PROSTAR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES DELIVERY OF THE VUPS PILOT PROJECT AND ANNOUNCES GO-TO-MARKET PREPARATIONS
December 8th, 2011 -
Grand Junction, Colorado - ProStar, Inc., “ProStar” a developer of linear asset data management and damage prevention solutions for the utility & construction industry, announced today that the company received Project Closeout Documentation for the successful delivery of the VUPS Pilot Project. ProStar CEO, Page Tucker stated “I am very excited to have delivered this project as it was a major undertaking and we consider it one of our most important milestones in the company's history. This successful delivery proves that modern technology can improve the data lifecycle process from the initial notification of planned construction to data locating practices and data qualification protocols, all the way to the data visualization by all required parties including field workers who depend on this information the most. Successful delivery of the VUPS pilot project also demonstrates the capability of the ProStar patented technologies utilizing GPS, GIS, Cloud and Mobile technologies and provides a leap forward in damage prevention technology."
VUPS Pilot Project Background: In 2008, GTI entered into a Government Prime Contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Operations Technology Development under GTI Project 20735 and Contract WA #82 with Operations Technology Development under GTI Project 20656 ("SPONSORS"). GTI subcontracted a portion of the work to deliver an Excavation and One Call Ticket Notification System to enhance all facets of utility asset management and damage prevention with the use of modern technologies. Virginia Utility Protection Services "VUPS" was the designated One Call Center and a major project contributor. ProStar, Inc., licensed its patented Portal, Mobile and Cloud Technologies to GTI to develop, test and deploy systems to meet GTI's project requirements.
Tucker went on to say "I am pleased to announce that all the pieces to the puzzle are now developed, tested and proven and that ProStar applications are now ready for market. The ramp up of our applications is next. After years of research, design and development and proving our business model and technologies with engagement and delivery of several contracted projects, the VUPS Pilot Project concludes the R&D phase of our linear asset damage prevention initiatives. We will begin our go-to-market preparations with strategic implementation partnerships in Q1, 2012."
About Gas Technology Institute (GTI): GTI is a not-for-profit Research and Development organization. For more than 70 years, GTI has been the leader in the development and deployment of technology solutions that contribute to a secure, abundant, and affordable energy future. GTI programs have resulted in nearly 500 products, 750 licenses, and more than 1,200 associated patents. GTI solves important energy challenges, turning raw technology into practical solutions that create exceptional value for customers in the global marketplace.
PROSTAR ONLINE™ SELECTED AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2011 FIATECH CETI AWARD FOR REAL-TIME PROJECT AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, COORDINATION AND CONTROL CATERGORY.
April 20th, 2011 -
AUSTIN, Texas (April 20, 2011) - FIATECH, a member-led, industry consortium that provides global leadership in identifying and acceleratring the development, demonstration and deployment of emerging and innovative technologies and practices, recognized and honored 13 organizations and individuals for their extraordinary work in developing and deploying innovative engineering and construction technologies last night at the 5th annual CETI Award Gala in Chandler, Arizona. FIATECH established the CETI (Celebration of Engineering & Technology Innovation) Award in 2006 to promote and showcase innovative construction-related technologies that benefit the capital projects industry. The CETI Award is given annually to organizations that have conducted new and emerging technology implementations as well as research and development.
The panel of jurors who reviewed and evaluated the nomination included John McQuary, vice president, knowledge management and technology strategies, Fluor, (CETI chair); John Fish, director of project support services, Ford, Bacon & Davis; Mani Golparvar-Fard, Ph.D., assistant professor, Virginia Tech; Lisa Grayson, program advisor, ExxonMobil; Kevin Hart, vice president and business information officer, Kaiser Permanente Information Technology; Tom Sawyer, information technology editor, Engineering News-Record; S. Shyam Sunder, Ph.D., director, Engineering Laboratory, NIST; Duane Toavs, director, Human Centered Design Institute, Emerson Process Management.
In the United States, more than 20 million excavations are performed annually. By law, excavators must communicate information about planned excavations to the utilities that have underground facilities in the area through a state ticket management and call center system called, “Call Before You Dig” or 811. The current system employs antiquated practices and is reactive and disjointed. It fails to store any data gathered during the utility locating and marketing process, thereby failing to promote the sharing and updating of data.
