When creating a locate request, automated marking instructions are generated based on the area you map. These instructions are designed to help facility operators accurately identify your excavation area and, when applicable, support Electronic White Lining (EWL) requirements.
If the automated marking instructions accurately describe your excavation area, leave them unchanged whenever possible. This helps expedite processing and allows your ticket to be released directly to the facility operators that need to be notified. If modifications are necessary, ensure the revised instructions clearly describe the complete excavation area and remain consistent with the mapped location and any supporting documentation.
For Electronic White Line requests, all information provided must work together to define the precise area of excavation with the same level of accuracy required for physical white markings.
Review Automated Marking Instructions Carefully
Before submitting your ticket, always review the automated marking instructions to ensure they accurately describe the full scope of your planned excavation. If the automated marking instructions accurately represent where you plan to dig, we recommend leaving them unchanged. Doing so allows your ticket to be processed and released directly to the facility operators that need to be notified, helping avoid unnecessary delays.
If the automated instructions do not accurately describe your excavation area, we encourage you to modify them. This will result in review of the ticket by the notification center before it is released to facility operators. Any changes must clearly and completely define the entire area of excavation. Incomplete, inaccurate, or overly restrictive instructions may result in utilities not being marked in all areas where work is planned. If the information is unclear, a facility operator/contract locator/locator may call you out to physically mark.
Electronic White Lining
Electronic White Lining allows excavators to define their proposed excavation area electronically rather than using physical white markings at the job site. By law, electronic markings must provide the same level of detail and accuracy as physical white markings. The mapped excavation area, marking instructions, and any supporting documentation must work together to clearly identify the exact area where excavation will occur.
The MNCGA outlined several suggested practices for electronic white lining. If using one of the four primary tools in ITIC (Radius, Parcel, Property Excavation, or Street), the marking instructions will be autogenerated and will in many cases provide enough information for operators and locators. When using the “Other” or Polygon Mapping tool for an Electronic White Line request, the marking instructions should identify the precise area of excavation, or where the paint would be on the ground if physically marking it.
The marking instructions should also reference easily identifiable physical features, such as:
- Roads and streets
- Utility poles
- Buildings and structures
- Utility pedestals
- Rights-of-way
- Other permanent landmarks
The instructions should allow a facility operator to identify the excavation area without ambiguity.
Supporting Documentation
A current site map, construction plan, or satellite image can be uploaded that clearly identifies the physical features referenced in the marking instructions.
Defined Excavation Boundaries
Any uploaded plan or map should include a complete, closed excavation boundary showing:
- Clearly defined excavation limits
- Boundary dimensions
- Distances from the excavation boundary to relevant physical features
This information helps facility operators accurately identify and verify the excavation area.
Marking Instructions Example
“Mark the parking lot on the north side of the building.”
This may provide enough information to operators and locators if the mapped area and any uploaded documentation clearly identify the exact parking lot being referenced.
However, if the mapped area does not reflect the parking lot described in the instructions, or no attachment identifies the precise excavation location, you may be called by an operator to physically mark.
Important Information About Attachments
The call center does not review uploaded attachments or verify that uploaded maps match the excavation area shown on the ticket.
It is the responsibility of the person submitting the request to ensure that:
- The mapped excavation area is accurate;
- The marking instructions accurately describe the excavation area; and
- Any uploaded documentation supports the area being requested.
Providing complete and accurate information helps prevent delays and allows tickets to be reviewed and released more efficiently.
Examples: Marking the Precise Area of Excavation
As mentioned above, suggested practices for electronic white lining include marking the precise area of excavation, or where you would be putting paint on the ground.
Example: Property Excavation or Parcel Mapping with Custom Mark Instructions
Using the Property Excavation or Parcel Mapping tool while manually entering more precise excavation limits through the Custom Mark option may result in a mapped area that exceeds the actual excavation area described in the instructions. For example, if an entire parcel is mapped but the instructions describe work only within a small portion of that parcel, the mapped area does not accurately represent the excavation area. As a result, this ticket would be reviewed by a CSR before being released. In addition, if the information is not precise, this increases the chance an operator or locator may request a physical mark in the field.
Conflicting Information
Tickets containing conflicting information between the mapped excavation area and marking instructions may result in callbacks to the excavator for clarification. In some cases, tickets may be delayed or voided if the excavation area cannot be accurately determined.
For information about in-person or webinar training opportunities, please contact Jolena Ware or Lisa Freeman at [email protected].