Texas811 launches real-time excavation detection to prevent utility strikes
(UI) — Texas811 has introduced a new fiber-optic sensing system designed to detect excavation activity in real time, allowing utilities to identify potential threats to underground infrastructure before damage occurs.
The technology, called Guardian, uses distributed fiber-optic sensing to convert existing fiber lines into monitoring systems capable of identifying digging activity. The system integrates with the Texas811 ticket database to determine whether excavation work is authorized.
When excavation is detected, the system checks for an active 811 ticket. If one exists, no action is taken. If not, the system flags the activity and alerts utility operators, providing location data and identifying whether the excavation is mechanical or manual so crews can respond.
“Underground utility strikes endanger thousands of lives, cause billions of dollars in damage and disrupt services each year,” said Kyle VanLandingham, Texas811’s director of business development. “Research shows a quarter of all damages occur because the Texas811 system is not used, and three-quarters of those damages result from professional excavators who know the rules but do not follow them.”
The launch comes as excavation activity increases alongside growth in data centers, housing development and grid expansion, placing more pressure on already crowded underground utility corridors.
“Demand for underground infrastructure is accelerating at an unprecedented pace,” VanLandingham said. “Traditional approaches to damage prevention are no longer enough, making Guardian a game-changer for the industry.”
Texas811 said the system could also influence damage prevention efforts beyond the state, given the volume of excavation activity in Texas.
“Because Texas produces more than 10% of all 811 tickets nationwide, we believe Guardian has the potential to influence national standards for damage prevention,” said Arron Mitchell, Texas811’s chief innovation officer. “Our long-term vision is to create a nationwide network of real-time excavation monitoring, setting a new benchmark for safety and reliability across America’s infrastructure.”
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