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Utilities Business Review | Monday, January 30, 2023
Subsurface utility engineering mitigates the risk of striking utilities by reducing the number of accidents occurring yearly in North America. Subsurface utility engineering is an essential tool within the construction industry, as it provides a way to reduce project delays and repair costs.
FREMONT, CA: Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) aims to collect precise subsurface utility data throughout the design phase of projects.
The procedure begins by comparing the project's scope, timeline, and services to the associated risk. It combines GPR (ground penetrating radar) and electromagnetic technology with a survey, CADD, and design to detect and map existing subsurface utilities.
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SUE is non-destructive and enables construction workers to ensure that no utilities are affected due to their work.
SUE has enormous benefits for the construction industry. For the pre-design phase of any project involving ground disturbance, it is crucial to have access to this vital data. It not only contributes to the project's safety by preventing the possibility of underground utility damage, but it also reduces the expenses associated with utility maintenance, unanticipated development redesign, project delays, and other unforeseen complications.
IMPLEMENTATIONS OF SUE
Engineers from SUE are present to preserve subsurface utilities, ensure the safety of workers on-site, and maintain utility services for nearby residences and businesses.
It is primarily utilized during the design phase of projects for information collecting and asset management. Before the start of construction, the goal of SUE is to collect accurate utility information within the project area to minimize disagreement during later building phases.
SUE is utilized in asset management when data is lacking or faulty, and the obtained information is uploaded to the current database for future use.
SPECIFICATIONS AND QUALITY LEVELS
Standard 38-22, Standard Guideline for Investigating and Documenting Existing Utilities, was released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2022. This document provides recommendations for the gathering and representation of subsurface utility data.
The four levels of quality are as follows:
Quality Level “D”: Information is collected from examining utility owner records.
Quality Level “C”: Information is gathered by identifying and surveying surface features; Quality Level "C" This information is utilized in conjunction with information from quality level D.
Quality Level “B”: Information is gathered through geophysical survey equipment that searches for utilities. The surface geophysics is analyzed, and the position of the utility is marked on the ground enabling utility owners to conduct a further survey and evaluation.
Quality Level “A”: Information gathered through excavating to uncover the utility. The collected data comprises the horizontal and vertical location of the utility to within centimeters, the existing grade elevation over the utility, and the utility's diameter and material composition.
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