dp-PRO Articles
Locating – Divine Intervention
In November of 2017, NPR picked up an unusual story out of the United Kingdom. It seems that a scientist, Dr. Sally Le Page, learned
Association Spotlight – ATSSA Advances Roadway Safety
Collaboration is key to protecting lives on the nation’s roadways The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) began more than a half-century ago with a
Virginia 811 Announces Scholarship Winners
THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENTS are Charlotte Rose and Emma Lindley. Each winner receives a $1,500 scholarship towards their freshman year college tuition. If their collective academic
When a Rebrand is More Than a Rebrand
MOST OF THE TIME a rebrand is a way of refreshing a corporate image like throwing a new coat of paint on the tired, old
Changing the Way Stakeholders Get Trained Online
MORE AND MORE ASPECTS of daily life are moving to an online space, and the convenience and practicality of that has borne some beneficial fruit.
Vocational Training as a Path to Careers in Underground Utility Locating
USIC IS NORTH AMERICA’S largest provider of underground utility locating services with a team of more than 11,000 locate technicians performing over 80 million locates
OKIE811 Pilsner Beer Can-paign
AUGUST 11 WAS National 811 Day. To celebrate 811 and promote using 811 before digging, OKIE811 partnered with a local Oklahoma City brewery to produce
Tom Iseley Receives the Civil Engineering Wall of Fame Award
The Louisiana Section of ASCE hosted a Virtual Awards Ceremony in late September. Dr. Tom Iseley was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the Civil
OKIE811 One Call Law Changes
Underground facility operators in Oklahoma are continuously looking to improve the Oklahoma Underground Damage Prevention Act to ensure the safety of those digging around their
Damage Happens, So What Comes Next? Steps to Claim Resolution
DESPITE BEST EFFORTS, accidents happen. It is inevitable that underground utility assets will sustain damage at some point. An immediate response to these accidents is
Stop Lying to Yourself! The Required Self-Discipline to Change Bad Habits
‘Tis the season to be jolly! But it would be interesting to know the number of lies that people tell this time of the year.
Enriching Field Data Collection
Today, with GPS and mobile technology, we can easily understand that knowing the position of points of interest and objects makes for faster and more
Damage Prevention Week
Monday, February 28 – Friday, March 4, 2022 Dedicated to bringing together industry stakeholders to discuss new ideas, Damage Prevention WeekTM has one agenda –
Global Excavation Safety Conference 2022
The premiere international event dedicated to providing educational content and resources to help protect buried assets. The largest event in the underground damage prevention industry
Evolving the Construction Workforce
Today’s construction site looks a lot different than it did 10 or 20 years ago. While there is still a plethora of heavy equipment and
3D Visualization of Utilities Using Ground Penetrating Radar
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is an important tool for utility locators around the world as it detects both metallic and nonmetallic targets at different depths.
COLORADO CONTRACTOR GIVEN JAIL SENTENCE
A Colorado contractor was sentenced to 10 months in jail after one of his workers died in a trench collapse in 2018. Bryan D. Johnson,
Oil Spill off California Coast Causes Environment Harm
A 13-square-mile oil spill off the coast of Southern California forced the closure of a pipeline and prompted officials to close beaches. The source for
AMEREN IMPLEMENTS “GAS SNIFFING” VEHICLE THAT DETECTS LEAKS
The Ameren mobile leak detecting unit, aka “gas sniffer”, is rolling around the St. Louis metro-east in search of gas leaks. Technicians walk along the
A Smart System for Mapping Underground Infrastructure
(Globes) – 4M Analytics is a company based in Israel that is the brainchild of military buddies Itzik Malka and Nir Cohen. 4M Analytics started
MICHELS CANADA Completes Canada’s Longest HDD Installation
Michels Canada used horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to complete a 3,540 meter crossing in Burlington, Ontario, under the Hidden Lake Golf Club. The installation is
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES Make Underground Utilities a Priority
(ASU Newswise) – Despite years of declaring that conversion of high-voltage, long-distance electrical transmission lines to underground installation was cost prohibitive, Pacific Gas & Electric
Damage Prevention Hero of the Year
Kelley Heinz (Spring, 2021) A Damage Prevention Hero Who goes Above and Beyond her Responsibilities to Promote Safety and Damage Prevention Outreach! Kelley is the
Damage Prevention Hero – Richard Broome
Driving Safe Digging in the UK RICHARD BROOME WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LINESEARCH BEFOREUDIG (LSBUD), A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN HIS EMPLOYER, FISHER GERMAN
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Due to COVID-19, many events have rescheduled or transitioned to a virtual environment. Be sure to verify the status of all events you are planning
Reader Response
Gopher State One Call Launches Statewide Pilot Program (Barbara Cederberg, Fall 2021 “Great article” Tyler Bristow, Centerline Mapping Editor’s Note: GSOC is offering a session
Global Locate Masters Championship Competition
Hosted by Global Locate Masters pits top locate technicians from around the world against UTTO’s Virtual Locate Simulator. Held in front of a live audience
COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY
Existing utilities are at varied depths, in varied soils, made of varied materials, are varied sizes and have varied access. The importance of accurately locating
CHOOSING EVENTS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR YOU
HOTELS ARE FILLING, air traffic is increasing, and live conferences and events are on the rise again! Everyone who includes these important gatherings in their
LEADING PEOPLE – It Is All About the OUTLET
CONNECTED. A word providing instant relief when in need of a Wi-Fi signal. Yet, with us humans, we seem to have forgotten that connected and
SOCIAL MEDIA
HOT #TAGS UtilityExpo21 Notification Centers and stakeholders across the country are launching creative campaigns to promote safe digging for 811 Day, August 11. A few
A 21st Century Solution for Heat Stress on the Job
It’s no secret that summers and average seasonal temperatures are getting hotter. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11 workers are seriously injured or
Global Perspective – Digging Up Britain
LineSearch BeforeUDig (LSBUD) is the UK’s leading online safe digging service, producing the annual Digging up Britain report which examines the state of the digging
From the Publisher – Saving Lives through Education
In the pages of this issue, you’ll find several articles written by organizations dedicated to providing education and training to their particular stakeholder group. As
Locating – SIR Marks-a-lot
The Friday before I wrote this, I dispensed 14 cans of red paint. In the field, not accidentally in the bed of my truck (that’s
Legal – Evolving State Privacy Laws Impact Employer Social Media Policies
Ah, how times have changed. Just 10 years ago, social media was considered by many to be a personal indulgence and an annoying distraction for
Association Spotlight – Facility Notification Center Association
RECENTLY dp-PRO caught up with Bruce Campbell, CEO at MISS DIG 811, to learn about the development of the Facility Notification Center Association (FNCA) and
Miss Utility Recognizes Excellence in Damage Prevention with the 18th Annual Locator Achievement Awards
MISS UTILITY of Maryland/District One Call recently recognized 47 outstanding locate technicians from 12 different companies for their dedication to damage prevention through the 18th