One-call screening support for utilities

New web-based reporting software may help geophysical and other contractors avoid damage to utilities.

Petris Technology has diversified its geographical information system (GIS) capability to provide environmental compliance support to underground utility owners. Recent Texas legislation requires that underground utility owners provide a call-back service to companies digging up the road to notify them of a “no conflict” status when proposed excavation will not interfere with buried utility lines.

OCS 3

Petris Winds ‘One Call Screening Support System’ (OCS 3 ) addresses the new requirements by electronically receiving and screening Excavation Tickets, organizing them by Call Directing Centers (CDCs) and then transmitting them directly to the appropriate CDC. OCS 3 provides the user a graphical interface, which facilitates the mapping of each location onto a detailed road base using address matching and the Texas Excavation Safety System (TESS) grid referencing system. The system can be used on a laptop or desktop in a distributed computing environment and provides the opportunity to open, categorize, monitor, investigate, and close Excavation Tickets. Once tickets have been processed, the system will automatically email or fax a notification of “no conflict” to the excavator.

Maggio

Robert Maggio, Manager of GIS Operations at Petris Technology, Inc., said, “This application performs work otherwise done over the phone, fax or by email - with significant savings to utility operators. The application integrates into the operators’ existing GIS databases and provides an audit trail showing date, time and identity of the caller.”

Seismic contractors?

Having witnessed geophysical contractors blow up a water main on two occasions, while shooting for weathering velocity determination, Oil ITJ wonders if this may have direct application to the upstream?

Click here to comment on this article

Click here to view this article in context on a desktop

© Oil IT Journal - all rights reserved.