The dangers associated with ghost utilities are manifold. Their presence, undetected or inaccurately marked, raises the risk of accidental damage, leading to hazardous situations, service disruptions, and even life-threatening incidents.

Improved Utility Investigation practices, equipment, and data-processing technologies increase the effectiveness in enabling collection, documentation, exchange, and use of existing Utility infrastructure data.

This standard guideline establishes minimum, optional, and conditional elements of spatial and nonspatial attribute data associated with utility infrastructure.

The Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act is a law in Virginia that aims to prevent damage to underground utility lines during excavation or demolition activities.