Utility location

DBYD chapter hosts information session

DBYD NSW/ACT Manager Dominic Puiu provided an overview of the current direction of the chapter before he, and Assistant Manager Otre Moussre, encouraged locators to provide feedback for the upcoming review the AS5488 standards.

Gordon Bell, who presented on behalf of Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), spoke of its practice to engage DBYD certified locators, to ensure it minimised risks and locators had an understanding of AS5488/reporting and other standards and processes.

Mr Bell also covered RMS training requirements, such as basic traffic control and confined space for some of their assets, and pointed out there is a potential AU$20,000 fine for destroying survey markers for those use non-destructive digging (NDD) or excavators that remove them operations.

Sydney Trains’ Ray Myler spoke about locating on, or near, the rail corridor and the potential for locators to interfere with signalling communications.

He went through the equipment specifications, which includes transmitters with no more than 10 watt and using frequencies below 4.1 kHz, and sondes – that are not allowed due to frequency interference.

He said it utilises locating teams, with a minimum of two people, due to the heightened electrical risks and electrical safety training requirements.

John Murray of Sydney Water, advised the attendees on how it renews its pipe network: by laying mains beside the old, inserting into the old main, pipe bursting or deep bores.

Some its new mains can be up to 15 m deep which raised concerns of how locators could identify them using current technology, as well as how to repair them if there was a leak.

Pelican Corp, who is responsible for a lot of the software that asset owners use to distribute plans to a DBYD request, presented on how it is now providing a service of plan collation per request.

The service is being utilised by companies that may order multiple sets per day, or on long jobs that continually need plans renewed.

The paid service, which uses a ‘traffic light system’, and plans can be accessed prior to all plans being received.

For more information visit the DBYD website.

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