Southern Company Gas leverages innovative technology to enhance the accuracy and safety of underground mapping

Consistent with its longstanding commitment to innovation and serving customers, Southern Company Gas recently completed a pilot program with pioneering technology company Exodigo to further enhance the safety, reliability and efficiency of its ongoing underground mapping. The research and development R&D (R&D) and Cross Bore Program teams at Southern Company Gas worked with Exodigo personnel to pilot and validate the technology in the greater Atlanta metro area.

Exodigo’s cutting-edge approach to documenting subsurface infrastructure combines advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and data analytics to provide a view of underground utilities such as pipelines, cables and other critical infrastructure.

Traditional methods of subsurface mapping often involve manual digging, sewer cameras and tracer wire. Exodigo's technology utilizes non-invasive techniques to locate cross-bore risks, resulting in more targeted excavations, which can reduce costs. By deploying sophisticated sensors and AI algorithms, Exodigo’s solution can detect and map underground utilities with a high degree of accuracy.

The deployment of this technology can potentially enhance safety by reducing the risk of accidental strikes during construction or maintenance activities by reducing the need for exploratory digging, potentially lowering operational costs and minimizing disruption to the surrounding environment. This is particularly important in densely populated urban areas where the consequences of damaging underground infrastructure can be significant.

The detailed data provided by this technology can also help utilities make better informed decisions regarding maintenance and upgrades. By understanding the exact location of the subsurface infrastructure, utilities can prioritize repairs and replacements more efficiently, helping to ensure the reliability and longevity of their networks.

“The pilot with Exodigo allowed us to expand the toolset that supports our monitoring programs for underground infrastructure, leveraging AI and emerging technologies to boost the safety and reliability of our systems,” said Brad Beckman, director of system integrity and R&D for Southern Company Gas.

“Exodigo’s technology enables us to make smarter, data-driven decisions that strengthen our operations, potentially lowering our costs and enhancing the service we are able to provide to our customers,” added Jason Morris, cross bore program manager for Southern Company Gas. 

“We were introduced to Exodigo by Southern Company New Ventures and Southern Company Gas R&D, colleagues who are constantly evaluating emerging technologies that can potentially benefit our business and our customers,” explained April Johnson, asset protection program manager for Southern Company Gas. “Exodigo’s scanning technology proved most helpful in mapping subsurface infrastructure during our Atlanta pilot, saving time and money in many locations compared to conventional methods.” 

“Our mission at Exodigo is to power the next era of underground exploration,” said Rami Rosner, business development executive for Exodigo. “We were pleased to work with Southern Company Gas on this pilot implementation of our technology in the greater Atlanta area, and we are thrilled with the positive results of this effort.”