Key Findings from the Common Ground Alliance DIRT Report

Key Findings from the Common Ground Alliance DIRT Report

By David Mills, Operations Manager, Bermex

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is the central nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing damage to underground utilities. Each year, the organization updates its Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report. It provides insights into trends, root causes, and key factors contributing to underground utility damage across North America.

The DIRT Report is a premier resource for industry professionals to refine strategies, promote safety, and reduce the risk of utility strikes during excavation activities. In 2023, the CGA issued stakeholders the damage prevention “50 in 5” industry challenge to reduce damages to critical underground utilities by 50% in five years.

In October 2024, Sarah K. Magruder Lyle, president and CEO of the CGA, stated in the report’s introduction, “The top six damage root causes have remained stubbornly consistent, accounting for 76% of incidents for the third consecutive year.”

Top 6 damage root causes

1. Failure to notify 811
2. Excavator failed to maintain clearance
3. Facility not marked due to locator error
4. Improper excavation practice not listed elsewhere
5. Marked inaccurately due to locator error
6. Excavator dug prior to verifying marks by potholing

The report identified water/sewer work as the leading type of work involved in damages followed by telecom, construction/development, and then natural gas. Telecommunications facilities accounted for nearly half of the reported damage, followed by natural gas at about 40%.

Case studies of innovative methods to reduce damage

“Stakeholders are establishing innovative methods to address some of the most significant obstacles. Georgia’s new “excavation readiness” metric provides a model for measuring locating timeliness. New Mexico’s unique enforcement mechanism, including “warning locate requests,” creates real accountability in locating. In Minnesota, a pilot program providing GPS-enabled utility locating devices is demonstrating how we can leverage technology to improve facility mapping and locating efficiency. They offer blueprints for industry-wide transformation.”

Late or missing locates is an ongoing challenge

Late locates continue to be an ongoing challenge. Excavators face significant unpredictability in beginning work due to late or missing locates. Across 12 state 811 centers examined, locates (or work site clearance) were delivered on time for only 30-70% of tickets, with most hovering around 50%. Analysis from seven states showed that over 50% of the time, excavators were unable to legally begin work due to later or missing locates, or positive response that the site was cleared of buried faculties. It highlights a significant inefficiency in the 811 process creating a safety concern. Lyle noted, “Addressing this challenge head-on must be a priority for every stakeholder in the coming year.”

Improved data tracking and reporting are necessary to correct locating issues, and 811 centers play key roles toward a standard metric.

Reaching the 50-in-5 goal is dependent on enhancing data quality

The impact of “unknown” categories in data analysis is significant and may be masking important trends. The CGA is reviewing and documenting the complexities of mandatory reporting across states through a comprehensive survey of 811 centers and state regulators, aiming to clarify requirements and improve data analysis. Focused improvement efforts can help reduce unknown root causes.

Interactive dashboard introduced as an important tool for reducing damages

This new tool was introduced in October 2024 as a supplement to the 2023 DIRT Report and includes:

• State and province metrics to show damage totals and 811 centers
• Calendar trends to show monthly trends of unique damages
• DIRT Explorer shows unique damages with the ability to filter attributes of damages
• Year-to-year trending of unique damages

The Damage Information Reporting Tool is based on unique damages reported for the last three calendar years. Data can be explored in multiple views to inform focused strategies for reducing underground excavation damages.

Lyle shared, “As we look ahead, the urgency of our mission is clear. The continued increase in excavation activities driven by federal and state infrastructure investments presents both obstacles and opportunities. It is pushing the limits of our current systems, and providing us with a chance to demonstrate the transformative power of data-driven decision-making and cross-industry collaboration.”

With the information provided by the CGA and using their interactive dashboard stakeholders can understand why damage occurs. This leads to making informed decisions and developing targeted strategies to get closer to meeting the goal of reducing damages by 50% over five years.

At Bermex, our damage prevention services support safe excavation and efficiency, helping stakeholders work toward the “50 in 5” goal. Discover how we can help protect vital infrastructure and ensure safety.