Page 72 - CCGA Best Practices Version English

5-0 Mapping Best Practices

5-1: Notification Service Responsibilities
and Use of Mapping

Practice Statement: The land base used by the notification service
mapping system should be accurate and kept up to date with new
information as it becomes available from source suppliers. Facility owners
should provide regular updates of their notification mapping coverage to
ensure the most current information is utilized in the system. Ideally, the
land base used is available to the public and can produce a ticket for the
smallest practical geographical area utilizing ; e.g., Street Address, Street
Name, Subdivision & lot number, land description and/or latitude/longitude
(GPS / UTM), to describe the location.
Practice Description: The provincial land base should be the most current,
precise and contain the most complete coverage available. It should be
geographically correct to a reasonable degree as well being cost effective.
The meta-data information should be available to permit two way conversion
and/or exchange of data. A single standard geographic reference should be
utilized.

There must be a process in place to keep the land base current (both
graphics and attributes) with regular updates and maintenance. This process
should be as automated as possible to avoid user errors while being cost
effective. The database is promptly updated as information is provided or
becomes available from the owner. The system should be able to accept
information in standard file format with minimal human intervention. (The
graphic database refers to the member notification area coverage)

The mapping system should be able to produce a ticket for the smallest
practical geographical area suitable to the member’s requirements. There
needs to be flexibility within the system to handle the various sources of
information contained.
Land base should be made available for public viewing (excavators, project
owners, homeowners, etc.) to validate limits of dig areas. The land base and
database should also available to the notification service membership for the
update of member database information.

5-2: Locator Responsibilities and Use of Mapping

Practice Statement: Locators use maps to assist in finding the excavation
site and to assist in determining the general location of the buried facility.
Where discrepancies occur between mapping and facilities location
determined by equipment, the locator should notify the facility owner.

Canadian Common Ground Alliance
Best Practices Version 3.0 – October 2018
65