If we’re going to meet the 50-in-5 target we’re going to need to continue to innovate in preventing damage to underground utilities. This week one of our team was at a Tesla store in LA and seen their robot Optimus and it triggered me to look at where we’re currently using robotics in damage prevention and what’s coming up next! …
Lots of exciting stories this week – Exodigo’s adoption by the DOE might be the biggest one in terms of impact though! Exiciting to see mapping and AI get a push at the federal level. Here’s why undergrounding all utilities in San Francisco is nearly impossible READ 🔗 DOE’s Grid Overhaul Prioritizes Safety Using AI Maps of Underground Power …
A Vital Step in Damage Prevention Last week I attended Mike Parilac’s impactful presentation at the Louisiana 811 Damage Prevention Summit, the importance of locator certification in the field of utility management became glaringly apparent. As an observer at the Utility Expo where Mike launched this initiative back in September, his passion for certification and its potential impact on damage …
Safeguarding Utility Infrastructure The old adage “prevention is better than cure” succinctly captures the essence of proactive decision-making especially in damage prevention. Emphasizing the importance of foresight and precautionary measures, this saying underscores the value of averting problems before they arise rather than addressing them after the fact. This isn’t always possible in damage prevention but right now the American …
“Nothing is of greater importance than the conservation of human life.” – Former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge Peoples Gas pipeline replacement could soon restart READ 🔗 Equipment Recommendation READ 🔗 NextGen: Placing a Locate Request – BYDP WATCH 🔗 An interview with Michael Egan READ 🔗 Why didn’t 811 mark everything? WATCH 🔗 Geospatial firm raises £600k to create ‘eye …
“Tractor Time with Tim needed the utilities marks so we could start digging the trenches for the geothermal system. We called 811 – Call Before You Dig. It turns out they don’t mark everything. Craig explains what they mark and what they don’t mark. You have to see him throw the flags! “RECENT POSTSMay. 13, 2024UA / ISSUE 93May. 10, …
Bunting Labs, a San Francisco-based startup co-founded by Michael Egan and Brendan Ashworth, is on a mission to accelerate map digitization using AI. The fusion of mapping, digitization, and AI intrigued me, prompting a conversation with Michael to delve into their technology and explore potential applications in the realm of damage prevention. Here’s how it went: A CHAT WITH …
We’re heading to the Louisiana 811 Damage Prevention Summit tomorrow – let us know if you’re going! County GIS dept. gets new Utility Scan Device READ 🔗 Gentry Council passes ordinance requiring underground utilities READ 🔗 Why digital twins are the future of damage prevention READ 🔗 Any Direction Underground Utilities sees success READ 🔗 Robot worms, lasers, drones …
“The family-owned business consists of owners Ralph and Sheila Guyton and their sons work in the business with them. They started off working with just the family, rented machines and one truck. Now, they have more than 10 employees, six trucks and six machines of their own.”RECENT POSTSMay. 13, 2024UA / ISSUE 93May. 10, 2024VHS | HOW SLIT TRENCHES IMPROVE …
Digital Twins are a game-changer for infrastructure management and protection. In this article I’m going to outline what exactly a digital twin is, the motivation for adopting them and the momentum which is pushing us in this direction. Let’s start with a definition: “A real time, virtual representation of the real world” – Josie West 🔗 The concept of a …