Pipelines 2020
Minimizing Underground Infrastructure Damages: Utility Locators’ Perspectives
Publication: Pipelines 2020
ABSTRACT
Thousands of damages to underground utilities, including gas, water, and sewer, occur every year. Damages to underground utilities have a significant impact on national and local growth, as well as citizens’ wellbeing. It is crucial to reduce damages to underground utilities. Currently, damage prevention effort consists of three-steps: (1) construction firms must contact state notification centers (one-call centers); which in turn (2) notify utility owners who must locate their utilities on the ground; and (3) construction firms (i.e., excavators) must respect marks and exercise care around marked utilities while excavating. This study investigates the perspectives of utility locators regarding current practices. Among other findings, the study reveals that the lack of clear communication between locators and excavators negatively impacts the current damage prevention process. The findings will contribute to better damage prevention processes and a lower number of strikes to underground utilities.
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REFERENCES
Al-Bayati, A. J., and Panzer, L. (2019a) “Requirements and Practices of Underground Construction Activities: A Review of Recently Updated Act.” Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, 11 (3). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)LA.1943-4170.0000300.
Al-Bayati, A. J., and Panzer, L. (2019b) “Reducing Damages to Underground Utilities: Lessons Learned from Damage Data and Excavators in North Carolina.” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 145 (12). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001724.
Al-Bayati, A. J., Panzer, L., and Karakhan, A. (2019). “Reducing Damages to Underground Infrastructure: Performance Evaluation of One-Call Notification Program.” Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, 24(4), 04019018.
CGA, Common Ground Alliance, (2019). “Best Practices Guide” <https://commongroundalliance.com/programs/best-practices (November 29, 2019).
DIRT (2018). “Damage Information Reporting Tool” <http://commongroundalliance.com/dirt-dashboard> (11/18/2019).
Nelson, C. M., Iwasaki, R. H., Arulraj, R. K., and Ayers, M. E. (2012). “SHRP 2 Tools for Underground Utility Location, Data Collection, and Analysis.”Transportation Research Board <http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166876.aspx> (November 12, 2018).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Pipelines 2020
Pages: 387 - 391
Editors: J. Felipe Pulido, OBG, Part of Ramboll and Mark Poppe, Brown and Caldwell
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8321-3
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Aug 6, 2020
Published in print: Aug 6, 2020
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