The challenge was to develop a platform that uses state-of-the-art technologies to provide a solution that will support all facets of the utility asset data management network and encourage collaboration of all stakeholders in order to improve the collection, storage, management and distribution processes currently plaguing the industry. The system needs to be open architecture and leverage global technologies and development standards, including cloud computing and XML, as well as integrate with current hardware and software systems in order to adapt to current industry practices, processes, strategies, and methodologies.
The benefits of fixing the problem would include an improved data life cycle from data location through data distribution, including data sharing and notification process to stakeholders across all required disciplines. This decreases one-call ticket notifications, damages to utilities during construction activities, reduces loss of life and limb, damages to the environment, the need for redundant locations and relocations as well as reduce damages caused during construction.
Guardian ProStar created a solution to accurately capture, compare, value, and distribute asset data in an acceptable format across all required disciplines and address all of the serious ramifications associated to poor quality of data. The system improves the data life cycle and reduces locates and relocates as well as reduces damages caused during construction. Companies can also leverage the improved data for other operations, such as planning and design, tax assessment, and emergency disaster planning.
The data management system is accessed through a portal from a cloud network and operated through the internet, both in the office and in the field. The system is embedded into Google Maps and operational on mobile platforms, including smartphone apps.
With this information, engineers will more efficiently design their projects, locators will provide more accurate marks, and contractors will dig safely. Accurate underground utility mapping will save the industry time and money and ultimately will save lives.
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE OBTAINS AN IMPORTANT PATENT FOR A GPS DRIVEN UTILITY ASSET MANAGEMENT AND DAMAGE PREVENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD.
November 16th, 2010 -
Los Angeles, California (November 16, 2010) - Christie, Parker & Hale LLP, one of Southern California‘s leading intellectual property law firms, announced today that the firm prosecuted another major patent application through issuance, for its client, Guardian ProStar, Inc. of Grand Junction, Colorado.
“We are excited to have played a significant role in the issuance of this patent for our client,” said Raymond R. Tabandeh, the CPH partner who prosecuted the patent.” The patent, U.S. Pat. No. 7,834,806 pertains to collecting and managing data and information about utility assets buried under the ground. This data is required to make numerous business decisions like how, when and where excavators should or should not be digging the ground. The asset data is collected and integrated with GIS landbase and topography data in a precision grid, in real time. The data may then be stored to be utilized by the utility, construction, government, and other organizations. The extensive data may be integrated with commercially available map data, such as Google Maps.
“Inaccurate mapping and lack of sharing of buried asset location management information continues to be a major problem throughout the U.S. and abroad. Events, including the recent gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California, which resulted in several losses of lives and significant damage to the environment, are directly related to ineffective asset data management practices and inaccurate data.” Tabandeh added.
ProStar‘s Chief Executive Officer, Page Tucker stated: “The nation’s highway and roadway systems, as well as the buried infrastructure that includes the gas lines, fiber optic, sewer and water lines are aging. Additionally, the increased construction activities in congested underground corridors add significant concerns to an already problematic situation. When coupled with poor planning and inaccurate asset location practices that have existed for several decades, you have a serious problem on your hands. This problem must be addressed, otherwise, recent catastrophic events that we have witnessed will continue to occur.”
This latest patent adds increased value to a growing IP portfolio of ProStar that offers unique processes for precision data collection, storage and distribution, as well as excavation guidance systems.
About Christie, Parker & Hale: Christie, Parker & Hale is a leading intellectual property law firm operating at the intersection of science, technology and the law. Engaged exclusively in all aspects of intellectual property law, most of the firm’s attorneys hold degrees in engineering or the sciences, bringing added value and perspective to client service. Drawing on a 56-year heritage, the firm continues to propel innovation and stimulate business growth by protecting its clients’ most valuable assets -- intellectual property.
GUARDIAN PROSTAR SIGNS A LEVEL 1 SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH RACKSPACE US
August 2nd, 2010 -
Grand Junction, Colorado - Guardian ProStar, Inc., “ProStar” a developer of data management and damage prevention solutions for the utility industry, announced today that they have entered into an agreement to use Rackspace services. ProStar CEO Page Tucker stated, “I am delighted to have attained this major milestone. Using Rackspace’s services means our systems are now unquestionably robust, secure and scalable. This enables us to address the data management concerns of the world’s largest utilities, call centers or any other organizations that rely on location data.”
