Earlier this week we commemorated National 811 Day. On August 11 we were reminded to call 811 (or visit call811.com) before digging – in our yards or at a construction site. This simple reminder has saved lives and repair costs by preventing accidental damage to power lines, gas lines and other buried utilities during excavation.

You would think that with all of the technology available today, we’d be able to see what’s underground almost as well as we see what’s above ground. Unfortunately, that’s not the case - underground utility locating remains an issue.

Lack of buried asset information is estimated to cost the U.S. about $50 billion annually.

Construction intended to improve public infrastructure is the most costly and involved public works undertakings by government and contracting firms.

It’s surprising that many of the costs associated with large-scale construction projects stem from:

• relocating underground utilities

• designing around them so they don’t need to be moved.

Over the next 20 years, upgrades to the nation’s water system alone are expected to cost three to five trillion dollars. Yet appropriations to replace critical infrastructure continually fall short. Municipalities and utility companies are under enormous pressure to make existing assets more efficient.