Utility Strategy Podcast

Neil Brammall, PhD has worked in the utilities sector for over 20 years, creating and delivering geo-spatial software solutions focused on reducing the risk of damage to buried assets, and on improving the accuracy and quality of the data held about those assets. He is currently Technical Advisor to the Geospatial Commission and Product Owner for the Build Phase of the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR), which is driving the delivery of a comprehensive and secure data sharing platform for buried assets. Neil provides technical leadership on the project and on the ongoing development of a harmonized data model for the domain. He is hopeful that this initiative will be a game-changer for the industry and will revolutionize the approach to using geospatial data to promote safe and efficient working in the infrastructure sector in the UK.

We talked to Neil about the context, goals, and strategy for the development of NUAR as a map of subsurface infrastructure based on voluntary participation and data sharing by buried asset owners. We looked into some of the key differences between the U.S. and the U.K. in how a shared utility map is created and used—from the advantage of a common basemap provided by the Ordnance Survey, to the negotiation of excavation liability and safety based on documentation rather than a One-Call type system. Neil also explained NUAR's approach to data quality as a long-term target for improvement, which he believes can be achieved by encouraging participation and generating data feedback loops through the creation of a common map.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

Jim "Jimmy" Schauer is Vice President, EAM Services at Energy Worldnet, Inc, the global, cloud-based industry platform leader in OQ, compliance management, asset management, training, and education services. Jimmy’s 20 years of experience in the O&G industry include acting as CEO/Managing Director of a leading LNG energy company, leading intrastate pipeline development in the Gulf Coast, leading unregulated marketing natural gas sales teams in the USA, and spending nearly 13 years in regulated natural gas utilities. Jim also talks everything energy as the co-host of the Coffee with Jim and James podcast.

We talked to Jim about how the energy industry has changed over the past 20 years, and how new technologies are improving the way we collaborate, plan, and build. From utility mapping and strategic planning, to equipment asset management and personal safety, his message was clear: it's about coming together, establishing shared priorities, and using the right tools to make the best long-term business case for our infrastructure projects.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

Douglas Gransberg, Ph.D., PE, M.ASCE is the president of Gransberg & Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm that specializes in structuring scope, cost, and schedule risk on complex infrastructure projects in the U.S. and around the world. He is a retired US Army Corps of Engineers officer and an Emeritus Professor of Construction Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. His firm currently provides risk management and alternative project delivery services to public agencies and private companies in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia, as well as the US Department of the Interior and Amtrak. He is the author of the NCHRP report Utility Coordination Using Alternative Contracting Methods.‍

Our conversation dives into the challenges we face to maintain and improve our current infrastructure, and how we can change our approach for better structural, financial, and social project outcomes. Dr. Gransberg talks about moving from design-centric to construction-centric planning through alternative project delivery. By bringing together project owners, designers, and contractors early in the process, we can address the huge risk factors posed by utilities to construction processes and minimize them or avoid them entirely. That also means rethinking our terms of efficiency and liability so that the overall project can be delivered more successfully.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

Our latest podcast is a mile-a-minute masterclass on the state of utility locating, the future of utility mapping, and the issues we need to tackle as an industry. Geoff talks about documentation standards in various countries and the clear added value demonstrated by centralized national record systems. He also explains why that progress would be difficult to achieve in North America through governmental initiatives alone, leaving it up to the industry to propose a viable and affordable solution that lives up to the challenge of keeping our society in good service.

