The Need for Utility Data Governance Policies for Improving Lifeline Recovery

Our existing utility network is a system of systems, whereby a service disruption to any portion of one utility system has the probability of a cascading effect, not only on other utility systems, but also other lifelines such as transportation. Accurate records of these systems are poor to non-existent. Active utility systems may have records, but the quality of those records is uncertain in regards to accurate location and attributes information. Abandoned utilities usually have no recoverable records. This lack of accurate records leads to recovery issues after destructive events. The American Society of Civil Engineers put together two standards to assist in solving this problem. ASCE 38, Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data, prescribes a series of actions that result in affixing a value judgment of utility presence and location uncertainty to buried utility segments. ASCE 75, Standard Guideline for the Recording and Exchanging of Utility Infrastructure Data, prescribes a series of actions that result in the documentation of the accuracy and measurable attributes of above and below ground observable utility segments. Placing these data into a central secure database after project development for access by utility owner and emergency personnel is challenging in the US, due to proprietary and security concerns. Public officials need to weigh the risks versus rewards for keeping an up-to-date comprehensive central repository of our underground lifelines.