RFID in Revolutionizing Asset Tracking Across Industries

Evolution of RFID graphic from abr.com

A recent article highlighting the 25 Technologies that have changed the world lists the usual blockbuster inventions, such as the Apple iPhone, Wi-Fi, AI, facial recognition, drones, DNA testing, social platforms, quantum computing and bitcoin. However, not all of these world-changing technologies are so famous.

Who knew that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a world-changing technology?

RFID is now a key technology across a growing number of industries. RFID uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track objects. This simple technology has just two components: RFID tags (transponders) and RFID readers. The tags contain data, which are accessed by the reader via radio waves. Unlike barcodes, RFID tags do not require line-of-sight to be scanned, making them more versatile and efficient for asset tracking. 

The read range of an RFID tag refers to the distance from which the tag can be detected by the RFID reader.  There are two basic types of RFID tags – Passive and active. Passive tags do not require batteries and get their power from the electromagnetic waves of the RFID reader. 

Read how Amazon is using RFID for its new Just Walk Out technology where customers can grab clothes, hats, shoes, and more—and simply walk out of the store through an exit gate (even while wearing their purchases) by tapping their credit or debit card, or hovering their palm over an Amazon One palm recognition device. No more checkout lines for clothes!

RFID systems are simple, adaptable, and easily connect with a range of hardware and software. That’s why RFID is a world-changing technology.

Read the article from the National Institutes of Health entitled “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in health care: where are we? A scoping review”

Read an article by Atlas RFID store about the many ways that RFID is used to identify and manage wine, beer, and spirits.

RFID is being used to identify, verify and connect to utilities - from buried gas lines to fiber to hydrants. Learn more.

1. Retail
   Now that self-checkout is everywhere, we all understand the frustration of scanning bar codes. Fortunately, many retailers are moving to RFID-enabled shopping carts and baskets to improve the customer experience. Instead of struggling to find a code and scan it, the customer just drops the item in the cart/basket, and it’s scanned. Additionally, RFID-enabled shelves can provide in-depth information on any product via the NFC capability on most cell phones.[1]

2. Logistics
   Cargo tracking is essential in the logistics industry. Because RFID tags are available in many forms, they can be affixed to nearly everything, from individual packages to shipping containers, vehicles, train cars and so on. Shipments can be tracked in real-time from origin to destination from a distance. Any interruptions can be quickly detected and resolved, saving time and money.

3. Healthcare
   If you’ve been in a hospital, it’s hard to miss the medical equipment wheeled into every available space. Hospitals are continually challenged to efficiently use this equipment, not only because of cost, but also because of regulatory requirements. RFID is making a huge difference in keeping track of every device, as well as it’s maintenance history and what specific device has been used on each patient. In many facilities today, patient wrist bands are also RFID-enabled to ensure the patient is accurately tracked as they move through the treatment process.

4. Manufacturing
   Tracking inventory parts and manufactured assemblies has always been a challenge in manufacturing. Bar codes were initially used to address the issue, but the requirement for a line of sight reduces efficiency. RFID delivers efficient inventory tracking without visible markers, enabling product monitoring throughout the manufacturing process.

5. Hospitality
   Years ago, hotels replaced locks and keys with RFID-enabled cards. Today, the use of RFID is not limited to access control – now, RFID is used for inventory control as well. RFID tags on hotel and restaurant supplies provide inventory control, while tags on amenities such as hair dryers, robes, and so on, help prevent loss.   

6. Agriculture
   RFID tags are used for tracking and monitoring livestock as well as for monitoring wildlife.
   RFID tags on livestock have become commonplace. Tags are placed on animals soon after birth, tracking their passage from farm to stockyard to supermarket. Besides providing food traceability that is so important for health, RFID helps to manage disease within herds. RFID helps to collect data on individual animals’ behavior and health. That means that outbreaks can be quickly detected and treated as they occur.  
   In wildlife research, RFID tags are placed on managed endangered species populations, migratory birds, or large mammals. These tags enable researchers to identify individual animals, track their movements, and collect a broad range of data.

   In both livestock farming and wildlife conservation, asset tracking helps prevent theft and poaching. RFID tags can trigger alarms if an animal leaves a designated area or if an unauthorized person attempts to move an animal.[2]

7. Museums
   Recent headlines highlighting the loss of irreplaceable items at prominent museums highlight the challenge curators face as they must receive, catalogue, store, and display millions of artifacts. A new study showed how RFID can help paleontologists keep track of dinosaur bones from dig to display.RFID can help the visitor experience. When issued an RFID-enabled badge, an audio presentation will be triggered by the proximity to the displayed artwork, providing a wealth of information about the work, it’s creator and history. The data generated from each visitor’s visit can be analyzed to gain insight into visitor traffic patterns, exhibit popularity and even the impact of different lighting and environmental conditions over time. This helps the curator better manage the museum.

   In art museums, priceless works can be tagged with a discreet RFID label that will trigger alarms if the piece is moved without authorization.

8. Wine
   RFID technology helps vineyards maintain accurate inventory information for real-time tracking of product movements, minimizing the risk of over- or under-stock. RFID tags can monitor temperature and humidity throughout the supply chain to maintain product quality and safety. At the retail location, Point of Sale Inventory Replenishment can automatically update the inventory, ensuring that customers can always get their favorite vintage.

9. Infrastructure
   RFID is particularly suited to the management of any type of infrastructure asset, from utility poles to buried valves. A simple RFID tag delivers the location, identity and owner of any asset anywhere. If used widely, RFID would enable cities, airports and utilities to better manage excavation and construction by providing on-site verification of any type of buried asset. The cost of unintentional utility strikes costs the U.S. more than $30 billion annually, according to the Common Ground Alliance. This expense is an unnecessary burden on economic development with no upside. 

The RFID market is growing rapidly

The global RFID market is expected to grow from USD 15.8 billion in 2023 to USD 40.9 billion in 2032 at a CAGR of 11.1% during this time. As more and more industries leverage the power of RFID, the applications of RFID will expand. The convergence of RFID, IoT, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will deliver transformative technologies to all sectors, making sense of data and providing a new depth and breadth of understanding. 

Berntsen is here to help customers take advantage of this technology with its InfraMarker RFID solution. InfraMarker combines the power of GIS with RFID to deliver accurate, verified asset identification any time and anywhere. See how InfraMarker can change your world.

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Footnotes:

[1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/enhancing-efficiency-customer-experience-role-rfid-technologies-gsn/
[2] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unlocking-efficiency-role-rfid-revolutionizing-asset-chemerinski/

RFID - resilient and adaptable

Leon Theremin with his radio frequency instrument, circa 1928.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has been around for a long time. The precursor technology to RFID was originally developed as a musical instrument by the Russian physicist Leon Theremin, patented in 1928. The Theremin produces music by manipulation of electromagnetic fields around two antennae to produce sound.

Key technology during WWII

During WWII, the British used radio frequency identification to detect which incoming aircraft were friend or foe. They placed a radio transmitter on each plane. When it received signals from radar stations on the ground, it began broadcasting a signal back that identified the aircraft as friendly. This is the key function of RFID. A signal is sent to a transponder, which wakes up and either reflects back a signal (passive system) or broadcasts a signal (active system).[1]

Hedy Lamarr in a media shot for the movie “The Heavenly Body”, 1944.

Manipulation of radio frequency also played a role in protecting Allied war ships during WWII. In the early 1940s, the Allies were gearing up for a war that would determine the history of the world and were using all available technologies to gain an edge. One of the new weapons was a radio-controlled torpedo that could enhance the range and accuracy of the weapon. A Hollywood actress with a genius-level IQ and an interest in technology heard about this technology. Hedy Lamarr was aware that these torpedoes could easily be jammed by the enemy, rendering them ineffective. Radio jamming is the intentional transmission of radio signals on the same frequency as another communication channel, with the goal of disrupting or interfering with that communication. She believed that if the frequency used to control the torpedo was constantly changing, it would be much more difficult for the enemy to jam the signal and prevent the torpedo from reaching its target.

Replica of the “The Thing” radio listening device.

So she set to work with a friend, Georg Antheil, a composer with an interest in machinery and developed “frequency-hopping” to ensure the radio signals couldn’t be jammed. In frequency hopping, the transmitter and receiver rapidly switch between different channels in a predetermined sequence. This sequence is known to both the transmitter and the receiver, and it is usually designed to cover a wide frequency range to increase the likelihood of finding a clear channel. Lamarr and Antheil received a patent for this technology and donated it to the US Navy, never getting any money from it.[2]

Later, radio frequency technology was used by the Soviets to produce a covert listening device. In 1945 the Soviet Union presented a hand-carved ceremonial seal of the USA to the US ambassador, Averell Harriman. Unfortunately, this wasn’t just a gift, it was a new kind of listening device. Hidden within the artwork was an antenna activated by radio waves that were directed at the US embassy by the Soviets. This served as a microphone and broadcast private conversations back to the Soviets. It wasn’t initially found by embassy staff because the device had no batteries or wires to detect. For seven years, private conversations in Harriman’s study were unknowingly broadcast to the Soviets.[3]

Computers & RFID - a powerful combination

By 1973, memory was added to the radio frequency technology.  It consisted of a transponder with 16 bit memory for use as a toll device for the New York Port Authority. The basic patent covers the use of radio frequency (RF), sound and light as transmission carriers.[4] The commercial uses of the technology for passive, contactless identification were apparent, and rapid development and commercialization began in earnest.

Graph derived from a market report by MarketsandMarkets, titled RFID Market Size, Share, Statistics and Industry Growth Analysis Report by Offering (Tags, Readers, Software & Services, Tag Type (Active, Passive), Wafer Size, Frequency (Low Frequency, High Frequency, Ultra-high Frequency), Form Factor, Material, Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2032.

