identify this street symbol

October 17, 2008 10:57 AM

Can you identify this symbol (http://h4xr.org/9rb2)? It's a diamond centered between two vertical lines with a dot in the middle. I've seen it on sidewalks and streets and presume it's used by electricians or other street/maintenance workers. What does it mean?
posted by deep_sea_diving_suit to Society & Culture (6 answers total)

It could be a hobo sign:
http://www.worldpath.net/~minstrel/hobosign.htm
posted by god particle at 11:00 AM on October 17, 2008

Best answer: Conduit markings. The color can give more information.
posted by stavrogin at 11:24 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]

Long time since I've seen these signs, but isn't it Warchalking ?
posted by Webbster at 12:03 PM on October 17, 2008

second conduit markings
posted by Echidna882003 at 1:11 PM on October 17, 2008

Best answer: No, it's not warchalking. Leaving aside the fact that the symbol doesn't resemble any of those in the Warchalking article, the article itself clearly states that "Nobody ever warchalked." stavrogin has it, it's a marker indicating a buried duct or conduit.

“Duct structures, whether a single duct or multiple ducts, will be indicated by duct symbol indicating the approximate width of the duct structure.” The duct marker will be indicated by a marking resembling a diamond bracketed by two parallel lines.

posted by contraption at 1:16 PM on October 17, 2008

Response by poster: Thank you! I like this symbol, and now I know what it represents.
posted by deep_sea_diving_suit at 2:00 PM on October 17, 2008