Common Ground Alliance, Gold Shovel Association to Establish New Arm of CGA, the Damage Prevention Institute

Common Ground Alliance and the Gold Shovel Association will become part of the CGA. This new arm of CGA will be called the Damage Prevention Institute.

The Damage Prevention Institute’s mission is to take the industry to the next level by consolidating the rich data and resources of CGA and GSA to generate powerful insights and efficiencies that will reduce the rate of damages to buried infrastructure. Building on CGA’s foundational Damage Information Reporting Tool data, as well as GSA’s metrics development, the DPI will be structured around a metrics-focused, peer review-based model of shared responsibility.

The Damage Prevention Institute will be governed by an advisory committee that will include members of both CGA’s and GSA’s boards of directors. The institute’s focus will be on metrics development – including excavation and pre-excavation metrics – and establishing a multi-stakeholder, peer-reviewed accreditation process. The peer review component will facilitate all stakeholders’ increasing engagement and embracing their critical roles in the damage prevention process.