EPR Tag

Pipeline Safety Agency Highlights Innovative Technology

05 Apr 2023, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Every year, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) provides funding opportunities to states and stakeholders to improve and protect pipeline safety. One way that is done is by promoting the “damage prevention” process – known by many as the “Call Before You Dig” program. Through a number of…

An Embarrassment of Riches Unspent While Costs Soar

27 Jul 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

If there is one thing the latest Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Technology Report makes clear, it is that the damage prevention ecosystem has an embarrassment of riches on its hands in terms of technological innovation. Indeed, a review of other CGA studies and publications along with reports by various regulatory…

Think Tank Releases New Report on The Consensus Technologies Needed For Improving Excavation Damage Prevention

27 Jul 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 CONTACT: John Cassibry, jcassibry@aii.org   Washington, D.C, July 27, 2022 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) released its latest white paper, Consensus Around Technologies: The Key Communications Technologies that Need to be Adopted to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Excavation…

FEATURE: Making a Homeowner Locate Request

14 Jul 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

I have studied damage prevention for several years. From reading reports and best practice guides to ride alongs with locators and even calling in an 811 locate request, I felt like I had a good understanding. But it was this summer when I made an online homeowner locate request that…

It’s Time for Nationwide Adoption of Electronic White-Lining

24 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Looking ahead to the year 2030, we hope to see technology integrated into virtually every activity we do. For damage prevention, this is not merely aspirational, it is a necessity. Fortunately, industry groups have already cast this vision, stating in the latest Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Technology Report that the…

Safer Digging Part 5: Investigating A Damage

17 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Up to this point, we have explored a range of benefits that accrue from the use of technology in the damage prevention process. Not only is technology vital to avoiding damage, but it makes the process more efficient, reduces environmental hazards, enables cost savings, and more. One final benefit emerges…

A $90 Billion Problem with Obvious Solutions

20 Dec 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Every year, nearly $100 billion are lost in the U.S. economy due to excavation damage and the inefficiencies in the system designed to prevent them. With systemic issues unaddressed, these costs are poised to keep rising year after year. What is even worse, Congress enacted a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package…

Building New Infrastructure, Damaging the Old

10 Dec 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Constructing new infrastructure, buildings, or even planting trees all require breaking ground. These excavation projects use shovels, augers, jackhammers, backhoes, and other excavation equipment to scrape away earth and make way for new foundations, new pipelines, and new facilities. The problem is that this often threatens the subsurface infrastructure already…

Technology Highlight: Dig of the Future

29 Sep 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

        This blog series Technology Highlight has explored many of the ways that investments in innovation lead to better outcomes for infrastructure and public safety. When technology advances, it often becomes cheaper, more widely available and accessible, and helps facilitate faster, safer, and greener projects. This is…

Technology Highlight: Drones

19 Aug 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

      This blog series Technology Highlight explores some of the ways that investments in innovation lead to better outcomes for infrastructure and public safety. When technology advances, it often becomes cheaper, more widely available and accessible, and helps facilitate faster, safer, and greener projects. This series launched by highlighting the…

Technology Highlight: Positive Response

13 Aug 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

      This blog series Technology Highlight explores some of the ways that investments in innovation lead to better outcomes for infrastructure and public safety. When technology advances, it often becomes cheaper, more widely available and accessible, and helps facilitate faster, safer, and greener projects. This series launched by…

The Dig of the Future Is Here Today

03 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Excavation damages to underground infrastructure – or more simply, digging projects that hit things like pipelines and internet cables – are on a five year upswing. Every year, more sensitive and critical infrastructure is being struck, damaged, and shuttered. Shovels and power tools breaking ground and hitting these unseen service…

Protecting Physical Infrastructure Amidst A Cyber Attack

13 May 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The recent Colonial pipeline cyber attack and ensuing disruption implicates excavation damage prevention. As industry stakeholders continue to strengthen their damage prevention systems, greater use and reliance on effective technology will be critical. Damage Prevention is the overarching process of avoiding harm to pipelines and other underground infrastructure when digging…