Over the years there seems to be more awareness in the underground utility locating industry on the root cause of why facilities get damaged. Contractors, utilities, and locating companies are more proactive in getting down to the bare bones of why a damage occurred. The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has developed a tool to help everyone involved with protecting underground facilities and track why damages are occurring. This tool is what they call DIRT. It has been in use for a couple of years and is gaining momentum on it's use. The information they collect gets stripped of any identity markers so that no one can identify who was involved in the utility damages. The purpose of DIRT is to find trends throughout the US and Canada, report on the trends on an annual basis and create awareness on how to minimize facility damages. Users that submit information to DIRT may use a variety of reporting tools to help track trends within there own company as well. The tools are available to the user at no charge and can be accessed at anytime. The information the user submits for it's own internal tracking is not stripped of any identity markers but is only visible to the user and whom ever they identify within the company. Only when the DIRT report is published for all to see is the identity markers removed. For more detailed information on the CGA DIRT Report visit http://www.cga-dirt.com/.
Consolidated Utility Services, INC (CUS) is a supporter of CGA and the DIRT Report. CUS has an objective to protect utilities by putting the best locating technicians out in the field to find these facilities. Because of that, our root cause analysis is much more in depth then what the DIRT report offers, simply because we want to pinpoint exactly where our weaknesses are within every region, within every supervisors group, for every employee and give them the training needed to improve on those weaknesses. For example the DIRT Report offers a choice of 20 reasons why a facility damage occurred, which is sufficient when looking for a broad range of trends across North America. CUS however looks a 70 different reason within 10 categories on why the facility was damaged. This is key in helping CUS pinpoint the exact reasons why utility damages are occurring and focus valuable training resources on the individuals and/or groups that need it.
As more utilities get buried daily, more facilities become at risk. It is vital we give our locating technicians every tool, opportunity and training to accurately find those buried lines. Root cause analysis is a great tool that opens the door for fast, factual and precise information that can help reduce damages. The CGA and CUS have both recognized that.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Open GIS
During today's meeting (see Regional CGA post below), Brian Johnson mentioned his interest in Open GIS as an intriguing potential way forward as a foundational one-call technology. I posted some info on Mash Ups and GIS from Brian over on the DHON blog that people might find useful.
Also the Open Geospatial Consortium provides a wealth of information on this topic.
Also the Open Geospatial Consortium provides a wealth of information on this topic.
Nebraska Regional CGA Underway!
The first Nebraska Regional Common Ground Alliance meeting was held Wednesday, October 18 at the Regency Lodge in Omaha.
An overview of the Common Ground Alliance and Regional Partnerships was presented by Perly Schoville and Mike Shallow with Union Pacific, Dan Maschka with Northern Natural Gas and Harold Winnie from the Department of Transportation, Kansas City.
Following the presentations, the floor was opened up to all present for a round-table discussion focusing upon regional and industry issues involving underground facilities. From these discussions, specific areas of focus were identified as was the need to further pursue an alliance on a regional basis.
Approximately 35 individuals from across the state attended the meeting. Industries represented included: Union Pacific Railroad, Nebraska Department of Roads, Department of Transportation, Northern Natural Gas, NEBCON, Inc., General Excavating, Kinder Morgan, OPPD, City of Omaha, Glenwood Telephone, ELM Locating, Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office, K2 Construction, Aquila, Enterprise Products, Nebraska City Utilities and M.U.D. The event was hosted by Consolidated Utility Services Inc./Nebraska Digger’s Hotline.
The next Regional CGA meeting will be held in Lincoln during the week of November 27. This meeting will be hosted by Jeff Stoolman with Enterprise Products. The meeting is open to anyone interested in participating in the Common Ground Alliance. For further information regarding the Nebraska Regional CGA, please contact Susan Griess at 402-778-3024 - susan.griess@cusinc.com.
The Common Ground Alliance is a National Organization with the mission to ensure public safety, environmental protection, and integration of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices.
If you would like further information regarding the Common Ground Alliance, please visit their website at www.commongroundalliance.com.
The first Nebraska Regional Common Ground Alliance meeting was held Wednesday, October 18 at the Regency Lodge in Omaha.
An overview of the Common Ground Alliance and Regional Partnerships was presented by Perly Schoville and Mike Shallow with Union Pacific, Dan Maschka with Northern Natural Gas and Harold Winnie from the Department of Transportation, Kansas City.
Following the presentations, the floor was opened up to all present for a round-table discussion focusing upon regional and industry issues involving underground facilities. From these discussions, specific areas of focus were identified as was the need to further pursue an alliance on a regional basis.
Approximately 35 individuals from across the state attended the meeting. Industries represented included: Union Pacific Railroad, Nebraska Department of Roads, Department of Transportation, Northern Natural Gas, NEBCON, Inc., General Excavating, Kinder Morgan, OPPD, City of Omaha, Glenwood Telephone, ELM Locating, Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office, K2 Construction, Aquila, Enterprise Products, Nebraska City Utilities and M.U.D. The event was hosted by Consolidated Utility Services Inc./Nebraska Digger’s Hotline.
The next Regional CGA meeting will be held in Lincoln during the week of November 27. This meeting will be hosted by Jeff Stoolman with Enterprise Products. The meeting is open to anyone interested in participating in the Common Ground Alliance. For further information regarding the Nebraska Regional CGA, please contact Susan Griess at 402-778-3024 - susan.griess@cusinc.com.
The Common Ground Alliance is a National Organization with the mission to ensure public safety, environmental protection, and integration of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices.
If you would like further information regarding the Common Ground Alliance, please visit their website at www.commongroundalliance.com.
Friday, October 06, 2006
ITA Convention
INFORMATION POST - Consolidated Utility Services, Inc. (CUS) will be attending and exhibiting at the 110th Annual Convention and Trade Show of the Iowa Telecommunications Association (ITA). This event is being held at the Des Moines Downtown Marriott on Sunday through Tuesday November 5-7, 2006. This years theme is "Make the Climb". Mike Broshous, Business Development Manager, is an active member of the ITA and is currently serving on the Continuing Education and Trade Show committees. CUS has been an Associate Member of the ITA since 1997 and this is the 9th year that we are attending this conference. The ITA serves the 150+ independent telecommunication companies throughout Iowa and is the largest State telecom association in the country.
METS Conference
INFORMATION POST - Consolidated Utility Services, Inc. will be attending the METS (Missouri Electrical Trade Show) in Lebanon, Missouri on Wednesday and Thursday October 25th and 26th. This is our first year exhibiting at this event and according to Gary Owsley at Laclede Electric Cooperative, the show will draw almost all of the REC's in Missouri. CUS will have our large floor display on hand to meet the attendees and answer any and all questions regarding our wide array of services.
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