Geoff Zeiss has more than 20 years experience in the geospatial software industry and 15 years experience developing enterprise geospatial solutions for the utilities, communications, and public works industries. His particular interests include the convergence of BIM, CAD, geospatial, and 3D. In recognition of his efforts to evangelize geospatial in vertical industries such as utilities and construction, Geoff received the Geospatial Ambassador Award at Geospatial World Forum 2014. Currently Geoff is Principal at Between the Poles, a thought leadership consulting firm. From 1999 to 2012, Geoff directed Enterprise Software Development and the Utility Industry Program at Autodesk.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

Gary Huffman has more than 30 years of experience in electrical, water, and gas utility design, construction and operations. He currently serves as a senior client relations manager for Burns & McDonnell’s Transmission & Distribution Group. During his eight years with Burns & McDonnell, Huffman has successfully supported the startup of a utility’s $600 million transmission infrastructure program as program manager and has been responsible for providing the industry experience necessary to support the creation of Burns & McDonnell distribution and grid modernization programs. He is also the vice chair of the EEI Distribution Reliability Working Group and Chair of the IEEE Distribution Resiliency Working Group.

Gary took us on a fascinating journey through his experiences in the world of utilities, reflecting on lessons learned about resilience and innovation in everyday infrastructure. We got his insights on how undergrounding utilities and utility mapping fit into modernization plans for power networks. He also spoke about best practices for cooperation between industry professionals, government regulators, and technological innovators.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

David Rottmayer has been in the telecommunications industry for 43+ years and has designed, built, and operated wireline and wireless globally. He is a recognized trainer and expert in FTTx design and deployment, having been an early leader in deploying these technologies. His background lends to quickly understanding both the technical and business—financial and product—needs within telecommunications.

In our conversation, we talked about the rise of telecommunication as an essential utility over the past few decades, and how engineering, business, and regulation shaped the way fiber optic networks have been deployed. High-speed internet is a must-have, but it also comes with significant side effects due to the quick rollout, from undocumented lines and incorrect as-builts to accidental utility strikes. David gave his seasoned perspective on the logistical and budgeting pressures on utility management, and explained why engineering and accurate mapping are critical to provide effective and reliable telecommunication service.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

Hugh Seaton is General Manager of Crosswalk by CSI, author of the Construction Technology Handbook, and publisher of both the Constructed Futures Podcast and Construction Technology Quarterly. Prior to CSI, Hugh was general manager of Adept XR Learning, a VR/AR unit of the Glimpse Group. Hugh has held senior technology marketing positions at Sony Electronics, AOL, and worked for clients such as Google, Blizzard and Philips Electronics.

Hugh has lived and breathed construction technology for years, seeing firsthand what works—and what doesn't make it—from the back office to the construction site. He has also interviewed project managers, designers, contractors, and tech developers from hundreds of firms. In our conversation, we focused on innovation in engineering and infrastructure. How does a new technology go from pilot project to industry standard? How do project managers budget for innovation? What kinds of progress and productivity gains are possible through the market, and what problems call for government subsidies or regulations? Hugh shared his insights on where we are, how we got here over the past few decades, and what changes we can expect in the near future.

Questions? Suggestions? Want to nominate a fantastic guest for a future episode? Get in touch!

Steaphan MacAulay is a geomatics engineering technologist with 22 years of infrastructure experience. He is currently Vice President of Transportation & Infrastructure at Global Raymac Surveys and works with the team supporting major construction projects.

Steaphan talked us through his journey in surveying through some of the most iconic infrastructure projects in Canada, including Confederation Bridge. He shared with us his learning curve to adopting advanced LIDAR tools and bringing clients onboard to this incredible technology for data collection early on in the surveying process. He also told us about a classic "surveyor moment" during his Las Vegas bachelor party and the motto on his family crest tattoo.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

Sam Ariaratnam, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, NAC is Professor and Construction Engineering Program Chair at Arizona State University with over 20 years of experience in trenchless pipeline engineering research and education. In 2021, he received the Stephen D. Bechtel Pipeline Engineering Award and was elected to the governing board of UESI (Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute).

We talked to Sam about his experiences as a world-renowned expert on trenchless, from the classroom to the construction site to the courtroom, and what he sees for the future in terms of technology, safety, climate change, and knowledge sharing. He also told us about his surprising favorite hockey team and what projects he's looking forward to as international travel opens up.

Co-hosts: David Horesh (Director of Marketing) and Ophir Wainer (Director of North American Business Development)

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