Today, the market for RFID is exploding. According to a comprehensive report by MarketsandMarkets, the global RFID market size is projected to reach USD 40.9 billion by 2032 from USD 15.8 billion in 2023; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.1% from 2023 to 2032. This growth is indicative of the increasing adoption of RFID technology as a powerful enabler of connectivity and data visibility.[5]

Now, RFID is used across all sectors of industry, from agriculture to manufacturing, education, health care, retail, supply chain management – anywhere the instantaneous, contactless and precise identification and tracking of any item is needed. Its simplicity and versatility means that it can be combined with other technologies to deliver location-based data immediately. For example, RFID is being used with artificial intelligence technologies to reliably predict patient falls and detect human activities. It can help provide insight into transport conditions for perishable products, and support sustainability by helping to identify and reduce waste in supply chain management.

RFID & GIS

RFID is now being tapped to help manage all types of assets in combination with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). When used together, GIS and RFID deliver accurate, verified information about any type of asset – even below-ground. This information is incredibly useful when re-locating buried assets before excavation. RFID means that field workers can know exactly what’s below simply by scanning the buried RFID asset tag through InfraMarker RFID apps that display that specific asset’s data.

Berntsen’s partnership with Esri gives users of the popular Survey123 and Field Maps data collection apps the opportunity incorporate the benefits of InfraMarker RFID into their asset tracking. Berntsen’s partnership with HID means that its RFID tags and readers come in a wide variety of configurations, from rugged underground magnetized markers to ultra-thin labels designed for accurate and reliable inventory control.

RFID Journal Live Conference

In a few days, experts will be unveiling the future by sharing the latest applications, enhancements, and new advancements RFID technology. The Conference brings together users, developers, and exhibitors from all over the world at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from April 9-11. Mike Klonsinski, president of Berntsen will be presenting a session about a unique use of our versatile InfraMarker RFID technology:

Dinosaur Dig to Display: Transforming Asset Management in the Field

Tuesday, April 9 | 1:50 pm to 2:30 pm Room No: 357 

Session Description

When 347 fossil specimens were discovered on Standing Rock Sioux lands in South Dakota, the Earth Science Foundation (ESF) turned to technology to advance their fossil recovery operation. The ESF team led the excavation, documentation and handling of paleontological specimens and needed an innovative solution. In response to that need, InfraMarker RFID, HID and Esri ArcGIS joined forces to deliver best asset management practices.

Learn how the solution uses the combined technology to improve field workflows, tracks, and traces bones from field to display, and aids dashboards for operations managers and remote stakeholders.

RFID continues to be a core technology for our future, and the RFID Conference highlights how this simple technology is making our lives better. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Footnotes:

[1] https://www.rfidjournal.com/the-history-of-rfid-technology

[2] https://www.sparkfun.com/news/6147

[3] https://www.paragon-id.com/en/inspiration/history-radio-frequency-identification-technology#:~:text=Due%20to%20the%20technological%20advancements,with%20the%20word%20'RFID'.

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification

[5] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/global-rfid-market-report-industry-size-share-growth-2032-deshmukh-a07jf/

Damage prevention saves lives and money

April is recognized by Congress and most Governors across the U.S. as National Safe Digging Month as shovels (and backhoes) hit the ground for a busy season. It’s well known that excavation is a dangerous business. Excavation strikes on public utility lines lead to more than 2,000 injuries and 400 deaths each year[1]. The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) states that accidental utility strikes cost the U.S. at least $30 billion annually, based on self-reported data by stakeholders and state 811 call centers. And it looks like things are getting worse, not better.

From the CGA 2022 DIRT Report

Trends indicate more, not fewer damages

The CGA’s most recent data show that the number of incidents is increasing. A three-year trend (2020-2022) points to a 9.34 percent increase in utility strikes. With more than a half-trillion dollars allocated to new infrastructure in the U.S. over five years, it’s essential all organizations involved in excavation prioritize ways to reverse this dangerous and costly trend.

Many organizations are involved in excavation - professional excavators, landscapers, contractors, utilities, local, state and federal agencies, site owners and others. A single excavation site has dozens of contractors working in the same space at the same time. Surprisingly, there are few national guidelines for safe excavation processes, except for the one-call system established in 1994. This law directed states to have a phone number to call for underground locating. In most states, that number or link is 811.

Calling (or clicking on) 811 for locating services before excavation greatly reduces the risk of utility strikes. Unfortunately, nearly 25% of all reported utility damages result from NOT calling 811, as this chart from CGA shows.

An industry group, the Infrastructure Protection Coalition, is working to standardize the use of 811 by all parties involved in excavation. Their report states that

“A handful of states account for more than 20 percent of the national waste [related to 811], a combined $13 billion, because of 811 policies that lack teeth and, in some cases, do not require mandatory reporting of damage to utility lines. . . [The analysis shows that] these costs and the increased risk to public safety could be substantially reduced if states with the worst records adopted more effective practices and procedures already in use in other parts of the country.”

811 Emergency, National Report, 6/15/2022, Infrastructure Protection Coalition

Focus on policy

It appears that now is the time to call for a national approach to damage prevention. The CGA has just announced the formation of the Damage Prevention Action Center, an entity made up of industry leaders to advocate for data-driven legislative and regulatory policies and industry practices that protect our critical underground utility infrastructure and those who work and live near these important assets. It’s vital that legislation be based on data and best practices, and this group aims to ensure fact-based regulation.

Ambitious goals – achievable with technology

The CGA has set an ambitious goal of reducing damages by 50% over the next five years. Consistent and widespread use of 811 is key, but to reach that goal, other priority action areas must be leveraged. “For facility owners, GIS-based mapping of assets and communication are urgently needed to improve locating timelines and accuracy.”

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are already used extensively by municipalities and utilities across the country. These platforms are ideal for mapping and visualizing underground infrastructure and are already in use by many utilities and municipalities across the country.

Adding processes for mapping underground utilities as they are they are installed (or uncovered by new excavation) can provide highly accurate, shareable maps for every contractor on a construction site. These efforts are already underway. For example, Esri, a global leader in GIS, delivers capabilities designed to make the visualization, identification, mapping and management of underground utilities accessible for all stakeholders. Its ArcGIS platform is ideal for generating accurate visual depictions of location and other data in layers. This platform uses data from a wide range of sources, including field operations. Field workers use cell phones or tablets to collect data in real time as they install underground infrastructure.

To ensure location data is absolutely accurate for future excavations, Esri offers the InfraMarker RFID app that integrates with its Field Maps or Survey123 field data collection software. As utilities are buried (or uncovered during excavation), RFID tags are placed on or near critical points, such as fiber junctions, valves, places where multiple assets converge and so on. Essential data about the asset, its owner and location data are written to each tag for future on site location and verification. This data is linked to ArcGIS via the InfraMarker/data collection apps, providing verified location data of the buried utility while also linking it to critical information about the asset, including video, schematics, maintenance and other data.

What this means is that in the future, when excavation on the same site is required, the exact location, owner and nature of underground assets can be verified on the spot. Buried RFID tags can be read before ground is broken from above using RFID readers connected to the Esri/InfraMarker data collection apps. Above ground RFID tags can also be read with a cell phone held close proximity to the tag.

The data owner can choose to share selected data with other contractors, preventing damage to their critical underground facilities during excavation.

Accurately mapping of underground assets is key to preventing damage. If used consistently, GIS and RFID deliver in-field location verification and identification data that streamline buried asset locating – preventing costly utility strikes and construction delays.

See it for yourself

Berntsen International supports CGA’s mission and will be showing InfraMarker RFID at the upcoming CGA Conference and Expo April 14-18 at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado in booth 322. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Footnotes:

1. https://www.utilitylocatinginformation.com/blog/facts-and-figures-about-utility-strikes/

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References:

NP Case Study Minnesota Utilities Mapping (commongroundalliance.com)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/striking-balance-unearthing-facts-solutions-utility-line-machuca/

https://www.theutilityexpo.com/news/digging-safely-preventing-underground-utility-stri

https://www.amprobe.com/consequences-of-striking-underground-infrastructure/

https://geospatial.blogs.com/geospatial/

Key Trends in 2024

The “Fourth Industrial Revolution” is well underway. Back in 2011, economist Klaus Schwab coined the term to refer to the rapid digitization and accessibility of technologies that spark a global shift in processes – in everything from how we communicate to how businesses and governments are managed[1].

Drone image by Florian Pircher from Pixabay

Building information model of a mechanical room developed from lidar data (image provided by Yelda Turkan, OSU College of Engineering).

More a decade later, this revolution is accelerating, driven by the widespread use of cloud computing, “big data”, virtual reality and artificial intelligence (AI). These “disruptive technologies[2]” are fundamentally changing our lives and how we do our jobs. All industries, including surveying and civil engineering, are leveraging these new technologies to automate tasks, increase precision and generate more useful data.

• Integration of 3D Laser Scanning Technology (LiDAR)
  3D laser scanning traces back to the early 1960s when researchers experimented with laser technology to measure distances and create 3D representations of objects. The first practical applications of laser scanning emerged in the 1970s, in the field of surveying and topographic mapping. However, 3D laser scanning didn’t become useful until advancements in computing power and data processing capabilities were integrated with portable scanning technology. Today, surveyors can combine 3D scanners with their total stations to measure distances and create accurate three-dimensional representations of the surveyed area. The use of 3D laser scanning enhances data collection speed, accuracy, and enables more comprehensive visualization and analysis[3]. Berntsen offers a line of laser targets designed to work with these advanced systems – enhancing accuracy and ensuring repeatability.

• Drones
  Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and LiDAR sensors capture imagery and terrain data, allowing surveyors to obtain valuable insights for mapping, topographic surveys, and volumetric calculations. This technology makes it possible to survey inaccessible areas, reducing field time and increasing the efficiency of data collection and processing[3]. Of course, having accurate reference points is key to successful aerial surveying – see how Berntsen’s drone targets can work for you.

• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
  BIM uses a range of technologies to create a digital representation of a structure or infrastructure project, integrating survey data with architectural, engineering, and construction information. Surveyors contribute crucial geospatial data to BIM models, facilitating clash detection, accurate quantity take-offs, and construction coordination. BIM enhances collaboration among project stakeholders, reduces errors, and enhances overall project efficiency[3]. Berntsen helps surveyors ensure BIM data precision with its line of smart targets and reflectors.