“I have been working with Mr. Tucker for over a year and understand the design a system based on his unique needs will require. ProStar offers a valuable service that is needed in the US and internationally. Regardless of his growth needs, we can provide the architecture, service and confidence he would need at even the greatest accelerated growth rates. I believe that is why he was sold on Rackspace,” said Ben Rodrigue, Enterprise Sales – Rackspace US, Inc.
About Rackspace: Rackspace delivers enterprise-level hosting services to businesses of all sizes and kinds around the world. Founded in 1998, Rackspace, Inc. serves more than 100,000 customers, including over 80,000 cloud computing customers. Rackspace integrates the industry's best technologies for each customer's specific need and delivers it as a service via the company's commitment to Fanatical Support®.
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE OBTAINS KEY PATENT FOR GPS-DRIVEN UTILITY ASSET MANAGEMENT AND DAMAGE PREVENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
February 9th, 2009 -
Los Angeles, California - Christie, Parker & Hale LLP, one of Southern California's leading intellectual property law firms, announced today that the firm prosecuted a major patent application through issuance for its client Guardian ProStar, Inc. of Grand Junction, Colorado.
The patent, U.S. Pat. No. 7,482,973, pertains to managing and avoiding damage to utility assets buried under the ground, retrieval, and display processes that are required to make numerous business decisions including how, when and where excavators should or should not be digging the ground.
”We are certainly excited to have played a significant role in the issuance of this patent for our client,” said Raymond R. Tabandeh, the CPH partner who prosecuted the patent. ”Unintentional damage to buried utilities is a major problem in the U.S. and, in almost every case, caused by excavation activities during construction. It is typically the result of operators failing to have access to accurate data records of the buried infrastructure locations relevant to the digging operations.”
Guardian ProStar Chief Executive Officer Page Tucker stated: ”There are more than 20 million excavation activities performed annually and each new excavation operation risks conflicting with the more than 30 million miles of utilities installed underground throughout the U.S. In the most catastrophic instances, lives may be lost and an owner, agency or contractor is exposed to serious claims and litigation from major property and environmental damage. More commonly, though, inadvertent damage causes lights go out, gas to leak into the atmosphere, or traffic flows disrupted.
”We believe that accurate display of buried utility location relevant to excavators is perhaps the most critical component to effective damage prevention practices. The patent also falls directly in line with other development projects we are involved in of advanced utility asset management solutions including RFID technology,” Tucker concluded.
Tabandeh added that the Guardian ProStar patent is particularly timely, noting the Obama administration's stated plans to invest tens of billions of dollars upgrading the nation's current infrastructure. ”I believe this patent and the patented system could play a significant role in providing savings in several millions of dollars that would otherwise occur as a result of damaging buried utility assets by the planned constructions,” Tabandeh said.
About Christie, Parker & Hale LLP Christie, Parker & Hale is a leading intellectual property law firm operating at the crossroads of science, technology and the law. Engaged exclusively in all aspects of intellectual property law, most of the firm’s attorneys hold degrees in engineering or the sciences, bringing added value and perspective to client service. Drawing on a 54-year heritage, the firm continues to propel innovation and stimulate business growth by protecting its clients’ most valuable assets – intellectual property. We can best serve our clients by developing long-term partnerships. Some of our most successful clients first came to us while still experimenting in their garages. Working hand-in-hand with them - we have obtained their first patent, guided them through their initial developments and watched them achieve market leadership. Guardian ProStar is a prime example.
PROSTAR EMPLOYEE NEGOTIATES RFID BOOK DEAL
January 15th, 2009 -
Grand Junction, Colorado - ProStar announced today that Mark Beckner, Chief Software Architect and Engineer for the Grand Junction-based firm, has negotiated a contract with Apress, a Berkeley, CA publisher of books targeted at software professionals (www.apress.com).
Mr. Beckner will co-author Pro RFID in BizTalk Server 2009, due to be published in March of 2009. ”This is very good timing as we are currently doing a great deal of R&D on RFID technologies to track buried assets in the utility industry for improved asset management and damage prevention operations”, said Page Tucker, Prostar's CEO. ”ProStar has recently engaged in a relationship with UtilyStar, LLP to create an asset management and damage prevention solution integrating RFID with its ProStar Online data management system.
