8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Instructor: Roger Cox
ACTS Now Inc.

OK, you’ve had a damage, now what? Whether you are the utility owner/operator, excavator or the locator of record; the one thing you’ll have in common now is a need for a quality damage investigation. Just determining the facts about the damage is not enough. The objective of this workshop is to teach the participant how to conduct a quality damage investigation. If the investigation doesn’t determine clearly why the damage occurred, it is likely to reoccur. Additionally if the investigation itself is not clear, concise and complete, you are more likely to be responsible for damages and/or fines even if you were not responsible for the damage.

Attend this workshop and learn what makes a photograph a good photograph, learn the value of telling the story of the damage with sketches and photos and presenting your findings with credibility. This workshop is for anyone who has ever been involved in a damaged utility line and tried to identify who was “at-fault” instead of gathering the facts.

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Instructor: Adam Zeciri
Locating Dynamics

This special CGA Regional Partner Event 1-day training class covers 2 locate technologies: Acoustic and RTK Locators. Certificates with contact hours provided upon successful completion of the course. All participants will receive a free 30-day trial of Geolantis 360 mapping software and a free 30-day trial RTKData NTRIP subscription!

Acoustic Locator Training:  Discover how the Solinas Sonic Finder 1000 acoustic locator can be used to locate both metallic and non-metallic pipes in any soil condition, regardless of nitrates, salts, or soil moisture content. Learn how to accurately trace plastic pipes with broken or missing tracer wire, asbestos cement pipes, fiberglass pipes, and more! (Sponsored by Solinas Technologies.)

RTK Locator Training:  Master the setup and use of your RTK EM locator wand to locate and map buried utilities. This classroom and hands-on class covers the setup and use of RTK EM locators, including the Vivax-Metrotech RTKPro, Radiodetection RD8200SG & Subsite Utiliguard 2 RTK. Have a different brand of RTK locator? No problem! Bring it to class. Discover how utilizing native and 3rd-party mapping solutions, such as Geolantis.360 and vGIS can streamline your workflow and maximize productivity, and seamlessly integrate into existing GIS databases like ESRI/ ArcGIS. Learn how to set up your RTK locator software correctly and use it to map buried infrastructure in the field. We will export your data as CSV, SHAPE, DXF, and KMZ file and review. No NTRIP? No problem! We've got you covered. Each participant will receive a free 30-day NTRIP subscription courtesy of RTKData. Access over 9,000 RTK stations in 120+ countries, seamlessly integrating with existing equipment using RTCM3.2 and NTRIP protocols, and compatible with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. Achieve 1-2 cm accuracy in real time with less than 1-second latency, continuous 24×7 monitoring, and Precise Point Positioning. Discount is offered via Locating Dynamics if you choose to keep it past 30 days. In addition, all participants will receive a free 30-day Geolantis.360 mapping software subscription for each attendee. (Sponsored by RTKData, Geolantis.360, vGIS, Vivax-Metrotech, Radiodetection, and Subsite.)

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Instructor: Dan Bigman
Bigman Geophysical LLC

Using mobile GIS applications to build a geospatial database of assets in real time has powerful implications for reducing damages, improving the efficiency of utility locates, and streamlining decision-making. This workshop will cover the basics of mapping utilities with GPS and GIS through a practical application at the facility. First, the students will create a new project, create relevant feature classes such as gas, power, meters, manholes, etc. and assign appropriate feature types to each such as points, lines, and polygons. Next, the class will journey outside the classroom to collect actual data using a mobile GIS app. The students will build the database of assets at the facility while walking the grounds. They will also learn to document assets and locate marks. Finally, the class will reconvene inside the classroom to learn how to generate map outputs that can be used as deliverables for clients/managers, or which can be provided to locators prior to arriving on-site.