Layers in Geographic Information Systems, augmented with RFID

• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Applications
  Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are finding their way into land surveying practices, offering immersive experiences and enhanced visualization. AR and VR applications enable surveyors to overlay survey data onto the real world or create virtual environments for project planning and simulation. These technologies aid in communication, decision-making, and public engagement, providing stakeholders with a better understanding of the surveyed area and proposed designs[3]. These visualizations are extremely precise when surveying measurements include the use of high-quality prisms that help ensure accuracy – available from Berntsen.

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  Cloud-based Geographic Information Systems provide centralized storage, access, and analysis of map-based survey data. GIS is another technology that was first developed in the 1960s using existing spatial analysis and visualization methods, combined with computing power, to identify and manage land characteristics and use over large areas. Soon the usefulness of a spatially based approach to data visualization and analysis was applied to a vast range of functions. Today, GIS is becoming more and more powerful through the integration of other technologies, including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and AI.

• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
  As data visualization gets better and better, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that the data itself is precise. That’s where RFID comes in. RFID literally ties the physical to the digital, authenticating any marked asset at its physical location. An RFID tag, placed on anything anywhere can be instantly read on-site, activating its full data record from the GIS or BIM platform. Today, the combination of GIS and RFID is used to verify and manage a vast array of items – from infrastructure assets to dinosaur bones. Berntsen offers a full range of RFID tags and software that integrate with GIS, BIM and other platforms to provide instant authentication to any asset, anywhere.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  AI is set to bring another wave of change to the way we live. AI is the ability of a machine to display human-like capabilities such as reasoning, learning, planning and creativity. AI enables technical systems to perceive their environment, deal with what they perceive, solve problems and act to achieve a specific goal. The computer receives data - already prepared or gathered through its own sensors such as a camera - processes it and responds. AI systems can adapt their behavior to a certain degree by analyzing the effects of previous actions and working autonomously[4].
  
  Combining AI with geographic information system (GIS) and RFID technology delivers real-world context and authentication to operations.

According to Esri, close observers of AI have noted that as an analytic tool, much of what it accomplishes falls into three main categories in which AI and location intelligence fit seamlessly:

• Automate tasks and repeat them quickly at scale. A utility company can use AI and location intelligence, along with drone [and RFID] technology, to examine utility poles and wires, determining where telltale signs suggest repairs are necessary.

• Look at past patterns to make predictions. A logistics or manufacturing company can use AI and location intelligence to optimize supply chains, considering such disparate data as weather forecasts, the likelihood of ship and rail traffic backup, and how many left-hand turns there are on driving routes.

• Search for patterns hidden in large amounts of data[5].

A key point

In the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it’s important to remember that there are some things that data, computing and visualization can’t do. Every person exists in the physical world, not as a consumer or data point, but as living, breathing, thinking being.

At Berntsen, we put people first, by caring for our customers, anticipating future needs, and providing personal support, from live webinars to one-on-one meetings. We all want to leave our mark, and Berntsen is here to help.

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References:

[1] https://www.repsol.com/en/energy-and-the-future/technology-and-innovation/fourth-industrial-revolution/index.cshtml

[2] https://www.repsol.com/en/energy-and-the-future/technology-and-innovation/disruptive-technologies/index.cshtml

[3] https://www.pointscan.co.uk/the-evolution-of-3d-laser-scanning/

[4] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20200827STO85804/what-is-artificial-intelligence-and-how-is-it-used

[5] https://www.esri.com/content/dam/esrisites/en-us/media/ebooks/artificial-intelligence.pdf

Background:

https://www.landform-surveys.co.uk/news/thoughts/ai-surveying/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/emerging-trends-land-surveying-practices-primaverse/

https://www.repsol.com/en/energy-and-the-future/technology-and-innovation/disruptive-technologies/index.cshtml

GIS Day - Mapping our past with the help of RFID

Ages shown for divisions of geologic time are general representations. Ages in mega-annum mean millions of years before present. Box heights are related to how long time periods lasted; different scaling factors are used for the column on the front of the bookmark and for the column on the back, which represents a much longer time period. Map symbols are in parentheses. For more specific age information, see U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2018–3054 (https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183054).

It’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day! Since 1999 when it was first celebrated as the grand finale to Geography Week, GIS has been quickly put to use by many professions, industries and researchers. Today, GIS is becoming indispensable for paleontology - with the help of RFID.

The Age of Dinosaurs

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 'Age of Dinosaurs' (the Mesozoic Era) included three consecutive geologic time periods (the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods). Different dinosaur species lived during each of these three periods. For example, the Jurassic dinosaur Stegosaurus had already been extinct for approximately 80 million years before the appearance of the Cretaceous dinosaur Tyrannosaurus. In fact, the time separating Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus is greater than the time separating Tyrannosaurus and you.

At the beginning of dinosaur history (the Triassic Period), there was one supercontinent on Earth called Pangea. Many dinosaur types were spread across it. However, as Pangea broke apart, dinosaurs became scattered across the globe on separate continents, and new types of dinosaurs evolved separately in each geographic area (1).

When were fossils recognized as ancient dinosaur remains?

Fossils have probably been found throughout human history, despite not being recognized for what they are. Discoveries of their bones were often attributed to giant versions of known animals, or even giant people. Perhaps dinosaur bones inspired the stories of griffins, giants, and dragons.

Fossils of dinosaurs, described by a Chinese historian in the 4th century BCE, were labeled as dragon bones, while "dragon bones" were prescribed for ailments from madness to diarrhea. There’s no evidence as to the effectiveness of this treatment, however.

In 1822, Mary Ann Mantell was accompanying her husband, obstetrician, and paleontologist Gideon Mantell, on a visit to a patient in Sussex, England, when she noticed something at the side of the road. Looking closer, she found large teeth embedded into the rock.

Her husband Gideon realized that the fossil belonged to a creature unknown to science. He continued to study it and later named it Iguanadon after its iguana-like teeth. Later, paleontologist Richard Owen examined a number of fossil sets and concluded that Iguanodon, Megalosaurus, and Hylaeosaurus fossils were from "a distinct tribe or sub-order of Saurian Reptiles" which he termed, "dinosauria". (2)

Earth Science

Today, an entire field of science is dedicated to the study of the earth, aptly named Earth Science. It includes four branches of study, including geology, meterology, oceanography and astronomy. Geologists specializing in the earth’s history are palentologists, and this group studies fossils to gather evidence to piece together what the ancient past might have been like.

Norman Ross of the division of Paleontology, National Museum, preparing the skeleton of a baby dinosaur some seven or eight million years old for exhibition. , 1921.

It’s getting harder and harder to access places where fossils are plentiful and the Earth Sciences Foundation, Inc. (ESF) was founded to help locate and protect fossils before they disappear. The foundation’s goal is to get people excited about and involved in earth sciences. Fields of study include everything from paleontology, to GIS to surveying.

One of the biggest issues facing scientists is keeping track of fossils, both in the ground and after they have been shipped to museums or universities for study. Recent headlines attest to the difficulty museums face in keeping track of all of their artifacts. Fortunately, there is an elegant solution to this pervasive (and costly) problem.

Each fossil was identified with a unique RFID tag that connected it to its record in ArcGIS. Data about the fossil was added throughout the process - accessible to all stakeholders in real time.

Berntsen has been working with The Earth Sciences Foundation to leverage the power of RFID to use GIS to track and manage dinosaur bones. Our InfraMarker Connected RFID has the potential to revolutionize how these precious artifacts are tracked from the time they are excavated until they are put on display in museums or sent to universities across the world for study. A simple RFID tag connected to GIS will allow scientists to see all the data about any specific artifact, including where it was found, photographs, video, notes and any other information about it, simply by accessing GIS. The RFID tag will stay with each artifact throughout its academic journey, making both the information and the location accessible at any time.

Dig to Display: Transforming Dinosaur Bone Asset Management with InfraMarker RFID and GIS

View of bone fossil locations on a map, with the selected bone displaying its data.

A recently-published study describes how dinosaur bones at Standing Rock Sioux lands in South Dakota were tracked from dig to display. ESF staffers used ArcGIS, Survey123 and InfraMarker RFID to track 347 artifacts from excavation to storage to display.

The bone tracking and management process is simple. Each discovered fossil was ‘tagged’ in the field with a tiny HID RFID marker to establish a unique digital and physical ID. That ID, and contemporaneous information, was captured by a field tech using a tablet with data collection software connected to a GIS platform. RFID scans of the bone’s tag tracked the bone as it moved through various zones from field to storage to cleaning to display, adding data to its GIS record. Simultaneously, hundreds of miles from the dig site, the contractor’s GIS platform displayed a map of original and current bone location and status as it moved from field to institute. Throughout the process, all RFID interrogation data was collected in the cloud, providing near real-time visibility of bone status by auditors hundreds of miles from the dig site.

One of the RFID tags used in the study.

Saves time; near perfect accuracy

Study results found a reduction of field data collection time by 80 percent, nearly perfect tracking of bones through the cycle from field to museum, and enabled easy data sharing and auditing of field work by related organizations.

The study demonstrated the benefits of the RFID/GIS integration that are making a huge difference in many industries - from utility management to agriculture, forestry and manufacturing. Another recent study shows how RFID can help identify and verify underground utilities, streamlining utility management and enhancing safety.

RFID and GIS - Accuracy, versatility and power

RFID and GIS expanding the benefits of location intelligence to new applications and streamlining access to valuable assets - from buried utilities to museum artifacts. Sales of RFID and GIS are exponentially growing because of the tremendous advantages these technologies offer across industries. When RFID is integrated with GIS through InfraMarker, accurate asset management is enabled by connecting the physical asset to its digital files that can be quickly accessed on-site with a simple RFID scan (or even a NFC scan from a cell phone). RFID provides asset authentication at the site of any asset, streamlining field work and improving accuracy and automatically generating tracking information. Any organization that needs to track and manage assets across space and time will benefit from incorporating InfraMarker RFID with their GIS.

