Construction projects face a number of challenges before they get off the ground. Some of the biggest obstacles include utility lines, electrical conductors, and phone and cable company wires. In some cases, these utilities are not where they should be, and can lead to significant delays in the project. This can dramatically increase the cost of the project, place the project in legal jeopardy, and place utilities in harm’s way.
Fortunately, subsurface utility engineering, usually shortened to SUE, can address these issues. This is a growing area of the consulting engineering industry, and can help companies determine where these underground utilities are located. On-site verification tools can be combined with existing records to make sure the construction site will not have to contend with any of these problems. If they are identified, they can be circumvented as quickly as possible.
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What is Subsurface Utility Engineering?
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is an engineering discipline that manages the risks of utility mapping, which primarily includes activities such as the assessment, relocation and design of utilities. SUE also involves the communication of utility data to interested parties, implementation of accommodation policies and estimating the costs of activities related to utility mapping. SUE has historically been largely unregulated, although many countries are beginning to implement standards for it. Standard 38-02 published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) specifies the current standards for SUE in the United States.
The use of SUE is becoming more widespread throughout the world as a means of mitigating the costs of damaging underground utilities, including construction delays, project redesigns and liability. This document regulates the practice of collecting, recording and managing data on subsurface structures, especially the pipelines for various utilities. Many countries have developed similar standards, including Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Great Britain and Malaysia. These standards generally classify subsurface utility data according to its reliability, which has become particularly important in developed countries during the last 20 years. This information provides project managers with the ability to assess the value of utility data at the beginning of a construction project.
The first step in a SUE project is the development of a work plan. This plan includes components such as the project’s schedule, its scope, risk allocation and delivery method. Engineers will then use non-destructive surface methods to detect subsurface utilities and mark their approximate locations on the surface. These utilities are then exposed with vacuum excavation and their precise locations recorded as a CAD drawing or GIS map. Engineers use this information to develop a matrix that identifies potential conflicts with project plans and propose solutions.
What are the Applications for Subsurface Utility Engineering?
SUE is primarily used during a capital work project’s design phase or for asset management. The basic process of collecting information is the same in both cases, although the scope and presentation of that information may vary. The primary objective in using SUE in a capital works project is to avoid conflicts later on in the project. For cases involving asset management, project owners generally use SUE to obtain missing information on their underground utilities. The SUE provider then adds this new information to an asset management database based on the quality levels for that jurisdiction.
What Are the Advantages of SUE?
Even though you might want to start the project as quickly as possible, there are several reasons why you should rely on SUE before you start the project. Some of the biggest advantages include:
Safety
You need to protect those involved in the project. You need to know where the utilities are located ahead of time. That way, you don’t accidentally run into them during the drilling process, which could present a significant safety hazard.
Accuracy
Working with a professional SUE team is far more accurate than relying on inconsistent records. With an SUE team, you can figure out exactly where these utilities are located before the process begins.
Cost
You can also save money by working with professional SUE consultants. If you happen to run into a utility line during the project, you may have wasted a lot of time and money drilling in that area. Furthermore, you could be held responsible for the financial cost of having to repair that specific utility.
Efficiency
Even though you might not want to delay the start of the project, working with a professional SUE team can make it easier for you to finish the project on time. You can reduce the number of obstacles you face by getting accurate utility locations before you start the project.
Legal
There are legal reasons why you need to work with a professional SUE team. You do not want to be held legally responsible for damaging utilities, and finishing the project on time can reduce your chances of facing a breach-of-contract situation.
These are a few of the top advantages that come from partnering with a professional SUE team. If you are looking for an experienced team that can help you with multiple areas of your project, trust us to help you.
What Are the Levels of SUE Investigations?
There are several levels of SUE investigation, and the depth of any investigation will depend on the type of information required. The different levels of potential SUE investigations include:
- Level A: This is the most in-depth level of investigation. It requires physical digging to locate the exact spots of these utilities. Typically, professional engineering consultants use non-destructive methods. This could include a vacuum excavator, pressurized water and air, and other tactics.
