This former PG&E engineer is building a 'Google Maps for the underground'

{"heading_1":"The Problem of Utility Strikes","paragraph_1":"PG&E, one of the largest utility companies in the US, only has visibility into the many miles of electric and gas lines it owns and operates. Other companies own and operate pipes carrying sewage or water, and the information about their locations is not shared.","paragraph_2":"This leads to around 200,000 so-called 'utility strikes' every year, causing delays and costs for construction projects.","paragraph_3":"CivilGrid aims to solve this problem by gathering disparate data regarding utility assets, property ownership, and environmental regulations and bundling it into a 'Google Maps for what’s underground'.","paragraph_4":"The company has already identified $60 million in avoidable paving costs across 1,600 planned gas distribution projects by using CivilGrid.","paragraph_5":"CivilGrid's solution could help utilities and construction companies make better decisions about where to place infrastructure and avoid unnecessary costs."}