The Backhoe, The Internet's Natural Enemy 382
Juha-Matti Laurio writes "Experts say last week's Sprint outage is a reminder that with all the attention paid to computer viruses and the latest Windows security holes, the most vulnerable threads in America's critical infrastructures lie literally beneath our feet. A study issued last month by the Common Ground Alliance, or CGA -- an industry group comprised of utilities and construction companies -- calculated that there were more than 675,000 excavation accidents in 2004 in which underground cables or pipelines were damaged." I estimate that one third of those accidents occured within the 5 block radius surrounding my office.
Nothing is for certain... (Score:1, Insightful)
Human error... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Nothing is for certain... (Score:1, Insightful)
If the companies properly and centrally documented where their pipes and cable are and teh construction contractors would refer to that documentation before any excavation, then these kinds of errors would be greatly reduced.
-nB
Hard Problem (Score:2, Insightful)
Good logic (Score:5, Insightful)
Should increase liability / penalties (Score:5, Insightful)
I wonder just how much those incidents would be reduced if companies were fined a stiff penalty for digging without calling these numbers. The type of astronomical fines/penalties levied against virus writers would seem very appropriate in these cases, given the type of economic damage that can be caused by telecom outages.
I'm glad to see that a national calling center is being established (similar to 911, according to the article). Now, it will be easier for workers to call. But I still think we need the other half: better (financial) incentive to make those calls in the first place. -- Paul
Re:And on the ocean...? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Nothing is for certain... (Score:3, Insightful)
Here's yer flaws (Score:3, Insightful)
The flaw is in the fact that all these people have to do the right thing. In this case, if some low-level Sprint employee reads the map wrong, a whole state can be without internet access. If some dipshit with a jackhammer doesn't call first, a whole block can be without access.
The better method is to devise a system with sufficient redundancy so that this is more rare than it is. The question is whether consumers are willing to pay for it in the form of somewhat higher rates.
Re:Nothing is for certain... (Score:2, Insightful)
Backhoes Don't Care (Score:5, Insightful)
I found the break. The wire had been cut and tied off. There was barely enough wire to splice the two back together. Once repaired the monitor speaker worked again. I was told later by the airline employees, airport facility workers had redone the ceiling in that one room. To me it appeared the workers found the wire in the way of their job, didn't know or didn't care what it was hooked to and simply cut it and tied it off out of the way.
Backhoe operators probably have the same mentality. They want to get their work done. If they cut a cable, it doesn't affect them. They are just doing their job. To solve this problem I would recommend burying fiber next to gas lines. The fiber should be coated with a material that bursts into flame 30 seconds after it exposed to air or cut. Not only will the backhoe operator cut the cable he'll break the gas line as well. The 30 seconds delay is to build up enough gas for a nice explosion. Sure it'll be a mess, but that's one backhoe operator who won't cut any more fiber.
Re:Nothing is for certain... (Score:5, Insightful)
There is NO contractor in the world that would accept the responsiblity and/or liablity of locating utility assets (gas, telecom, water, electric and so forth). Each utility provider will dispatch specially trained and equipped technicians to perform this service. The "locater" must be accurate within certain tolerances or the utility assumes the liablity associated with any distruption/repairs including contractor's equipment that was damaged.
Speaking from experience, I have seen a 60 inch water main broken (locator was wrong), a large telecom cable (something insane like 5,000 pairs) running to a 72 story office building (excavator problem) and countless single line telecom cables (just trying to find the damn things using a shovel but electrical tape works wonders).
The short answer is, you can have all the centralized documentation/maps whatever that you want but no contractor will ever put a shovel into the ground until the utilities come on-site and say "You can dig here but not there".
Re:Solution (Score:3, Insightful)
/Somebody had to bring it up
Re:The Backhoe, the sailor's best friend. (Score:2, Insightful)
Union rules.
Re:Nothing is for certain... (Score:3, Insightful)
Anyone else bust out laughing at the thought of people trying to swim in a foot and a half pool... or calling a dig service in order to put their kiddy pool in ground?
For parent: it's 18', not 18".
Statement from an underground construction worker. (Score:3, Insightful)