Page 17 - Arkansas 811 Magazine 2021 Issue 3

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by applying various methods and effective equipment that best identifies utility location. We’ll either use hand tools and/or vacuum excavate the lines to verify the exact location, size, material, depth and direction of the ‘untoneable’ or ‘un-locatable’ underground facilities.”
When the underground line is identified, our qualified technicians will then install any required access points such as marker posts, valve boxes, marker-balls, and perform all maintenance and repair of any broken tracer wire. Then, of course, the key to a permanent solution is to deliver high-quality GPS points of the lines for future reference. Mapping the utility lines accurately in GIS is critical for all the obvious reasons.
In the past, typically it took two separate crews to make that happen. One crew would locate and then another crew would map. Rarely were they in the field at the same time. That could lead to miscommunication, missed marks and ultimately less accurate maps.
About the time RECONN was to undertake the CenterPoint project, they were introduced to a new product from Vivax-Metrotech, the vLoc3 RTK-Pro receiver, a first-of-its-kind handheld device that allows the user to both locate lines and input the precise location data into a GIS system, eliminating the need for two crews to visit the site.
Matt Manning, who is the company’s southeast regional manager said, “The new unit is a utility locator and mapping device in one. It has survey-grade mapping capabilities in a utility locator.”
He continued, “The tool comes equipped with standard GPS, but also has SIM card capabilities that allows it
to receive real-time data from a RTK base station and forward the data onto the cloud, sending data every time a point is recorded. That allows someone at the office or other off-site location to review the data and move it into the utility’s GIS database for updating or building maps.”
All agreed the benefits of one crew locating and mapping all in one visit was a huge benefit that would pay dividends in cost savings but more importantly creating a safer experience for those digging around underground utility lines.
Were there lessons learned and do you think the pilot program was a success? Vinny Vickers said, the answer is yes to both questions. “The pilot area in central Arkansas was Maumelle, Conway and North Little Rock and during the entire project when a locate was turned back and went through the process we were implementing there were zero damages. And while there are always lessons learned, it was obvious to us that when you can’t tone the facility, the best practice is to require two forms of verification
of the line. For example, if you use measurements, you need to spot the line. Even if you use the Jameson tool, maybe you need to probe it. The extra steps are critical in providing a safe digging experience for the excavator.”
These extra steps are steps in the right direction... and that’s inspiring when we need it most!
AOG works hard to maintain the integrity and safety of our pipeline systems. Please help us keep you safe by calling 811 before you dig!
For more information on pipeline integrity, visit our website at aogc.com
2021, Issue 3
Arkansas 811 Magazine • 15