DISASTER RECOVERY

Improving Disaster Recovery Efficiency with RFID/GPS Technology

Whether natural or accidental, wide-scale damage to above ground structures and terrain can make the task of subsurface utility recovery and maintenance difficult and expensive. The difficulty is compounded when using dated technology and traditional mapping methods.

Investing in new solutions to underground asset recovery can save money and improve overall utility system efficiency.

Circumventing traditional post-disaster asset locating issues

One of the most significant issues facing utility companies after a disaster is locating buried assets. Traditional mapping and field techniques often use geographic landmarks to position assets relative to one another. If the disaster destroys landmarks, a larger area must be excavated to uncover the buried assets. This process is expensive and can threaten nearby utilities included in the expanded excavation area.

These issues become even more complex when multiple utility agencies are involved in recovery efforts. In most cases, both public and private entities work simultaneously to assess, service or recover utility assets in close proximity to one another. Miscommunication and poor planning ahead of time can result in further complications and operational delays.

A solution with RFID and GPS integration

A solution to locating buried assets is now available. A combination of radio frequency identification (RFID), magnetic locating and GPS technology has proven to be an effective solution. The InfraMarker solution uses these proven technologies to make locating fast and accurate.

Researchers at the Geospatial Research and Applications Center (GRAC) at Auburn University conducted a study on this approach in a disaster recovery scenario.

Researchers concluded the InfraMarker solution improved overall efficiency when it came to finding buried assets under stressful conditions. 

Specifically, RFID/GPS mapping systems present a solution for utility companies using hardware such as cable tracers to locate and identify buried assets. While tracer pedestals often damaged or destroyed during disasters, RFID tags are constructed specifically to withstand adverse weather and long-term deployment underground.

When the RFID tagging infrastructure is fully implemented, positioning information from the InfraMarker can be used to generate precise, expansive digital mapping tools for excavating – and is especially useful in disaster recovery efforts.

Installing InfraMarker Tags

Placement and writing of the InfraMarker tags

Process for installing, reading and Geo-mapping InfraMarker tags

Tag Install Preparation

Before you start, make sure you have access to the InfraMarker app on your mobile phone. Your employer will be able to give you access. Then, gather the InfraMarker tags needed for the project along with an approved RFID reader/writer.

Tag Placement 

Visually confirm the asset point to be marked (a valve, stub, weld point, elbow, intersection, catch basin or other key feature). 

For underground assets

Take a photo or video of the asset point while it is exposed in the hole. Please the tag above the point to be marked but below disturbance level. The tag is then covered with sand (recommended) or standard backfill.  

Note: Tags in moist soil, clay or near other tags or metal should be placed as close to disturbance level as possible to maximize read performance. Optional Berntsen fiberglass posts are available to provide extra stability to the tag and to provide more precise direction from the tag to the underground asset.       

For above ground assets

The technician takes a photo or video of the asset and attaches it to the asset record.

Tag Writing 

Position the reader slightly above the tag (or the ground over the tag) and select the ‘write tag’ option on the app to begin the tag writing process.     

Then, select the template type (above ground or in-ground) on the app. A series of choices will drop-down.

For example, the in-ground template displays the following fields:

• Asset owner (e.g. utility company)

• Asset type (e.g. gas, water, steam, fiber, cable, electric)

• Asset material (e.g. In: PVC, steel; concrete, conduit)

• Asset feature (e.g. weld, elbow, stub, intersection)

• Depth from surface to asset (e.g. 4 ft surface to pipe)

Next, select whether the tag represents 

• an “InfraMarked” asset (located visually and marked with an InfraMarker tag),

• an asset marked with an InfraMarker-enabled tag but not visually confirmed (usually with an InfraMarker-enabled above ground marker)

• or an asset that is point identified but not marked or visually located.

Review the latitude and longitude coordinates of the tag location as displayed on satellite view of the map. 

• If the displayed lat-long pin corresponds to the tag location, confirm that the lat-long coordinates should be written to the tag.

• If the coordinates are not available or incorrect, move the pin on the displayed map to the correct location and confirm the lat-long coordinates can be written to the tag.

• If you know the precise lat-long coordinates based on prior survey, enter those coordinates on the map.

After data entry and GPS recording is complete, the full tag record is displayed you are prompted to ‘write data to tag? (Y/N)’. 

Either confirm the data is correct or reenter tag data. 

Write the data to the tag. The reader executes a ‘read’ operation and sends a confirmation message display of ‘write successful’ or ‘write unsuccessful.’    

After placement and data entry, the field technician takes a short (up to 15 seconds) video of the surrounding terrain to provide a visual reference for the location of the tag and asset  (e.g. “tag is in a right of way 60 feet to the eastern boundary of subdivision”; “tag now buried under paved road”). Once completed, the installer can attach the photo of the asset in the hole and a video to the data record.

Data uploading

Once the record is confirmed, all tag information including location video and comments, photo, date/time, user ID, mobile device ID, and tag EPC are stored as a data record and uploaded to the your GIS or the InfraMarker cloud as soon as an Internet connection is established.  

Data access

An InfraMarker licensee can view the map of InfraMarker tags through the InfraMarker website or a mobile device. The level of data available for updating, viewing and download depends on the access level.