Page 11 - New Mexico 811 Magazine 2022 Issue 3
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New Mexico and traveled all over the state. I went to remote locations and was very focused on GIS. I used GPS every day to get to locations. It was like a scavenger hunt with a map.”
Because of her experience in the field, she knows how important accurate location information is for a ticket.
“I understand what line locators are going through when they’re asked to mark something in a certain area. I’ve been on that side, locating something and marking it as complete. I also maintained a bunch of GIS data while I did that job. I used the data I was given and added more information to that point so I could come back and add it to our database. So, I worked with all aspects of the data.”
That experience will come in handy
at NM811, as a new rule has been implemented regarding the distance a locator can mark from a single stake. Achieving mapping accuracy down to that level is imperative, and something that Annette plans to tackle soon.
“There are processes that I can work with to improve the management of data in-house, and also see if we can help the application of the helpline and have different ways to analyze the data,” she said.
Annette also wants to develop new software queries that would allow a user to find all utilities by county or other large area. This idea came from this summer’s wildfires that impacted communities across the state.
“If we have a wildfire in the area, we could get someone out to make sure
the firefighters aren’t hitting the lines during fire suppression trenching,” she said. “That way they don’t have to call a locator for each line as the fire moves.”
Another goal is improved accuracy of the entire NM811 database.
“I’m a stickler for complete, correct
and accurate data at the collection point. When it’s collected it should be complete and correct, which is accurate. If data is off even by a few meters, it added a ton of time to my day when I was working with mines because I had
to search through this rugged terrain. The same is true with line locators,” she said.
I understand what line locators are going through and asked to mark something in the area, I’ve been on that side and locating something and marking it as complete.
Ultimately, Annette will serve as a liaison between the staff and users
of NM811 and the database. When someone has a new idea about how to use the data, she will be the one to write the queries.
“I try to talk about data in a way people can understand,” she said. “‘How can I help you’ is the question I asked when
I started. I can speak ‘computer’ so
how can I translate your words into the computer and have the data speak clearly to people.”
Good for you Annette! We need more people like you in our industry. As the saying goes, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
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