- Level B: This level of Investigation seeks to identify utilities through non-invasive methods. For example, gas lines might be located using a light electrical current while pipes made from ferrous metals can be identified using electromagnetic resonance.
- Level C: This type of investigation uses on-site surveys. For example, consultants might look for clues such as hand valves on a pedestal, and sewer covers to plot the locations of utilities. This information will be combined with technological tools to plot the locations of utility lines.
- Level D: This is the most superficial level of investigation. Typically called a desktop study, professional consultants use topographical surveys, plans from prior utilities, and maps, overlaying them on a unified document. Even though this level of investigation can be a good start, not all utilities are typically listed on available documents. Furthermore, information might be inconsistent.
Before any construction project begins, it is important to complete a comprehensive investigation in conjunction with SUE professionals. That way, construction teams can prepare for potential obstructions that could delay the project.
What are the Quality Levels for Underground Utility Information?
The ASCE published Standard 38-02 in 2003, which is entitled “Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data.” This standard establishes guidance of the collection and representation of information on subsurface utilities in the United States. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ standard classifies this data into four quality levels, which indicate the degree of risk when using that information in public works projects. The plans for these projects typically include disclaimers regarding the accuracy of their utility information, and the quality level of that information helps to determine the specific disclaimer used. Quality levels also allow project owners to identify the information they will use to certify the project plans and manage the risks for that project.
The ASCE Standard 38-02 recognizes four levels of quality for underground utility information, ranging from Quality Level (QL)-D to QL-A. Information classified as QL-D has the lowest level of accuracy, while QL-A has the highest. This classification system is based on the assumption that not every point in a utility’s path requires the highest level of accuracy, such that a greater number of expected conflicts warrant a higher quality level. For example, the highest number of conflicts typically occurs with highway construction due to the length of these projects.
- QL-D DATA – the most basic level of utility data. The information at this level comes entirely from existing records or personal recollections, both of which are generally considered unreliable. QL-D data is primarily used to assess the overall concentration of underground utilities, as its use in identifying the location of specific utilities is limited. The most common application of QL-D data is general project planning and route selection.
- QL-C DATA – probably the most common quality level of utility data. The primary sources for this information include surveys of visible facilities such as manholes and valve boxes, which are typically correlated with QL-D information. This process often identifies utilities that have been incorrectly plotted or are completely missing from the QL-D sources. The most common uses of QL-C data include projects in rural areas, where the repair and relocation of utilities is relatively inexpensive.
- QL-B DATA – comes from surface geophysical methods that precisely locate the position of utilities within a particular area. The primary purpose of this process, also known as “designating,” is to correct inaccurate utility records, including missing references and unrecorded facilities. The proper selection and use of geophysical techniques is critical for the classification of QL-B data, since these are key factors in determining the accuracy of this type of data.QL-B data is often used to accomplish preliminary goals in engineering projects. For example, it can facilitate decisions regarding the location of proposed design features such as drainage systems, foundations and footers to avoid conflicts with existing features. The value of QL-B data therefore lies in its ability eliminate utility relocations, which can often result in a substantial savings by making slight adjustments to a design.
- QL-A DATA – provides the highest level of accuracy presently available for subsurface utilities. The process of collecting this data is known as “locating” and involves the full use of SUE services to expose utilities through nondestructive means. QL-A data provides highly accurate information on the characteristics of underground features, including their composition, condition, size and type. The most common use of data with this quality level is the precise mapping of utilities, typically for projects in congested urban areas.
Contact SoftDig Today
You should make sure you know exactly where all utilities are located before the project begins. That is where our team can help you. At SoftDig, we have a tremendous amount of experience with all areas of subsurface utility engineering. We invest in the latest equipment in the industry because we believe it places our clients in the best position possible to be successful.
Underground Services, Inc. is one of the oldest, full-service SUE companies in the United States. We provide a complete range of SUE services, including our innovative SoftDig® non-destructive excavation system for locating underground utilities.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, please contact us today for an estimate!
