As real estate density increases, underground construction becomes more complex and intense. Several utilities need to coordinate tasks while keeping safety as a high priority. Workers must also contend with abandoned or unknown underground components. At the same time, paperwork becomes unviable for accurate and cost-effective mapping of the field facilities
Integrated systems combining ID locators and markers with global positioning technology are gaining increasing importance for public utility resource management.
The 3M Dynatel Resource Locators allow to quickly and accurately identify underground assets, becoming a complete system for damage prevention, locating, marking and mapping vital underground assets. These sytems are combined with a Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for cost-effective, accurate mapping of field facilities.
This way precise GPS mapping replace traditional schematic maps that may be incomplete, inaccurate, and difficult to maintain. This effort can be done efficiently in conjunction with utility construction and maintenance activities, and the resulting data supports the preparation and continuous upgrading of infrastructure records.
Solution Components
- 3M Dynatel Utility Locator system
- GPS System based on Ashtech Mobile Mapper 6
- Field laptops for accurate, real-time updates, such as the new YUMA rugged field computer
- Consulting and integration services to implement the solution in your specific scenario
- Software customization and custom software development.
- Documentation Staff training
- Field training
How it works
Information from the3M marker locators is downloaded at the end of each workday and added to the GIS database. As GPS data is collected in the field in the future, marker longitude and latitude coordinates will be added to a new layer in the GIS mapping database. GPS data entry and management capabilities are included in marker locator software from the 3M underground ID marker system. The software provides for obtaining and transferring GPS coordinates for underground markers by one of two methods, depending on the type of GPS equipment being used.
The GPS data is also valuable for computer-aided drafting system operations for facilities drawings. Recorded marker coordinates can be used to auto-create points for the CAD system, resulting in precise and complete as-built drawings. This paperless, electronic approach to field records reduces the possibility of error and speed the process of creating and updating CAD records.
Achievable reductions are in the order of 75% in record keeping time with GPS input, compared to conventional surveys and hand-marking of prints in the field.
Records will include not only location details but full feature attribute data, allowing for data mining (i.e. rapid search and identification of specified features on particular sections of the water/sewer network). Predictive and preventive maintenance work are greatly benefited from this improved level of data accuracy and access.
The solution uses affordable GPS receivers, like Ashtech MM6, having sufficient memory to handle the marker data and coordinates, pairing them with 3M marker locator devices. The two devices will communicate in a standard data and protocol like RS-232 connections. At the end of each day, data from GPS-equipped locators are downloaded into a file to support mapping, spreadsheet and sortable database applications. This new level of detail will improve the efficiency of utility maintenance scheduling and field work.
Increase daily operations efficiency
For day-to-day work, an operator will be able to scan stored waypoints in the GPS unit to reach the vicinity of a marker of interest, and then click on that item to confirm what is at the location. This will be a useful orientation tool in preparation for digging, or to establish a bearing in order to locate something else.
With this new GPS-supported underground marking technology, a single person will be able to handle the field mapping for utilities expansion in one step, placing markers, programming pertinent data in the marker, recording GPS coordinates, and creating a downloadable record of the day’s work as the pipe is laid.
Mapping work can be accomplished on the fly, and there will be no need to return to that location at a later time.
Real time information
The digital nature of marker and GPS records will make it possible to frequently update maps that are stored on laptops used in the field - using wireless or plug-and-sync connections at the end of a shift. In this manner, working crews will have timely access to maps that include details of work done as recently as the previous day.
Improve book-keeping process
GPS marking will also allow utilities to more accurately age their infrastructure because they have a data/time stamp on every marked location along with the project name and date of construction. This level of detail will make it easier to conform to government inventory and costing requirements.