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References:

1. https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/did-all-dinosaurs-live-together-and-same-time

2. https://www.iflscience.com/what-did-people-think-when-they-first-dug-up-dinosaur-fossils-67131#:~:text=Before%20we%20realized%20what%20dinosaurs,griffins%2C%20giants%2C%20and%20dragons

Berntsen Adds NFC capability to the InfraMarker RFID App

Berntsen International, a leading manufacturer of infrastructure marking products, announces that its InfraMarker RFID App now supports Near Field Communication (NFC) and is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Screenshot of the InfraMarker app ready to scan via NFC

The InfraMarker RFID app improves asset management by connecting UHF (Ultra-high frequency) RFID asset identification tags with the ESRI’s ArcGIS platform. Berntsen has expanded InfraMarker by integrating NFC identification tags with the ESRI platform.  With InfraMarker, a simple RFID or NFC scan can trigger the power of GIS and bring data, inspection forms, or maintenance records to the field for fast, reliable asset management.

Any smart phone equipped with the ability to make contactless card payments via NFC will support the InfraMarker NFC App. The InfraMarker NFC app augments the phone’s capability to include access to passive UHF RFID chips at close range – under four inches (10 centimeters).

RFID is the fastest growing asset identification technology in the world thanks to its ruggedness, affordability, and ability to provide a unique serial number for any type of product.  Berntsen is the leader in linking RFID technology to the digital management systems used by utilities, public works, and construction.  

“We are proud to add NFC to the InfraMarker field app.  This dramatically expands the number of assets that can be marked and managed using RFID for utilities, public works, and construction firms.” said Mike Klonsinski, president of Berntsen.

InfraMarker, a division of Berntsen International, is the leader in connected RFID-enabled infrastructure asset marking products and software. The InfraMarker line includes rugged RFID-enabled marking products, RFID readers and accessories, and RFID-connecting software to enhance GIS and asset management platforms.

About Berntsen International, Inc.

Since 1972, Berntsen International has provided high quality marking products to define the boundaries and infrastructure of the world.  Berntsen marking products have been deployed throughout the world and its survey caps and monuments are recognized as the global standard. 

Berntsen’s commitment to better infrastructure marking is taken to the next level with its innovative InfraMarker line of software, products, and solutions. The InfraMarker approach enables a connected infrastructure world by linking GIS platforms with RFID asset marking technology. Connected RFID infrastructure improves safety and field operations management for utilities, municipalities, and other organizations desiring better field asset management. 

RFID - the technology that keeps on giving

We’ve all heard of RFID, a technology that’s been around since the 1930s. Did you know that it’s now one of the fastest-growing technologies in the world?

Originally discovered during the development of radar, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has proven useful in all kinds of applications, from tracking library books to identifying lost pets to providing visibility into complex supply chains.

The technology is simple and versatile, consisting of a tiny RFID chip/antenna and a RFID reader that interrogates the chip via radio waves. No line of sight is required, and the tiny chips don’t require batteries – the power comes from the RFID reader.

Exponential RFID Market Growth

According to a presentation at the recent RFID Journal Live Conference (May 9-11, 2023), the RFID tag market is growing exponentially. This vibrant market growth will continue as RFID is integrated into more and more systems, including Geographic Information Systems, robotics and more.

The lasting impact of one person on the industry

Early on, in 2002, a reporter for Information Week realized the potential of the fledgling RFID market. About that time, manufacturing companies were trying to get a handle on how to prevent pervasive problems with inventory management and managing shipping information. RFID was one of the many technologies that was being tested to help resolve these problems. The reporter, Mark Roberti, focused his investigative skills on learning all he could about this fledgling technology. Little did he know that the result of his efforts would create a new career and an industry powerhouse.

Soon, Roberti created a website just to post his RFID articles, but it wasn’t until a reader asked about a subscription to the website that he realized he could make money by sharing his fascination with RFID. By 2003, Roberti was organizing annual conferences and online events. In 2007, his efforts received an unexpected boost by a corporate mandate by Walmart – that all suppliers must begin using RFID tags to mark their products. Of course, this mandate resulted in a rush of interest in RFID, as well as a lot of pushback from suppliers.  More importantly, a patent holder for RFID technology began to enforce its patents. This stymied the corporate investment in RFID -- until Roberti stepped in and helped the industry manage licensing issues.

Before the advent of social media and e-commerce, the RFID industry found itself the focus of misinformation. In 2008, some consumer organizations began boycotting clothing with embedded RFID tags, erroneously believing that the tags would enable companies to spy on their customers. These groups got a lot of media attention, but the inherent versatility of RFID enabled manufacturers to resolve the issue (if not the misinformation). The RFID tags were simply placed on removable tags.

Growing with RFID

Back in 2010, Berntsen recognized the potential RFID could have on marking and managing underground infrastructure. Leveraging its broad expertise in infrastructure marking, the company began developing a system based on RFID technology that enabled users to digitally locate and manage their infrastructure assets. Unlike mapping or GIS platforms, an RFID-based system starts with the physical asset marked with an RFID tag. A simple scan of the tag verifies the asset’s identity and ties it to its specific digital record in a corresponding digital platform. RFID alone can provide this two-factor verification of any asset – a benefit especially relevant for buried infrastructure assets.

Today, Berntsen’s InfraMarker Connected RFID is leveraged by Esri to provide RFID verification to its customers that rely on ArcGIS to manage their assets. More and more organizations are benefitting from the versatility and security of InfraMarker RFID.

Marking and Mapping – Two Factor Verification for Underground Locating

Blog by Emily Pierce, PLS, CFedS

It’s spring and construction is booming . . . hopefully with fewer actual “booms”, caused by utility strikes. Safe digging is something that’s near and dear to surveyors and any profession that involves excavation. As I mentioned in my last blog, preventable utility strikes cost at least $60 billion annually, not to mention the loss of life and life-altering injuries that can occur. 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

GIS has emerged as a leading approach to managing utility assets and will become an essential tool for subsurface utility management.   But regardless of how accurate GIS maps become, there will always be the need to validate the digital representation of the underground assets depicted in the maps with high quality in-field marking products.  Mapping and marking is required.

In today’s world, this is called ‘two-factor’ verification and it is used in solutions like Uber (mobile map coupled with driver verification on arrival), online banking (text to phone to validate your account ownerships you) and your doctor’s office (“please tell me your name and date of birth”). 

Surveyors have practiced this for years by using maps and then relying on Berntsen survey markers in the field.  Two-factor verification drives safety, reduces errors in identification, and improves operational performance.  There is no industry with greater need for two-factor verification than underground locating.

Technology to the Rescue

It is this two-factor verification that Berntsen has been working on with its InfraMarker RFID underground locating solutions.  Tying an underground RFID asset identifier to a GIS delivers the best of both worlds – an accurate map with in-field verification. 

I can’t help but think of the impact Connected RFID could have on preventing utility strikes if it was widely used. An RFID underground marker has a unique identifier tied to a GIS record so a field worker can identify the asset or particular location – not simply type of utility – before excavating.  And RFID is utility agnostic, so the same locating and identification process works for water, gas, electric, or fiber. 

We use two-factor verification to make sure we don’t get into the wrong Uber.  Why can’t we take the same two-factor approach to make sure that we have safer underground digging? 

Questions? Let us know!

It’s GIS Day!

Blog by Emily Pierce, PLS, CFedS

Most people don’t really think about how geographic information provides the framework for our entire existence. We exist as living organisms in time and space. Our minds may be occupied with far-way thoughts, but our memories are inextricably tied to the place where they were created. As long as we live and breathe, we always have a location. Shakespeare’s Hamlet said “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Surveyors say, “To be is to occupy a position relative to two axes.”

Surveyors are trained to understand the implications of geography and location differently than most people. Precision is applied to location and this information has been the basis for civilizations for thousands of years.  I’ve written about ancient surveying instruments in previous blogs: Ancient Egyptian Surveying and Ancient Roman Surveying.

Today, geographic information is more important than ever and is being used in ways that were previously unimaginable. As a surveyor, I had the opportunity to work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) early on, mainly by being the boots on the ground that provided accurate geographic data that was subsequently used in GIS. We provided accurate survey-grade locations on US Public Land Survey corners (section and quarter-section corners) to be utilized into a county tax parcel database.  This not only helped improve how the county taxed its citizens, it also helped citizens with land development, taking into account appropriate building sites, flood zones, wetland preservation, general zoning requirements, just to name a few.  Beyond that, the GIS also is used for school and voting districts, changes in municipal boundaries and incorporations, addressing, and emergency response management.

Nothing stays the dame

Change has accelerated quickly in the years since I started working with GIS, as evidenced by a 2009 article entitled the “Top Five Benefits of GIS”, with number one benefit being cost savings from greater efficiency using location-based data.

The example cited was Sears, which was able to use GIS to reduce the time it took for dispatchers to create routes for their home delivery trucks by 75%. I’m sure that was a huge savings, but unfortunately for Sears, Amazon was already taking over on every front. By 2021, the Sears footprint had shrunk from 3,862 stores in 2009 to just 19 stores and a website.

Route optimization is only one of the thousands of applications of GIS technology. From precision farming to spatial econometrics (the intersection of spatial analysis with economics) to creating ultra-precise road maps to facilitate autonomous vehicles.  Check out the 1,000 Uses of GIS for a glimpse into the future.

When researching this blog, I learned about a project where Toyota is using a platform that gathers crowd-sourced data from vehicle cameras and combines it with high-precision GPS and GIS to create precise and up-to-date road information. This information will be used for autonomous driving in the future, or probably already is!

What?!

Interestingly, a whole new industry is being created around monetizing the vast amount of data that is generated from vehicles. McKinsey estimates the market for this information might add up to $450-650 billion by 2030. I wish there was some way I could get a cut of these billions!

