Diggers Hotline has a staff dedicated to continually updating and upgrading the maps that users rely on in their day-to-day usage of Wisconsin’s one call center.
When Diggers Hotline created its mapping services department six years ago, the staff found a backlog of thousands of mapping changes that needed to be added to our system. Two years later, the mapping department had to play catch up again when the conversion was made to the TelDig system. When maps were converted from the previous system, the department had to verify that the maps were imported correctly. Hard copies of the member polygon maps were then sent out to every member for another step of verification.
The mapping department at Diggers Hotline is responsible for updating the two types of maps that the one-call center deals with. Member polygons are the areas where the utilities and other facility owners wish to be notified if excavation is taking place. The base maps are the streets and municipal borders that appear in our system.
Member polygon changes occur when a utility adds new service territory, member companies merge or any time that a member wishes to change the area for which they will be notified by Diggers Hotline of excavation. Acquiring this data is relatively simple. When a member company wishes to make a change, it tells Diggers Hotline, and the mapping specialists will work on making the changes. Turnaround time for member polygon changes is typically two days. After that, a copy of the change is sent electronically or through traditional mail to the member company for approval. Once the member approves the changes, it is then activated in the system.
Base map changes occur when a new street or subdivision is built, when a street changes names, or when a municipality changes its borders. Acquiring this data is more of a challenge. Developers who build subdivisions or municipal officials responsible for mapping their communities have traditionally not been as motivated to provide these changes to Diggers Hotline. There is no law to require anyone to send base map changes to our mapping services staff. When the staff does receive a change to the base maps, the detail-nature of the work makes the turnaround time about six weeks.
In addition to making the actual changes to the two types of maps, the mapping department is working on creating relationships with officials at the county and municipal levels in the hopes of acquiring updated base map data on a regular basis. Diggers Hotline is also part of a pilot program for data sharing with the municipalities of Milwaukee County.
If you notice any specific areas of the state that could use improvement to the maps, let our Mapping Services Department know. They’ll let you know how to get a certified map to them so that they can make the changes to the base maps.
To reach our Mapping Services Department, contact Jim Aron at jaron@diggershotline.com or at (800) 982-0299 Ext. 5325.
Diggers Hotline is Wisconsin's one-call center. Anyone in the state who is digging, excavating or disturbing the soil is required by law to contact Diggers Hotline at least three working days before beginning work.