Enhancing Damage Prevention: How Missouri 811’s New Mapping Tools Strengthen Safety for Utilities
Accurate utility mapping is one of the most critical components of underground damage prevention. As rural communities grow, utility systems expand, and infrastructure becomes more complex, the need for accurate, up-to-date mapping information continues to increase.
To support utilities in meeting these challenges, Missouri 811 now offers Enhanced Locator Mapping.
This tool is designed to streamline the locating process, reduce the chance of mistakes in the field, and equip utilities and locators with better, clearer information. It represents an important step forward in making Missouri’s underground infrastructure safer and easier to protect.
Enhanced Locator Mapping: A Smarter Way to Locate
Enhanced Locator Mapping (formerly known as Web Mapping Service or Web Feature Service integration) is designed to solve one of the most common challenges locators face today: the need to compare two separate maps while reviewing a ticket.
Traditionally, when a locator receives a Missouri 811 ticket, it includes a map showing the excavator’s stated scope of work. The locator must then pull up a separate internal utility map, often from a GIS department, and mentally determine how the two relate. If the locator misreads either map, or if the maps do not align visually, the risk of unnecessary marks, missed lines, or incorrect locations increases.
Enhanced Locator Mapping eliminates that risk.
How It Works
Missouri 811 collaborates with the utility’s GIS department to securely access a live, continuously updated web mapping service. Utilities may provide this through:
- An unencrypted web link
- A secure username and password protected link
Once connected, Missouri 811 overlays the utility’s live GIS data directly onto the excavator’s scope-of-work map within the locator’s ticket view. Instead of toggling between two documents, the locator sees a unified, precise map showing:
- The exact dig area
- The utility’s own infrastructure layers
- How each line relates to the excavation site
As Nick Rasa, Chief Operating Officer at Missouri 811, explains, “Utilities are always updating and improving their system. Using a live web service ensures that the locator is always seeing the most current map possible. Static map files go out of date almost immediately.”
Why It Matters
Accurate, real-time GIS data helps utilities:
- Reduce misreads and mistakes when reviewing scope boundaries
- Prevent unnecessary locates
- Speed up field decisions
- Improve locating consistency across all stakeholders
The system is designed to work especially well for in-house locators but may also be used with contracted locators.
Only the Utility Sees Its Own Data
Utilities can rest assured that their information remains private. Enhanced Locator Mapping is not visible to excavators or other utilities on the ticket.
Each utility sees only its own map, and only within its internal locating workflow. The goal is to help the locator make better, faster decisions without exposing system maps to outside parties.
Low Barrier to Adoption
Many utilities, large and small, have already made the switch. Most modern GIS systems can generate web mapping services at little or no additional cost, making this an accessible enhancement for utility systems of all sizes. Several small utilities are already using the service successfully.
Getting Started
Enhanced Locator Mapping represents a significant step forward in how Missouri utilities can manage their locating operations. By improving accuracy and reducing uncertainty in the field, this tool helps create a safer and more predictable environment for everyone involved in excavation work.
For utilities ready to modernize their locating process and reduce preventable damages, Missouri 811 is here to help. To learn more or get started with Enhanced Locator Mapping, contact:
Nick Rasa, Chief Operating Officer, Missouri 811
📧 nrasa@missouri-811.org
Missouri 811 looks forward to partnering with utilities across the state to build a safer underground infrastructure for the future.