You may not even realize that the navigation systems in your vehicles are GIS. I’m partial to the Waze app. I love how they incorporate real-time data on reported crashes, speed traps and even roadkill, (important to know, because we have lots of moose and deer up here)!  All this can be narrated by people from Dexter on Showtime to PAW Patrol on Nickelodeon. 

Other GIS uses

Pretty much everyone knows about the Johns-Hopkins COVID map but did you know that there’s a HealthMap that maps reports the location of all kinds of diseases?  For example, in the past month, Legionnaires’ Disease was found in three locations in the U.S. Definitely worth looking at before traveling. NASA is also providing satellite data to cancer researchers to help pinpoint the types of human activity that lead to cancer in geographic areas. The Landsat Program is the longest continuous space-based record of Earth’s land in existence.

As you know, I’m a history buff, and I really like the ArcGIS Online Historical Maps. It makes all the USGS topographical maps accessible. All you need to do is find a place, and any maps that USGS has on it over time will be available. I just downloaded this map form 1890 of New Orleans.

I could go on and on, but I invite you to check out the many ways GIS is being used today.

I know in the past, many surveyors thought that GIS was going to obsolete the profession, but that is definitely not the case. We still need boots in the field tying the data in digital maps to real places in the real world. I’m personally involved in introducing a product that does just that, using RFID to literally tie the physical to the digital. Check it out at inframarker.com. It’s a great product with as many applications as GIS itself.

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Emily Pierce is a surveyor and Berntsen’s Business Development Manager. Learn more - email: info@inframarker.com

BERNTSEN ENHANCES THE CAPABILITY OF THE INFRAMARKER MOBILE APP

VERSION 2 RELEASED – NOW AVAILABLE IN THE APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY

MADISON, Wisc. Nov 3, 2021 – Berntsen International, maker of InfraMarker® Connected RFID™, announces a new release of the InfraMarker Mobile App, the field data collection component of the popular InfraMarker Connected RFID solution. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a foundational, scalable technology that can link physical assets directly to their digital twin. InfraMarker uses the power of RFID to locate infrastructure assets faster and more accurately, provide field crews with instant access to asset information, and streamline inspection and maintenance workflows.

“This new Version 2 mobile app extends InfraMarker’s lead in using RFID to deliver accurate, field-verified asset management data,” said Mike Klonsinski, president of Berntsen International. “Connected RFID is the future of infrastructure asset management, and the InfraMarker approach of tying field assets directly to their records in the GIS-based Asset Management Software means real-time access to accurate data. This capability is especially important today, when organizations need better ways to track and manage all asset types, from gas lines to stormwater assets to telecom.  Good decisions are based on good data, and InfraMarker delivers – in the field and in the office.”

The InfraMarker Connected RFID solution consists of four integrated components:

• InfraMarker RFID Markers – These rugged RFID tags come in a range of sizes and styles to suit any application. Whether used above ground or below the surface, these tags deliver connected asset information without requiring a power source.

• RFID Reader – Several off the shelf types of RFID readers are certified for use with the InfraMarker solution.

• InfraMarker Mobile App – Designed for intuitive user experience, this app is used in the field to connect the RFID tag data to its specific record in the Data Management System.

• InfraMarker Asset Management Software – InfraMarker’s administrative interface delivers the power to view and manage field assets from the office in real time.
  From creating data collection smart forms to sharing essential asset data, InfraMarker accurately manages any type of asset -- anywhere.

The newly-released Version 2 InfraMarker App adds additional capability for a user-friendly workflow. Contact us at info@inframarker.com.

About Berntsen International, Inc. and its InfraMarker® Solution: 

As an infrastructure marking company founded in 1972, Berntsen has been developing smart marking products for more than 20 years. Its patented InfraMarker® Connected RFID™ solution combines the durability and precision of Berntsen marking products with a unique application of RFID technology specifically developed to connect physical markers with digital records.

811 - CALLING IS A MUST, BUT NOT ENOUGH

A Blog by Emily Pierce, PLS, CFedS

There’s a better way. 

A week ago today, National 811 Day was commemorated. This means a lot to me because I know first hand how important it is that people make the 811 call before digging.  But I also know that there is a lot more to underground safety than more 811 calls. We need better methods for identifying and validating what is underground.

According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), ruptured gas distribution systems have killed an annual average of 10 people and injured an average of 46 more.[i] Excavation damage has almost always been the cause of ruptures that resulted in fatality, an injury requiring in-patient treatment, or damages more than $50,000.

For firms that are excavating every day, the need to “Know what’s below” is essential for safe operations.

The latest DIRT Report (Damage Information Reporting Tool) shows that damages caused by underground utility strikes are increasing for the fifth consecutive year. In 2019, the cost of this damage was estimated at $30 billion. The most common cause listed for these utility strikes was “failure to notify”, meaning no one called 811 before excavation. But other causes, such as excavation issues and locating issues are also leading causes for damage.

The truth is that we don’t really know how much damage is done by excavation errors. In many sectors, there are no legal requirements for reporting utility strikes. Although a growing number of companies are voluntarily reporting, the data provides a very incomplete picture.

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is working to raise the visibility of the need for accurate geospatial data for infrastructure projects that include transportation, energy, communications, water supply, and other systems. NSPS is one of the thirteen members of the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO) that seek to speak with one voice on geospatial data and policy issues. This group provides input to the Federal Geographic Data Committee that has developed a National Spatial Data Infrastructure Strategic (NSDI) Plan.

These groups were heavily involved in the Infrastructure Bill working its way through our federal legislative process.  They are working to ensure that the federal investment in infrastructure improvements include geospatial data components to increase accuracy and precision in our infrastructure investments, like transportation, high-speed internet, power and gas utilities, rails, and clean water.

Trends toward the adoption of new technologies that help create accurate data to help us “Know what’s below” are strengthening. I know that surveyors are embracing new technologies to that help create underground surveys. Along with GIS, LiDAR and GPR, other tools are making the job of underground surveying much easier.

There’s a better way - connected RFID

For example, over the past year, I’ve been working with a number of utilities who are using Connected RFID to track and manage infrastructure assets. RFID is a key technology that enables direct connection between the real world and the geospatial world.

One of the most persistent and thorniest problems of any kind of geospatial data is accuracy. If the data isn’t spatially accurate, then its usefulness is massively reduced. I know I’m preaching to the choir. We surveyors spend our lives creating and correcting geospatial data and understand the importance of accuracy.

A direct connection between an infrastructure asset and its data is of tremendous value, and that’s exactly what InfraMarker RFID does. It’s pretty simple – an RFID tag is affixed to an asset (above or below ground). Each RFID tag has a unique ID that is linked to that asset’s record in the GIS system using software on a mobile device. Once linked, a field technician can scan a tag and automatically load that asset’s specific record for updating.  No need for a line of sight with RFID, so this makes InfraMarker perfect for underground utilities.

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See a 5-minute presentation by Mike Klonsinski, president of Berntsen International, at the recent Esri User Conference (July 2021)

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More and more, gas, water and telecom utilities are adding InfraMarker RFID to enhance the accuracy of their geospatial data and make life easier for field technicians. As a surveyor, think of how much easier our jobs would be if we could actually scan buried markers and have them identify themselves . . . or use the RFID scanner to identify nearby buried utilities.

The advantage of InfraMarker is the accuracy it delivers to help utilities better manage their infrastructure assets. A value-add is that this data could also help prevent excavation strikes, helping everyone “Know what’s below”.

While we know that 811 has some inefficiencies, it is the best first line of defense for damage prevention for a property owner and the utility. Without proper locating subsurface utilities before excavation, the results can be costly.

Interested? Contact me for more info - info@inframarker.com

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[i] https://thestoddardfirm.com/premises-liability/construction-accident-injuries/gas-line/

A DAM-AGING STORMWATER REPORT CARD FROM ASCE

Blog by Tom Hershberger, MS, MBA

Infrastructure is a hot topic now, and it’s long overdue for more than just discussion during National Infrastructure Week. 

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) have been focused on this topic since 1988, producing a regular report card for US infrastructure.  At first, there were 12 categories, and with this year’s addition of Stormwater, there are 18 categories.

Urban flooding is problem #1

Urban flooding results in more then $9 billion in damages annually, while federal funding to support stormwater maintenance/upgrades averages about $250 million annually.  It’s not surprising that stormwater infrastructure is in bad shape and has earned a grade of “D” from the ASCE.

Stormwater runoff is defined as rain or snowmelt that travels over impervious surfaces or cultivated areas, then is collected and drained into streams, rivers, lakes, bays or oceans. These systems of stormwater conveyance take many forms, from canals, to sewers, detention ponds and constructed wetlands.

In the US, there are approximately:

• 3.5 million miles of storm sewers

• 270 million storm drains

• 2.5 million stormwater treatment assets

Stormwater systems are a mix of publicly-owned (by local, state and the federal government) and privately-owned assets. The EPA is tasked with regulating all of this, but their focus has primarily been on Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, known as MS4s. Because of this, most municipalities have an asset management / maintenance program.

On the other hand, corporate property owners or homeowners associations are not routinely monitored, which leads to deferred maintenance and increases the likelihood of urban flooding and increases the threat of pollution from runoff.

Stormwater conveyance systems have a lifespan of 50-100 years (depending on what materials were used in the original construction, such as reinforced concrete, corrugated metal or PVC).  Because most stormwater systems are paid for by local fees or taxes, that often means that maintenance and/or replacement have been postponed, leaving many communities with dangerously outdated stormwater infrastructure.

Even in communities where stormwater systems were constructed more recently (within the past 30 years), it’s likely that they weren’t designed for today’s capacity needs, especially with the growing frequency of high-precipitation events.

This figure shows the percentage of the land area of the contiguous 48 states where a much greater than normal portion of total annual precipitation has come from extreme single-day precipitation events. The bars represent individual years, while the line is a nine-year weighted average.

Beyond flood mitigation

Stormwater runoff causes lots of problems besides flooding. Every year, an estimated 57 million Americans are sickened by contaminated water in recreational areas. An 2019 analysis of fecal indicator bacteria sampling data from beaches in 29 coastal and Great Lakes states and Puerto Rico, reveals that 386 beaches – nearly one of every eight surveyed – had potentially unsafe levels of pollution on at least 25 percent of the days that sampling took place that year.

