Reducing Underground Utility Damage Through Smarter GIS Integration

Damage to underground infrastructure remains one of the most costly and operationally disruptive risks faced by utilities and infrastructure operators. Strikes to buried assets interrupt service, increase repair costs, expose organizations to regulatory scrutiny, and create public safety hazards. Yet incident data consistently shows that many of these events are avoidable when processes, technology, and coordination are aligned.

This webinar examines the measurable scope of subsurface damage, the primary drivers behind such incidents, and how modern GIS-based workflows — combined with emerging technologies — can significantly reduce exposure to risk.

Understanding the Scale and Causes of Underground Damage

Excavation-related incidents tied to locating practices continue to affect utilities across sectors. By analyzing damage statistics and industry trends, organizations can identify recurring vulnerabilities such as incomplete locate information, communication breakdowns, seasonal workload spikes, or inconsistent documentation.

Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward prevention. A data-informed approach enables utility owners and operators to move from reactive repair cycles toward structured damage mitigation strategies grounded in accurate location intelligence.

Optimizing 811 Locate Workflows with GIS

Efficient management of 811 locate requests is central to preventing subsurface strikes. When ticket handling processes are fragmented or manual, response times slow and documentation gaps emerge. Streamlining workflows through GIS-centric systems allows organizations to centralize ticket intake, assignment, tracking, and reporting within a spatially aware environment.

Integrated solutions help manage fluctuating ticket volumes during peak construction seasons, ensuring that emergency requests are prioritized while routine inquiries are processed efficiently. Field locators benefit from real-time access to mapping data and asset records, improving situational awareness and decision-making accuracy.

By connecting locate tickets directly to spatial infrastructure data, utilities gain improved oversight of performance metrics, response compliance, and damage prevention efforts.

Addressing Complex Locating Scenarios

Underground asset protection involves more than routine ticket processing. Emergency excavations, contractor coordination, and regulatory requirements for positive response introduce additional operational complexity.

A GIS-driven ticket management framework enables dispatchers and supervisors to visualize active tickets geographically, monitor response timelines, and document compliance activities. This structured visibility supports consistent handling of emergency scenarios and enhances accountability when working with third-party contractors.

Clear documentation trails and spatially linked records also simplify audits and reporting obligations tied to regulatory standards.

Benefits Across Operational Roles

A centralized, GIS-enabled system improves coordination at multiple levels of an organization. Managers gain strategic insight into damage trends and workforce performance. Dispatchers operate with enhanced visibility into ticket distribution and workload balancing. Field locators receive accurate mapping context and asset information, reducing uncertainty during marking operations.

The result is a more cohesive process that strengthens communication between office and field teams while supporting proactive damage prevention initiatives.

About VertiGIS

VertiGIS® is a recognized provider of GIS software solutions and services. The company develops platforms designed to connect organizational processes with location-based intelligence. Its client base spans utilities, land management agencies, public sector institutions, energy providers, telecommunications organizations, and manufacturing enterprises.

VertiGIS is the creator of Geocortex®, a widely adopted framework used by thousands of organizations to extend and enhance applications built on Esri’s ArcGIS®. Through these solutions, customers deliver robust, user-focused geospatial applications that support millions of end users globally.

By combining structured GIS workflows with purpose-built software solutions, organizations can reduce underground infrastructure damage while improving efficiency, transparency, and regulatory compliance.