Tucker goes on to say that the RFID solution will embrace advanced RFID technologies and ProStar web based data management technologies. UtilyStar, LLP has partnered with ODIN Technologies, Inc. the global leader in RFID solutions, technology research & development to develop this comprehensive and systematic solution to address the needs for a more accurate utility asset management solution and damage prevention practices.
”We believe that RFID or ”smart tagging” will play a significant role in utility asset management and damage prevention operations. This is important, as BizTalk Server is the underlying technology of ProStar Online and the ProStar Portal, both of which are currently being implemented on our latest collaboration with the Gas Technology Institute and Virginia One Call for the VUPS pilot project. This project focuses on asset management and monitoring excavating activities for utility damage avoidance measures.”
”The book is certainly timely and will be a must-have for companies deploying RFID on the BizTalk platform.” commented Patrick J. Sweeney II founder of ODIN, and author of RFID for Dummies. ”We have done more than 250 RFID projects on five continents and have witnessed software providers come and go. Microsoft has made a substantial commitment to the BizTalk RFID platform and ODIN has in fact ported all our health monitoring and management software to BizTalk for that reason.”
Mr. Beckner is a Business Integration specialist with extensive experience in software development using a wide variety of technologies and languages. His projects have included engagements with numerous clients throughout the U.S., and range in nature from mobile application development to complete integration solutions. He has authored Pro EDI in BizTalk Server 2006 R2, co-authored BizTalk 2006: A Problem-Solution Approach (Apress, 2006), has spoken at a number of venues including Microsoft TechEd 2008, and is certified in Microsoft Technologies, including MCSD.NET.
About ODIN Founded in 2002 and headquartered in the USA with European and Japanese offices, ODIN leads the RFID industry in three core verticals: Government, Healthcare, and Aerospace. Additionally two emerging industries Oil and Gas, and Financial Services are specialties of ODIN. Since 2002, ODIN has deployed the largest and most sophisticated RFID systems in the world and ODIN’s founder and CEO wrote RFID for Dummies and the CompTIA RFID+ Study Guide, both published by John Wiley & Sons.
GUARDIAN PROSTAR CONTRACTED TO DESIGN PORTAL TO MONITOR EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES
November 3, 2008 -
Grand Junction, Colorado - Page Tucker, CEO of Guardian ProStar, Inc. announced today that the company, which develops damage prevention software, has entered into a Development Agreement with Gas Technology Institute (GTI). The development is for a pilot project that is in collaboration with GTI and Virginia Utility Protection Service (VUPS) and is called the VUPS Pilot Project. The project steering committee has representation from utility companies, one-call centers, excavators, equipment manufacturers, contract locators and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA).
Guardian will utilize and leverage its current ”ProStar” technologies as well as further develop the ProStar Portal for the integration of systems that will monitor digging activities to ensure that all excavation has a valid one-call ticket associated with the work being performed. The system will include GPS monitor systems attached to the excavation equipment that will periodically send information from the excavation equipment to the one-call center where it will be cross referenced with existing locate tickets.
Guardian will be working closely with Trimble to integrate some of their currently available applications and hardware to meet the requirements of the project. Mr. Tucker said by early next year they expect to launch the test phase of the system to monitor for one-call ticket violations.
”We are very excited to have been selected to work with GTI and VUPS on this project. Third party damage is a major problem and in most cases the result of excavators that fail to utilize the one-call center or excavators that encroach upon locate marks. With GPS technology, GEO Spatial Information and Web-services being integrated with the Virginia One Call System and excavation equipment we will be able to notify an excavator of encroachment on an underground facility or of digging activity outside of a valid One-Call Ticket. This will dramatically reduce damages to buried facilities and also prevent serious injury that can result when a conflict with a utility occurs”, said Tucker.
Upon acceptance of the solution, the hardware and software acquired and developed for this project will be available to other one-call centers and utility companies for further demonstrations or implementation. Components that will result from this project will include GPS-based excavation monitoring antennas, one-call monitoring software and excavation encroachment software.
About GTI GTI is a not-for-profit Research and Development (R&D) organization. For more than 65 years, GTI has been the leader in the development and deployment of technology solutions that contribute to a secure, abundant, and affordable energy future. GTI programs have resulted in nearly 500 products, 250 licenses, and more than 1,000 associated patents. GTI solves important energy challenges, turning raw technology into practical solutions that create exceptional value for our customers in the global marketplace. www.gastechnology.org