Additionally, other types of pollutants flow into our waterways when stormwater is not controlled. For example, the quantity of used oil from a single oil change can pollute up to one million gallons of fresh water.  Then there’s all the litter, construction debris, fertilizer, pesticides, road salt, pet waste, etc., that regularly flows into storm sewers. In an up-to-date stormwater system, these pollutants can flow into swayles, rain gardens where they can be held and filtered, instead of flowing directly into a stream, lake or ocean.

It’s vitally important that these systems are brought up-to-date.

Learning to make the most of what we have

Additional money for infrastructure may be on its way, but in the meantime, many municipalities and stormwater management organizations are already executing a plan to be compliant with EPA regulations and plan for the future.

The recommended first step toward improving a stormwater system is to have a comprehensive understanding of the location and condition of all existing stormwater assets.  This can be very challenging because oftentimes in municipalities, these records are kept in different departments, housed in different databases or even kept in paper files.

Fortunately, technology can really help with this issue. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly being used to manage all types of municipal activities. GIS location-based information is extremely useful in managing stormwater assets spread across a specific geographic area. Today, municipalities are busy creating a digital twin of their existing city, which is a great concept that has real-world benefits but also faces real-world disconnects.

Example images from a geographic information system (GIS) illustrating storm-sewer infrastructure.

One very common disconnect is that the assets a digital map displays are not what maintenance workers find when they come to a job site.  For example, they may be tasked to perform an inspection or maintenance on a catch basin located on a specific intersection. They use the GPS to guide them to that location.  Upon arrival, they see not one, but four or even eight catch basins in that area.  So they have to invest time in working with the office to identify the right basin, or they just pick one and hope it’s the right one. 

Unfortunately, guesswork is what the GIS digital twin was supposed to eliminate.

There’s a simple solution that can permanently resolve that issue, while simplifying field documentation. It involves marking assets with an RFID tag, then connecting those tags to their records in the GIS using a standard mobile device. 

InfraMarker connected RFID makes all the difference

When marked with RFID tags, field workers no longer need to guess which asset to work on.  They can simply have assets identify themselves with a quick read of the RFID tag. Once they identify the asset they need to work on, the right form will pop up and they can complete the work and move on.

InfraMarker RFID-enabled markers directly connect the physical and digital worlds in a way that delivers fast, accurate and auditable asset management.  This approach fits into existing field workflows while leveraging existing GIS/Asset Management platforms. InfraMarker connects specific infrastructure assets to their unique digital records, providing accurate, auditable and actionable data to asset managers, often in real time. 

RFID-enabled asset management not only ensures that the digital twin is accurate, it generates an audit trail that meets the EPA regulations for compliance.

This simple solution is now being used for all kinds of infrastructure assets across the country, including municipal stormwater assets. 

See a quick video of how InfraMarker Connected RFID works to mark and manage stormwater assets here.

To learn more, contact us!.

INFRAMARKER BY BERNTSEN AWARDED THE ESRI RELEASE READY SPECIALTY DESIGNATION

MADISON, Wisc. March 24, 2021 - Berntsen International, the leader in infrastructure marking solutions, announces that it has earned the Esri Release Ready Specialty status. This designation recognizes companies, products and solutions that integrate with Esri technology and are created by partners with expertise in leveraging Esri solutions and software.

InfraMarker®, a division of Berntsen International, is the leader in connected RFID-enabled infrastructure asset management. The full InfraMarker line includes rugged RFID-enabled marking products, RFID readers and accessories designed for exceptional field performance, and RFID-connecting software enhancements that leverage Esri’s data collection capab.  The InfraMarker approach delivers an essential connected solution for AEC firms, utilities, municipalities and other organizations that design and manage infrastructure assets.

The InfraMarker Web Widget for ArcGIS Web AppBuilder is the latest in InfraMarker’s connected RFID software line.  Field personnel using the InfraMarker Web Widget with a web app simply scan an asset RFID tag to confirm the asset ID. The asset’s specific records or inspection forms will automatically launch from the organization’s platform. The process reduces time, cost, and errors while improving compliance controls.

“The InfraMarker Web Widget for ArcGIS Online is a perfect example of the innovation Esri helps make possible,” said Frank Martin, Esri Partner Manager. “This solution enables clients to streamline field asset management while creating accurate, auditable records in ArcGIS Online. InfraMarker provides a simple solution to data collection and compliance issues faced by a range of industries.” 

Benefits of the InfraMarker enabled solution:

• Simple, Unified Approach – InfraMarker simplifies the asset identification and data collection process in the field. The Web Widget is customizable using ArcGIS Web AppBuilder and easily integrates with ArcGIS Online. Field users can quickly access asset data, maps, files (including images and video) and transmit verified asset data in real-time from the field to the office, enabling up-to-date, accurate asset management.

• Scalability and Flexibility – The InfraMarker RFID Solution can mark and manage any asset – above or below ground. RFID tags are incorporated into utility posts, affixed directly on infrastructure assets, or placed underground to identify pipelines, telecom, electric – any asset that needs to be located or tracked.

• Improved ROI in the field – InfraMarker eliminates the guesswork involved in identifying specific assets and accessing the correct forms. A simple date/time stamped RFID scan activates an asset’s data record and presents the correct associated record or data collection form on the user’s mobile device. This streamlines operations while enhancing accuracy and providing an audit trail.

“We’re pleased to offer the InfraMarker RFID Web Widget to Esri’s ArcGIS clients,” said Mike Klonsinski, Berntsen International president.  “The offering is another advancement in our commitment to enabling a smarter infrastructure world.” 

About Berntsen International, Inc. and it’s InfraMarker solution

As an infrastructure marking company founded in 1972, Berntsen has been developing smart marking products for more than a decade. Its patented InfraMarker RFID solution combines the durability and precision of Berntsen marking products with a unique application of RFID technology specifically developed to connect physical markers with digital records. Berntsen has been an Esri Silver Partner for more than 10 years. 

About ESRI

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations globally and in over 200,000 institutions in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics.

Visit us at esri.com.

GIS DAY IS NOVEMBER 18

By Emily Pierce, PLS, CFedS

When I was in college, geography seemed to be a dying academic field. Nevertheless, it was where I found my true passion for geography, while everyone else was there just to satisfy a required General Ed. requirement. It was, for nearly everyone in my class, something they HAD to do. For me, it felt like home. I realized this was a field I wanted to pursue and learn more about. Fortunately, that class, and that instructor, inspired me to research professions in geography, and soon after, I found surveying – a truly interesting way to use maps to create something of lasting value.

Little did I know that dusty old geography would become the one of the most interesting (and explosively-growing) fields in science. Today Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is shaking up the world of geography – and statistics, data analysis, spatial data, modeling, geostatistics, cartography, data integration, GPS – and on and on.­

1854 – The Beginning

Dr. Snow’s waterworks map of 1846 from the UCLA Epidemiology John Snow Site

GIS first appeared as a map created by Dr. John Snow in 1854. He plotted all of the cholera outbreak locations in London, along with roads, property boundaries and water lines. His map revealed that cholera outbreaks were clustered around a water pump, challenging the existing notion that cholera was spread through the air. Along with creating one of the first uses of Geographic Information, Dr. Snow also is credited with starting the field of Epidemiology.

Soon, plotting data on maps became more common – besides public health applications, insurance companies used them to plot firesand thereby compute insurance rates, Governmental tax offices plotted property lands to evaluate tax rates, and natural resource departments plotted wetland areas, flood zones, and water bodies to help protect our waterways and natural habitats. More and more types of data were plotted on maps, but it was painstaking work.

1960 – Computer Mapping

Early Computer Map of the Crime Statistics of Washington,DC
Early Computer Cartography Project, Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress.

Then came computers.  Initially, in the 1960s, most maps were still tied to paper because they had to be printed out to be viewed. But as memory increased, maps were finally freed from paper – the maps could be viewed and analyzed on screens.

Enter Roger Tomlinson, a British-trained geographer and geologist who worked for the Government of Canada and for an Ottowa-based aerial survey company. While working on a project to identify the best location for a tree plantation in Kenya, Tomlinson partnered with IBM to find a way to bridge the gap between geographic data and computer services. This initiative was eventually extended to create a national mapping system that created maps of Canada’s commercially-leveraged land used for agriculture, forestry, wildlife and recreation. It was during this project that Tomlinson created the term “Geographic Information Systems” to describe his synthesis of computer mapping with capabilities for overlay, measurement and digitizing. 

2020 – GIS Today

On the basis of Tomlinson’s use of geographic location and computing power, a multi-billion dollar industry is now thriving and impacting almost every aspect of modern life. Nearly everyone in the world is now familiar with the Johns-Hopkins Covid-19 map that provides a stunning visual representation of real-time and historical data that shows where disease is most active. This map is based on Esri technology that was developed based on techniques that were created by Tomlinson. Jack Dangermond, founder and president of Esri, says that “Roger always makes me realize that GIS must first and foremost be focused on providing information that really matters (maps, reports, etc.) and that improves our sciences, processes and decision-making.”

The Future

The combination of increasingly “open” systems and software that has driven much of the explosive growth of GIS will continue. The visualization of real-time data in 3D, GIS-enabled augmented reality and virtual reality is already being used in many sectors -- creating immersive experiences that will expedite planning and coordination.  

GIS will continue to drive adoption of the Internet of Things – more and more physical tools and objects will be connected and essentially duplicated in a digital environment.

RFID tags link to data in GIS - for easy updating in the field.

No matter how good digital reality becomes, its value is gauged by how well and accurately it reflects physical reality. For example, what is the value of a 3-D map that is used to guide workers to an underground gas valve – but the location in the map is wrong? That’s where connected marking makes all the difference.

