, they can sometimes be hindered by an unrecognized mental trap: the sunk cost fallacy. This cognitive bias encourages us to continue investing time, money, or energy into endeavors …
Merry Christmas and welcome to issue 125 of Utility Alert. Here’s the top 10 stories from the last 7 days in the damage prevention industry… FuzionView Presentation: WATCH Spark of Change? READ Israeli connection gives Engcon pipe detection tech: READ Penelec to receive $500 million as part of infrastructure improvement plan: WATCH The map mindset: why businesses should consider geospatial …
I was reading through this article by Alejandro Lazo on how cost effective California’s power companies’ wildfire prevention efforts are. And so I thought it was worth exploring the relationship between fire prevention and damage prevention. Both initiatives involve addressing risks proactively to protect lives, infrastructure, and the environment. Here’s how these two concepts converge and what lessons utilities across …
Welcome to the 124th issue of Utility Alert. We love bringing you the latest news and views on damage prevention and the utility world. This week we’ve got a question for you: where do you get your news? National Underground Group sells Tri-State Utilities and Pipe Vision: READ The TinySurveyor Robot: WATCH Can Potholing damage utilities?: READ My 2025 Outlook …
Austin Bridge & Road (Texas, USA) created this impressive video showing how the TinySurveyor now is a critical and integral part of their pre-marking workflow. Watch the video to see how they have gone from a 3-person team taking 3 hours per mile to 1 robot taking just 20 minutes per mile, allowing the crew to add value on other …
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 …