Common
Ground Alliance Best Practices
In 1999, the Department of Transportation sponsored the Common Ground
Study. The purpose of the Common Ground
Study was to identify and validate existing best practices performed in
connection with preventing damage to underground facilities. The
collected best practices are intended to be shared among stakeholders
involved with and dependent upon the safe and reliable operation,
maintenance, construction, and protection of underground facilities. The
best practices contain validated experiences gained that can be further
examined and evaluated for possible consideration and incorporation into
state and private stakeholder underground facility damage prevention
programs.
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The current Best Practices Field Manual is divided into nine chapters
that provide a collection of current damage prevention best practices.
The nine chapters include:
- Planning & Design Best Practices
- One Call Center Best Practices
- Location & Marking Best Practices
- Excavation Best Practices
- Mapping Best Practices
- Compliance Best Practices
- Public Education Best Practices
- Reporting & Evaluation Best Practices
- Miscellaneous Practices
In 2000, the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) was formed to further the
work completed during the Study. The CGA then developed the Best Practices
Committee; the primary purpose of this committee is to
continue to focus on identifying those Best Practices that are
appropriate for each stakeholder group, gauge current levels of
implementation and use of those Best Practices, and encourage and
promote increased implementation of the Best Practices.
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In March 2013, the CGA published Best Practices Version 10.0.This version of the
practices contains the practices statements and supporting descriptions
contained in the Study as well as any new practices passed by the Best
Practices Committee since the completion of the Study in 1999.
New Practices and Practice Modifications:
Neither the Department of Transportation (DOT) nor the CGA ever
intended that the best practices described in 1999 would constitute a
static model. Rather, both anticipated that the best practices would
evolve over time as more was learned and as technology advanced.
Moreover, the CGA and the DOT expected that there likely would be
additional best practices developed by the interested participants. To
propose a new practice or modification or to review the committee review
process, contact the CGA office (703-836-1709) to visit the New
Practice & Process Review section of the web
site.
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Best Practices