Fortunately, technology is available that solves that issue. Berntsen has been working on this issue for nearly a decade and had developed a system that tags any type of asset (above or below ground) and ties its specific location to data in GIS. The InfraMarker system works with Esri’s ArcGIS Online to tie physical assets to their records in GIS. 

This simple RFID technology ensures accuracy, enabling users to leverage the full power of GIS.

Today is GIS Day

That brings us to GIS Day, which is November 18 – when this amazing technology is celebrated – and shared with future surveyors, programmers, engineers, geographers – just about anyone interested in the science of our world.

Esri has a whole website that’s dedicated to GIS Day – I found this storymap particularly interesting and definitely worth sharing. Also, don’t miss the Library of Congress’s GIS Day on November 18th - Mapping the Pandemic.

Additionally, I personally found these maps worth a view:

Esri Covid Pulse for some scary truth

In the Shadow of a Volcano – Nice to see from a distance!

Salmon River’s South Fork – I want to visit this place!

INFRAMARKER RFID DRIVES TVC COMPLIANCE

InfraMarker RFID Drives TVC Compliance in CHA Integrated Solutions’ Newest Asset Management Solution, Corrivo

Berntsen International, the leader in infrastructure marking solutions, announced that it has partnered with CHA Integrated Solutions (formerly NovaraGeo Solutions) to provide it’s InfraMarker RFID capability within the Corrivo mobile software platform, delivering Traceable, Verifiable and Complete (TVC) field asset data.

See it at the ESRI Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference on Cot. 29, 2020

CHA Integrated Solutions will highlight its Corrivo Solution at Esri’s upcoming Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference.

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Title:   Field Auditable Compliance for Utilities: Execute all of your compliance activities in one solution
How to leverage a mobile solution with integrated sensors to provide TVC data for field inspections, leak surveys and more.

Presenter:    Neal O’Driscoll, Integrated Solutions Business Line Director for CHA Integrated Solutions

Date/Time: Thursday, October 29 at 10:15 am - 11:15 am Pacific

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CHA Integrated Solutions' Corrivo technology platform provides a full loop (office-to-field-to-office) process management that helps pipeline operators and utilities in the planning, execution, documentation, management and reporting of inspection, compliance, integrity, repair, O&M, and other in-the-field activities. The new InfraMarker® RFID component delivers TVC capability in the field by verifying asset identity and automatically documenting the date, time and location each specific asset was accessed. This verified data enhances Corrivo’s ability to manage field operations and captures the regulatory information operators need for regulatory compliance.

As an Esri Gold Partner, CHA Integrated Solutions has been awarded the Esri Release Ready Specialty status. This significant recognition is given to partners that show innovation with Esri technology, are committed to developing their wide-ranging expertise and offer expert technical support for a variety of Esri solutions and products.

“More and more, utilities are seeking ways to leverage their compliance activity to better manage their operations. The Corrivo Technology platform makes that possible, by integrating Berntsen’s proven InfraMarker RFID technology to streamline workflows and improve compliance,“ said Mike Klonsinski, president of Berntsen. “By integrating InfraMarker RFID, the Corrivo Solution speeds asset locating while providing field-auditable data.”

About Berntsen International, Inc. and its InfraMarker solution:

As an infrastructure marking company, Berntsen has been developing smart marking products for more than a decade. Its patented InfraMarker RFID solution combines the durability and precision of all Berntsen marking products with a unique application of RFID technology specifically developed to connect physical markers with digital records. Berntsen has been an Esri Silver Partner for more than a decade.

Benefits of RFID marking of infrastructure assets:

• Easy to use – Simple install, set up and applicaiton

• Works with any asset – Above or below ground, InfraMarker passive RFID tags are designed for all types of asset marking

• Enhances existing workflows – Makes GIS indispensable to field crews.

Contact Berntsen/InfraMarker to learn more about how InfraMarker RFID can streamline workflows and improve compliance in your operation.

InfraMarker.com

BerntsenInternational.com

Berntsen.com
InfraMarker is a registered trademark of Berntsen International, Inc.

About CHA integrated solutions

CHA Integrated Solutions offers a wide range of asset management, GIS consulting and mapping services, including GPS field data collection, spatial analysis, geospatial database design and implementation, data loading and validation, web-based GIS application development, PODS data migrations, regulatory compliance solutions and more.  For more information or to set up a demo, please visit CHA-IS.chacompanies.com.

CONTACT:      Debra Oakes, Public Relations, Berntsen International, Inc.

Phone: 608.443.2773

Email:             doakes@berntsen.com

INFRAMARKER RFID WEB WIDGET AVAILABLE ON ESRI'S MARKETPLACE

MADISON, Wisc.— August 13, 2020 — Berntsen International, the leader in infrastructure marking solutions, today announced that InfraMarker RFID Web Widget for ArcGIS Online is now available on the Esri Marketplace.

Utilities need better ways to locate, identify and update infrastructure asset records to fully benefit from the power of Esri’s ArcGIS tools. RFID marking of infrastructure assets directly addresses this issue by linking verified physical asset data to its specific record in ArcGIS Online. This prevents data inaccuracies while streamlining field asset maintenance, improving field ROI and enhancing regulatory compliance.

Benefits of RFID marking of infrastructure assets —

• Assurance of data accuracy — InfraMarker RFID tags provide a digital serial number that is specific to the RFID-enabled asset. The serial number provides an accurate validation of the ArcGIS asset data through the connection of the InfraMarker RFID Web Widget.

• Complete data — Any type of asset (including underground) can be marked with durable, passive InfraMarker RFID tags. The Web Widgets tie the physical asset to its ArcGIS record and each RFID read is captured, producing an auditable asset record, enhancing regulatory compliance.

• Improved ROI in the field — RFID directly benefits field staff by eliminating the time and guesswork involved in locating specific assets. A simple RFID read accesses the right information and presents the relevant data fields within the user’s Esri Online inspection and maintenance form. This streamlines operations while enhancing accuracy..

As an infrastructure marking company, Berntsen has been developing smart marking products for more than a decade. Its patented InfraMarker RFID solution combines the durability and precision of all Berntsen marking products with a unique application of RFID technology specifically developed to connect physical markers with digital records.

Berntsen’s partnership with Esri allows utilities to expand their use of ArcGIS by connecting physical asset and its data in ArcGIS. “Esri’s ArcGIS is used by utilities throughout the world to visualize, model and analyze their infrastructure assets. Berntsen’s InfraMarker RFID solution helps Esri’s customers get the most value out of ArcGIS,” said Mike Klonsinski, president of Berntsen International, Inc. “We look forward to introducing other RFID-compatible apps and software that help utility customers maximize their use of Esri platforms.”

Go to the Esri Marketplace to learn more about how InfraMarker RFID Web Widgets for ArcGIS online can improve utility operations.

About Berntsen International, Inc.

Berntsen has been a leader in the development and manufacture of infrastructure marking for nearly 50 years. We have been building that trust into every product we make, ensuring safety, precision and lasting quality for generations. From our advanced metallurgy and forging processes to our patented RFID-enabled smart marking apps, Berntsen is the world leader in marking solutions wherever precision and durability are essential.

InfraMarker.com | BerntsenInternational.com | Berntsen.com

InfraMarker is a registered trademark of Berntsen International, Inc.

About ESRI

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, offers the most powerful geospatial cloud available. Since 1969, Esri has helped customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Today, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including the world’s largest cities, most national governments, 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics.

Visit us at esri.com.

Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions.  

IT’S NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK!

by Emily Pierce, PLS, CFedS

May 11-15, 2020 is the official week to focus on our national infrastructure and commemorate the workers and investment that we all depend on.

As we look back on this year’s Infrastructure Week, the intense national focus seems to be creating an “Infrastructure Year.”

While COVID-19 measures have closed many businesses, workers building and maintaining our infrastructure have been busier than ever dealing with the new demands created by a massive workforce shift from offices to homes. Many of us working at home have been given the opportunity to consider these services from a different perspective.

For many people, telecom infrastructure is top of mind as they navigate the challenges of the home office. Limited internet access has long been an issue. Today, lack of broadband is not merely inconvenient, it impacts economic stability. The FCC says that 21 million Americans lack high-speed internet access; other reports suggest that number is twice that, and access is even more limited in rural areas.  If working from home becomes permanent, improving broadband access throughout the country must be a priority.

Of course, it’s one of many priorities. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) tracks 16 categories of infrastructure, and will be adding another in 2021 – stormwater. Stormwater is receiving greater focus because severe precipitation events are becoming more frequent and good stormwater management is one of the few ways destructive flooding can be mitigated. Additionally, controlling stormwater runoff also controls pollution and contamination of drinking water sources.

Every four years, the ASCE provides a report card on the condition and performance of American infrastructure, assigning letter grades based on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement.  The bad news is that the country has maintained a cumulative grade of D+ since 2013.  In these unprecedented times, we have the opportunity to change the existing approach and go beyond temporary fixes to achieve permanent infrastructure solutions.

Berntsen’s history is rooted in supporting those who develop and create our nation’s infrastructure, with high-quality marking products, including boundary marking, utility marking, trail marking, control marking and connected marking. We continually leverage our knowledge and experience to develop innovations that support the next generation of infrastructure solutions, as evidenced by our recent innovation in asset management.

At Berntsen, we salute everyone who has invested their time, ingenuity and sweat equity to build and maintain our national infrastructure.  We have been right alongside you for nearly 50 years, providing high quality, innovative products that help infrastructure professionals build and manage essential assets.

SURVEYORS EMBRACE NEW TECHNOLOGY

Main Objective

Correspondingly, 27 percent of surveyors cite building / construction / engineering design as their firm’s primary business.

According to an article in Point of Beginning citing a recent study, the surveying profession is undergoing some important changes.

The past five years have seen a notable drop in boundary surveys as the primary surveying activity -- from 35 percent in 2015 to just 15 percent in 2020. Correspondingly, 27 percent of surveyors cite building / construction / engineering design as their firm’s primary business - up from just nine percent in 2015. Clearly, more and more surveying firms rely on the construction industry as their primary activity.

