Vermont: 2011 State Damage Prevention Grant

Main Objective

The UNCC will:

• Examine the impact of the Virtual WhiteLine system in conjunction with a one-call center's existing protocols;
• Monitor activities related to excavation performed for Vermont Gas Systems Inc. and the associated action performed by the One Call Center and the gas facility locators in Chittendon County, VT; and,
• Develop data collection and stakeholder feedback mechanisms to analyze the outcomes of a repeated measures experimental design that w ill test the efficacy of the Virtual WhiteLine system.

Public Abstract

This grant focuses on operational performance and proposes to conduct a trial of an innovative technology.
The technology to be tested is the Virtual WhiteLine system developed by CertusView Solutions. The system is a technological damage prevention solution designed to enhance the effectiveness of communication between excavators and facility operators.
There are three components to the trial. The first phase will involve the integration of the VWL system with the regional Dig Safe Center. During this phase of the trial CertusView (the software developer) will work closely with the Dig Safe Center to integrate the VWL software with their existing processes. Training will be provided for all affected stakeholders.
The second phase will gather data to test the efficacy of the technology through a randomized experiment employing a repeated measures experimental design. There will be two rounds of the experiment. In the first round stakeholders who log into the one call system will be randomly assigned to either access or not access the VWL system. In both cases the caller will be required to complete an on the ground pre-marking of the dig area. The first round data will be analyzed to ensure that there is a high correlation between the on the ground marking and the VWL mapping. At this point an option of no on the ground pre-marking may be introduced. During both rounds data will be gathered via structure face to face and telephone interviews.
The third phase consists of data analysis. The analysis will address the operational benefits and the negative effects that may be realized by each stakeholder. There are three primary questions that will be addressed: 1) Does the system lower damage rates 2) What are the economic benefits of the system and 3) Are locators more efficient and effective with the system? Any new system presents challenges and the VWL system will present different challenges to the various stakeholders. As part of the analysis we will quantify those challenges such that the stakeholders have a context that allows them to understand the costs and benefits of the system.