Utilities Uncovered
CBD Cable Crisis Reveals Much Deeper Damage
Sydney, Australia – October 2009
Last month, Sydneysiders were without phone, internet and mobile phone coverage after a contractor accidentally cut through crucial communication cables. *
Interestingly, the contractors who were carrying out cable upgrade works, had allegedly phoned ‘Dial before you Dig’ – a free referral service designed to prevent damage and disruption to the vast underground network of pipes and cables, this is still under investigation.
The accident highlights the incomplete and inaccurate nature of utility records in Australia. New legislative changes in 2009 in NSW make it mandatory to include ‘Dial Before You Dig’ into your underground planning, which ultimately places more onus on utilities to have up-to-date mapping information.
The industry vision is to improve the mapping and GIS (Geographic Information System) integrity, and to integrate GIS systems with other asset systems for better network interoperability – so as to avoid these types of mistakes.
IQPC Australia’s Utilities Uncovered will bring together various utilities companies from across Australia to drive this necessary change. Featuring industry experts from; Telstra, South East Water, and Dial before you Dig.
“Utilities Uncovered is important to attend because it offers more than other GIS events for utility organisations. The only event specific to utilities, it offers you the only chance to network, share ideas and overcome challenges with a room full of industry peers. There is nothing like it in Australia", Brendan Soustal, GIS Manager, Mid Coast Water.
Visit http://www.utilitiesuncovered.com.au for more information or call Chris Archer, Online Communications Manager, on +61 2 9229 1045.
*Source: http://www.news.com.au/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