Additionally, with the needed investment in upgrading existing infrastructure nationwide, we will likely see this increase even more in the future.

A wave of new technology

As construction continues to become a bigger part of the business, surveyors are not only using new technology, they are becoming acquainted with new technologies used by their customers.  For example, many construction and engineering firms contract with municipalities that use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map and track infrastructure assets. Asset location is represented on a digital map, which is very useful for centralized planning and administration of resources. 

Unfortunately, the benefits of these digital asset mapping applications often do not seamlessly transfer to the field. Ideally, the digital map would guide field workers to the exact asset that has been assigned for inspection and maintenance. In practice, field workers discover that the physical assets don’t correspond to the digital location, or there are several assets in close proximity, making precise identification impossible. If the assets are buried, then each time an asset needs to be accessed, a time-consuming and costly locating process must be completed.

InfraMarker RFID tag marking an underground pipeline

InfraMarker RFID tag marking an underground pipeline

This is where the work of surveyors can be of great benefit to organizations that use GIS-based asset mapping software. Asset management software is not based on survey-grade precision, which leads to ongoing locating problems in the future. Surveyors have the ability to generate the precise physical location data that is inherently of tremendous benefit to municipal or utility asset management programs.

A crucial reason why precise location information is so valuable to utilities is the prevalence of excavation utility strikes. The Common Ground Alliance found that in 2018, the single most frequent reason for underground utilities being mistakenly hit during excavation was “Notification NOT made” – meaning that locators were not used before excavation began.

However, if locators are used, it doesn’t mean that they provide exact information – the same report states that 24 percent of accidental utility strikes were due to Locating Issues.

That data illustrates the fact that existing utility locating methods are not sufficient. However, surveyors have the data and can offer a way to link specific, verified physical location to digital asset management data.

Surveyors can provide value-add to customers

The key is RFID. By combining RFID markers and simple smart phone applications, surveyors can provide an adaptable way to tie physical location with a customer’s GIS system. This offers a tremendous benefit to utilities because RFID can be tied into their digital asset system and provide verifiable asset location and data.

The InfraMarker system provides a turnkey way to quickly mark infrastructure assets.

InfraMarker RFID-tagged utility assets displayed on a cell phone screen.

InfraMarker RFID-tagged utility assets displayed on a cell phone screen.

For example, when surveyors mark the path for a new municipal water pipeline, RFID markers can be placed at key points, above or below ground. Each InfraMarker tag has a unique ID that can be immediately pulled into the GIS/Asset Management system, or it can be added to the GIS / asset management system later. InfraMarker tags last for decades, are passive (only activated when pinged by and RFID reader) and don’t require batteries so there’s no maintenance.

With InfraMarker, surveyors can offer lasting benefit to municipal and utility customers by anticipating their need to accurately digitize physical location.

See a quick video to see how InfraMarker works.

Call us for a demo.

HOW UNDERGROUND RFID MARKING IS CHANGING THE UTILITIES INDUSTRY

You would think that with all of the technology available today, we’d be able to see what’s underground almost as well as we see what’s above ground. Unfortunately, that’s not the case - underground utility locating remains an issue.

Today, excavators rely on locators to come and find each utility and mark it with a flag before they dig – at least most of the time.  In 2018, the single most frequent reason for underground utilities being mistakenly hit during excavation was “Notification NOT made” – meaning that locators were not used before excavation began.

However, if locators are used, it doesn’t mean that they provide exact information – the same report states that 24 percent of accidental utility strikes were due to Locating Issues.

RFID to the rescue

A reliable way to locate buried utilities and instantly know key information about that utility already exists -- based on proven RFID technology. Radio Frequency Identification has been used for years to track items without having to visually confirm them – typical uses are the toll-booth passes that are read remotely when we pass through a toll, or markers on library books that are scanned when we check them out.

RFID tags are ideal for underground utility marking because they are passive (don’t require a battery), have a unique ID as well as a small amount of memory that can contain data such as the utility type and owner. They are durable and can include a magnet to increase the precision of underground locating. Today there is a solution based on RFID markers that is already being used by some utilities.

This system is called InfraMarker®, and it’s designed to provide accurate information about assets, below or even above ground. InfraMarker RFID tags are placed on or near the asset.  Once accessed with an RFID reader, the latitude, longitude, and unique ID are written to the tag.  Then additional information, such as the type of asset and owner are added through software on a smart phone connected to the reader via Bluetooth.

InfraMarker RFID marker and water utility before burial.

Imagine the time and money that could be saved if underground utilities were marked with RFID tags. Excavators could precisely locate underground utilities, and even know what type(s) of utility was below.

Connected infrastructure

With millions of miles of underground piping across the United States, it stands to reason that identifying the unique characteristics of a single asset may be a challenge.

That’s where connected infrastructure can make a huge difference. Asset management software that is now used by many municipalities and utilities can pull the data from each RFID marker and associate that with data in the application – and plot this on a digital map. This data can be shared between utilities, so that location information of water lines, gas lines, telecom lines and fiber optic cables could be shared in a common file format.

Not only would this save time for utilities, it would prevent the estimated $50 billion annual cost of excavation utility strikes.

Contact us to set up a demo to see how the simple, easy-to-use and setup InfraMarker system can save time, money and provide the data you need with the accuracy you require.

IT'S NATIONAL 811 DAY!

A Blog by Emily Pierce, PLS, CFedS

“Notification NOT Made” was the single greatest root cause, selected for 23% of damages submitted. Although we continue to make progress, this root cause has hovered around 25% for the past six years.

“Notification NOT Made” was the single greatest root cause, selected for 23% of damages submitted. Although we continue to make progress, this root cause has hovered around 25% for the past six years.

Today is National 811 Day – we are reminded to call 811 (or visit call811.com) before digging – in our yards or at a construction site. This simple reminder has saved lives and repair costs by preventing accidental damage to power lines, gas lines and other buried utilities during excavation.

While we know that 811 has some inefficiencies, it is the best first line of defense for damage prevention for a property owner and the utility. Without proper locating subsurface utilities before excavation, the results can be costly.

Unfortunately, according to the latest DIRT Report (Damage Information Reporting Tool), the most frequent root cause of excavation damage was “failure to notify the one call center.” This cause of excavation damage is the most preventable. It’s also free for the reporter, so it’s also the most cost effective.

The cost estimate of not making the call to 811 is just that – an estimate. The United States lacks a requirement to report excavation incidents, so no one really has the data. Likewise, most states have a one-call center that’s funded and run by the utility partners themselves. Tracking excavation incidents across the board may not be compiled completely, or done on an individual utility company basis and not shared publicly. However, the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has a reporting system that incorporates both voluntary and required submissions that offers a look into the root cause excavation damages.

It’s interesting to have a look at what it costs not to locate underground utilities.

According to a recent white paper by Geoff Zeiss and Dr. Sakuran Shinoaki, the cost (direct and indirect) of utility damage in the U.S. is $50-100 billion annually. The range is so broad because we don’t have a required or comprehensive reporting system. We actually don’t know how many excavating accidents happen and what they cost.

The paper goes on to present examples of utilities using mapping / modeling technologies to accurately model underground infrastructure. Recent advances in technology mean that ground penetrating radar and LiDAR can be used by surveyors to effectively capture underground infrastructure. When combined with GIS and other emerging technologies, accurate images of buried utilities could save billions of dollars annually and prevent loss of life.

Why isn’t more being done to accurately map buried infrastructure?

“IT HAS BEEN ARGUED THAT LIABILITIES MAY BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT KEY TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LOCATION INFORMATION ABOUT UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE.”

The most interesting paragraph in this paper points to the reason why no coordinated effort exists to create an accurate and comprehensive reporting system. “It has been argued that liabilities may be the single most important key to improving the quality of location information about underground infrastructure.” I assume this means that if accurate information exists, then it might actually increase the financial risk of those involved in an excavation accident.  This is disheartening as the cost paid isn’t always financial.  There have been lives lost and injuries sustained, which carries a bigger burden than just money.

However, there is hope, as “some jurisdictions are implementing policies for shared liabilities to motivate all stakeholders to become involved in capturing and sharing better data about underground infrastructure to reduce risk.” 

Additionally, I’ve spent the last few years lobbying on Capitol Hill with other members of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) for the importance of accurate geospatial data for infrastructure projects.  NSPS has taken a very active role with the importance of accurate geospatial data to be required for all infrastructure projects, including the physical framework of transportation, energy, communications, water supply, and other systems.

Opportunity for surveyors

Fortunately, industry-wide, there is a trend toward acknowledging the need for accurate underground infrastructure data and organizations are adopting new technologies to conduct underground surveys. A number of organizations are encouraging surveyors to become qualified in these new technologies and learn how to apply them in underground surveys. Along with GIS, LiDAR and GPR, other tools are making the job of underground surveying much easier. For example, an existing technology is now being used to tie physical assets to the data in GIS. For the past decade, Berntsen has been developing RFID to work with existing GIS platforms. The InfraMarker RFID solution is now being used to mark assets in the field and tie that specific location to the asset record in GIS. That means that with a simple RFID scan, a surveyor or field technician can identify each specific asset and access its record in the field, update the information and have that data instantly available in the GIS, accessible for locating, tracking, maintenance scheduling, planning and more.

So what needs to change? 

Well, I think we all have a hand to play. 

• First, property owners have the responsibility to call 811.  This ensures that first line of defense and reduces their risk of liability if something is damaged. 

• Then, utility locators have the responsibility to find ways to improve the speed and accuracy of locating.  This likely includes increasing staff and resources so that the right people are available for quick marking turnaround. 

• Additionally, utility owners have the responsibility to invest in safety practices and technology that increases the accuracy of asset mapping/locating. This is an important step especially during the installation of new underground utilities. Accurate marking and mapping will protect infrastructure investments in the future. Surveyors are the key component to providing that accurate information to utilities.

It’s 811, and a great day to be a surveyor! We have the opportunity to make the world a better and safer place. I’m looking forward to helping the world “know what’s below.”