Software programs that are certified by NASSCO for the Pipeline Assessment Certification Program provide a wide variety of features to help utility owners evaluate assets, determine corrective measures and prioritize rehabilitation work.

There are about a dozen certified data collection software packages. Each software vendor has developed unique and valuable tools to facilitate the management and utilization of data collected in the field to include automatic validation of PACP data, the creation of different reports, the ability to manipulate and query data to support rehabilitation recommendations, and product support, to name a few.

When it comes to PACP, the use of NASSCO-certified software is paramount to achieving our mission. When awareness of a product or service such as PACP grows and the user base expands, considerations that didn’t arise during development are uncovered and must be addressed.

Education is one of the best ways to ensure PACP-certified software is used to maximize the value of inspection data. System owners may issue a bid for a PACP product, but might also require a specific software. This eliminates one of the best financial benefits of using PACP, which is that any contractor using any PACP-certified software can provide you with a deliverable you can use.

Municipalities that specify a software package are paying contractors to purchase and learn that software rather than bid using the software they’re already using. Allowing contractors to use their own PACP-certified software increases competitive bidding. To help guide and educate municipalities during the bidding process, NASSCO’s Operations and Maintenance Committee developed a specification guideline that helps municipalities maximize their use of PACP, as well as the Manhole and Lateral Assessment Certification programs.

In general, some municipalities may not understand the structure of PACP and its databases or realize that once a field is added or a code is changed it is no longer PACP. This is true, in part, because they don’t use the software every day. It is our job to provide cities with the education they need in order to receive and appreciate the many benefits of PACP, including the use of PACP-certified software. Additionally, since using PACP-certified software can also mean a significant learning curve for employees not used to importing from the PACP transfer file into CMMS, work order programs or even into other PACP-certified software, our job is also to work with vendors to make that process easier.

One of the O&M Committee’s objectives is to develop awareness campaigns and educational programs that communicate ways to:

• Identify NASSCO-certified software via the PACP, LACP and MACP official seals
• Understand that “PACP compliant” does not mean the software is certified
• Ensure software vendors have not violated their Software Vendor License Agreement with NASSCO by excluding standard requirements for certification, including import/export capabilities
• Understand the requirements of NASSCO’s license agreement and violation procedures
• Report software vendor violations to NASSCO
• Get the most out of PACP-certified software and data

In the coming months, NASSCO will be working to take PACP to the next level by ensuring municipalities and other users understand the benefits they receive from using PACP-certified software, as well as the many features available to keep our underground infrastructure healthy.

For more information, please visit nassco.org.

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Get the EDge - Training and Continuing Education Courses

PACP TRAINING

November 7-9 Hurricane (St. George), UT
Includes Manholes and Laterals!
A limited number of Qualified PACP Recertification seats available.
Contact Marilyn Shepard for more information or to register: 916/899-8961 or email mshepard1@hotmail.com

November 8-10 San Francisco, CA
Includes Manholes and Laterals!
Recertifications Welcome
Trainer: Brandon Conley
Contact Ashley Groves for more information or to register: 248/349-0904 or email pacp@dohenycompanies.com

November 14-16 Marriottsville, MD
Includes Manholes and Laterals!
Trainer: Ted DeBoda
Contact Dawn Jaworski for more information to register: 410/442-7473 or email dawn@nassco.org

November 15-17 Northville, MI
Includes Manholes and Laterals!
Recertifications Welcome
Trainer: Brandon Conley
Contact Ashley Groves for more information or to register: 248/349-0904 or email pacp@dohenycompanies.com

November 15-17 Conyers, GA
Includes Manhole and Laterals!
Recertifications Welcome
Contact John Jones for more information or to register: 404/431-5584 or email plumblineconsultant@gmail.com

November 18 Northville, MI
One-Day Recertification Course
Trainer: Brandon Conley
Contact Ashley Groves for more information or to register: 248/349-0904 or email pacp@dohenycompanies.com

November 29-December 1 Orlando, FL
Includes Manholes and Laterals!
Recertifications Welcome
Trainer: Brandon Conley
Contact Ashley Groves for more information or to register: 248/349-0904 or email pacp@dohenycompanies.com

December 6 Allentown, PA
One-Day PACP User Recertification
PA DEP Credits Available
Contact Mike Kerr for more information or to register: 412/605-9000 or email mikerr54@hotmail.com

December 7-9 Marriottsville, MD
(NASSCO Training Center)
Includes Manholes and Laterals!
Trainer: Rizwan Siddiqi, P.E.
Contact Rizwan Siddiqi, P.E. for more information or to register: 443/739-9234 or email rasiddiqi@gmail.com

December 13 Marriottsville, MD
PACP User Recertification
Trainer: Ted DeBoda
Contact Dawn Jaworski for more information or register: 410/442-7473 or email dawn@nassco.org

December 13-15 Conyers, GA
Includes Manhole and Laterals!
Recertifications Welcome
Contact John Jones for more information or to register: 404/431-5584 or email plumblineconsultant@gmail.com

ITCP TRAINING (CIPP and Manhole)

November 7-8 Cincinnati, OH
Manhole Rehabilitation
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Day 1 • 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Day 2 Morning
Trainer: Tim Back
Contact Tim Back for more information: 513/253-8461 or email timbacktwo@gmail.com