MAGNETIC RFID SOLUTION

The Case For Magnetic RFID As A Low Impact Marking Solution

Utility marking is very effective at drawing attention to underground assets.  In residential areas, marking can resemble graffiti – and raise concerns about what kind of disruption is sure to follow the marking.

In response to groups of vocal critics to over-marking, state legislators have begun looking for smarter solutions. As a result, new techniques that reduce visible marking (low impact marking) are welcomed.

How utility companies can make low impact marking a priority

Existing ticketing systems often lead contractors to select a larger area for marking than is actually needed.

An improvement would require requestors, One Calls, and locators to share highly detailed specifics about an area in question, which would reduce the size of area requiring marking.

A permanent solution to the problem would be a locating and marking method that is precise and specific.

RFID provides a long-term permanent locating and marking solution

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems, like the InfraMarker, provide a permanent solution for faster locating and more accurate marking.

Passively powered, durable RFID tags are placed underground stored with access to digital information about the underground assets. This RFID tags can be found and read using a handheld digital reader. This makes it possible to apply even more precise aboveground markings while reducing the visible impact of a project during the planning and preparation process. The robust durability of these tags allow them to function for years at a time even in areas where weather would otherwise degrade or deteriorate other markings.

In conjunction with more complete communication procedures between infrastructure owners, RFID markers offer utility engineers a low impact, accurate and permanent marking solution. 

If you’re looking to solve the problem of over marking and improve the accuracy and efficiency of your buried asset location projects, look to RFID systems, like the InfraMarker, for an innovative solution.

Installing InfraMarker Tags

Placement and writing of the InfraMarker tags

Process for installing, reading and Geo-mapping InfraMarker tags

Tag Install Preparation

Before you start, make sure you have access to the InfraMarker app on your mobile phone. Your employer will be able to give you access. Then, gather the InfraMarker tags needed for the project along with an approved RFID reader/writer.

Tag Placement 

Visually confirm the asset point to be marked (a valve, stub, weld point, elbow, intersection, catch basin or other key feature). 

For underground assets

Take a photo or video of the asset point while it is exposed in the hole. Please the tag above the point to be marked but below disturbance level. The tag is then covered with sand (recommended) or standard backfill.  

Note: Tags in moist soil, clay or near other tags or metal should be placed as close to disturbance level as possible to maximize read performance. Optional Berntsen fiberglass posts are available to provide extra stability to the tag and to provide more precise direction from the tag to the underground asset.       

For above ground assets

The technician takes a photo or video of the asset and attaches it to the asset record.

Tag Writing 

Position the reader slightly above the tag (or the ground over the tag) and select the ‘write tag’ option on the app to begin the tag writing process.     

Then, select the template type (above ground or in-ground) on the app. A series of choices will drop-down.

For example, the in-ground template displays the following fields:

• Asset owner (e.g. utility company)

• Asset type (e.g. gas, water, steam, fiber, cable, electric)

• Asset material (e.g. In: PVC, steel; concrete, conduit)

• Asset feature (e.g. weld, elbow, stub, intersection)

• Depth from surface to asset (e.g. 4 ft surface to pipe)

Next, select whether the tag represents 

• an “InfraMarked” asset (located visually and marked with an InfraMarker tag),

• an asset marked with an InfraMarker-enabled tag but not visually confirmed (usually with an InfraMarker-enabled above ground marker)

• or an asset that is point identified but not marked or visually located.

Review the latitude and longitude coordinates of the tag location as displayed on satellite view of the map. 

• If the displayed lat-long pin corresponds to the tag location, confirm that the lat-long coordinates should be written to the tag.

• If the coordinates are not available or incorrect, move the pin on the displayed map to the correct location and confirm the lat-long coordinates can be written to the tag.

• If you know the precise lat-long coordinates based on prior survey, enter those coordinates on the map.

After data entry and GPS recording is complete, the full tag record is displayed you are prompted to ‘write data to tag? (Y/N)’. 

Either confirm the data is correct or reenter tag data. 

Write the data to the tag. The reader executes a ‘read’ operation and sends a confirmation message display of ‘write successful’ or ‘write unsuccessful.’    

After placement and data entry, the field technician takes a short (up to 15 seconds) video of the surrounding terrain to provide a visual reference for the location of the tag and asset  (e.g. “tag is in a right of way 60 feet to the eastern boundary of subdivision”; “tag now buried under paved road”). Once completed, the installer can attach the photo of the asset in the hole and a video to the data record.

Data uploading

Once the record is confirmed, all tag information including location video and comments, photo, date/time, user ID, mobile device ID, and tag EPC are stored as a data record and uploaded to the your GIS or the InfraMarker cloud as soon as an Internet connection is established.  

Data access

An InfraMarker licensee can view the map of InfraMarker tags through the InfraMarker website or a mobile device. The level of data available for updating, viewing and download depends on the access level.