‘DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG’ SERVICE USED OVER 15,000 TIMES
“Checking for the location of underground gas pipes before starting any excavation works can help prevent accidental damage to pipelines which can cause major disruption, serious injury and even death.” That’s the message from Gas Networks Ireland as the innovative energy utility was again acknowledged for its successful online Dial Before You Dig service, this time winning the 2020 Esri Ireland Sharing & Collaboration Customer Success Award at last week’s virtual ceremony.
Dial Before You Dig is an innovative phone and online service that makes it easier than ever for anyone involved in excavations to access information about the gas network and stay safe by checking the location of underground gas pipes on a site – an essential step before excavation works commence.
Gas Networks Ireland’s Networks Safety Manager, Owen Wilson, said: “We are delighted with the amount of times the Dial Before You Dig service has been used. Winning this Esri Ireland award is an important validation for Gas Networks Ireland and a reflection of how we continually improve as a business and put safety at the heart of everything we do,” Mr Wilson said.
The user-centric digital Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping system has been warmly welcomed by the construction industry with over 15,000 maps generated by more than 2,100 registered users since the service went live in October 2019. Gas Networks Ireland’s Design Services Manager, Paul O’Brien, said.
“Responsible contractors want to make sure that they operate a safe site. We would urge all contractors to ‘Dial Before You Dig’; just pick up the phone or use our online service to avoid causing any damage or disruption to gas pipes, or worse still, injury to people,” Mr O’Brien said.
Gas Networks Ireland is responsible for the safety of the 14,521km, €2.7 billion gas network. Last year, there were 650 incidents of damage to the low and medium pressure gas distribution networks, mostly in urban and suburban locations, and nearly 50 instances of unauthorised excavation near the high-pressure gas transmission network, mostly located in rural areas.
Esri Ireland’s Head of Sales, Dermot O’Kane commented: “This award recognises organisations who extend the value of location information across the entire business and wider community. Gas Networks Ireland was chosen as the winner in this category for the standout success of its self-service portal that provides third parties access to GIS asset data, Dial Before You Dig.” Earlier this year, Online Dial Before You Dig was also a finalist in the Networks Awards 2020 “Gamechanger” category.
Maps locating the gas pipeline network can be accessed instantly on Gas Network Ireland’s online Dial Before You Dig mapping service at www.gasnetworks.ie/dial, or by phoning 1800 427 747 or emailing dig@gasnetworks.ie.
Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
