Ear to the Ground - Spring 2015 - (Page 24)

FEATURE B Y S H A N E H A R T, D I R E C T O R O F S A L E S , C O M P E T E R S Our Industry is Constantly O ur industry is constantly changing. For example, the world's data doubles approximately every two years. However, a single strand of fiber can replace hundreds of copper wires underground to carry the growing data. One causes a higher demand and the other changes the type of infrastructure being put underground. There are two pieces of information that paint an ever-changing image of Undergound Damage Prevention. Last year, ON1Call reported 6,181,611 notifications. An industry with many stakeholders and a large amount of data is a breeding ground for technology. Technology is driven by finding solutions to a variety of problems or difficulties. It's not just for programmers and tech junkies, it's a daily approach to all the challenges you face on any given day. During the "Emerging Technology: How, Now and Beyond" presentation at the ORCGA Symposium 2015, we gave some advice on how to become more adept with technology: Do not be afraid to make a mistake. And when you do, finding all the positives from discovering something didn't work. In my career at our software firm, we apply for research funding by documenting all the trials and errors we come across and why they didn't work. Don't underestimate the value of learning through mistakes. Get a Different Perspective. Analytics and Data are important for drilling down to find the root cause of a problem. Numbers can help us identify things we may not see or confirm what we already know. There are also a lot of different perspectives when considering all the different Damage Prevention stakeholders from the locator, to the utility owner, to the excavator. An 24 industry change affects more than just a single company/stakeholder. Invest in People. Time, energy and training are ingredients for creating a successful Damage Prevention environment. In the presentation, we highlighted how beneficial it is being able to receive constructive criticism. In our industry, we have one goal and that's preventing damage to our underground infrastructure. Anytime you have some advice to share with a fellow co-worker, stakeholder or friend on how to dig safe, do not refrain. The Next Big Thing is Already Here. Our changing world isn't new news, it's always been changing. It's now a matter of how we adapt to change and ensuring our technologies can always work together in our industry. However, technology is not just computers and software. It can be a product, a process improvement, or an idea. In Ear to the Ground, Fall 2014, there is an article titled "One Call, One Locate: The PVS Story." It describes how one man locating five utilities is more efficient than five men locating five utilities and how they used it to build a successful company. In addition, the LAC was created to help utilities become involved in the One Call, One Locate idea. Both of these technologies have helped produce beneficial change to our Damage Prevention Industry. During this presentation at the ORCGA Symposium 2015, we discussed a few current technologies and innovations. 1. We looked at Locate Management Systems such as UtiLocate2 and TelDig. The locate process is extremely labour intensive and can be very difficult to manage without automated processes. 2. We looked at the difficulties in locating fiber optic and a product Rogers has created. It stays fixated to the casing and allows direct connection when locating fiber compared to the current less preferred method. 3. We discussed Bluetooth in locating devices, which allows them to EAR TO THE GROUND

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ear to the Ground - Spring 2015

President's Message
2015 Dig Safe Symposium Awards
Damage Prevention and Innovation
High Pressure Transmission Pipeline Safety
Delivery of Locates in Ontario
ORCGA's Damage Prevention Technician, DPT Program
Ice Storm 2013: We Have the Power to Survive
Our Industry is Constantly Changing
Index of Advertisers

Ear to the Ground - Spring 2015