Breaking News at the CGA Expo
By Mike Klonsinski, Berntsen President
April is Safe Digging Month ‒ for good reason. As the construction season ramps up, the number of utility strikes increases. According to the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), damages to underground utilities cost the U.S. an estimated $30 billion ‒ most caused by unintended strikes to utilities during excavation for construction projects. Unfortunately, few people are aware of this on-going problem until they lose power or internet when a backhoe strikes a cable – or when a gas line is struck, and the area is evacuated.
CGA promotes safe digging by sharing practices and technologies that help prevent costly utility strikes. Additionally, the organization is a trusted source for data related to excavation damage across industries and regions.
Berntsen is a member of CGA and supports its goal of promoting safer digging practices by enhancing existing processes with existing technology. Its InfraMarker Connected RFID amplifies the power of GIS by connecting it with buried utilities via mobile apps.
Important new study results
Berntsen will be introducing the results of a seven-year longitudinal study of its Connected RFID technology at the upcoming CGA Annual Conference & Expo April 17 – 20 in Orlando, Florida. This presentation is a major step in addressing the national challenge of reducing costly utility strikes while improving the data of GIS-based infrastructure asset management platforms.
This study was produced in collaboration with Staking University and leverages Esri’s powerful ArcGIS platform. “We’re proud to be part of a movement to drive greater safety and efficiency in underground utility management,” said Mike Klonsinski, Berntsen president. “We’re especially excited to showcase the combination of technologies such as RFID (asset identification), magnetic locating and Esri’s ArcGIS system in our InfraMarker solution.”
Study Background
Berntsen collaborated on the study with Staking University (SU). Staking University is a state-of-the-art locator training program that focuses on utilities, municipalities, and private organizations – any organization that must locate and maintain buried infrastructure. Its Manteno, Illinois campus (that encompasses more than 20 acres of live and abandoned utilities) was the setting for the study. These real-world conditions make it the perfect site for staff training and for field testing products.
We hope to see you at this important meeting that seeks a common ground for organizations involved in building and maintaining the nation’s essential infrastructure.
Come and see us at the CGA exhibit hall:
Berntsen Booth 105
Staking University, Booth 713
The study findings and qualitative results will be presented in a session titled:
The presenters are experts in their respective fields
Mike Klonsinski, Berntsen president
Matt Streets, Planet Underground managing editor, a Staking University affiliate
Zachary Aguayo, Esri Senior Solution Engineer
Date & time:
Date: April 20th
Time: 10:15 – 11:00 am
Location: Rooms Bonaire 5-8 in the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.
The presenters will cover the study results and their implications for utilities and other infrastructure assets.