Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)

Subsurface Utility Engineering is a branch of civil engineering that assists designers in managing risks associated with underground utilities. SUE services include utility mapping at appropriate SUE Quality Levels, utility design and relocation, communication of utility data, and utility accommodation policies.

Proven cost/benefit advantages of SUE make it an essential part of project design. SUE services help project designers manage risks associated with surprise encounters with buried utilities which can bring construction projects to a complete halt.

Subsurface Utility Engineering technologies include:

+ Magnetic sensing equipment
+ Sonic equipment
+ Acoustic equipment
+ Ground penetrating radar
+ Vertical Data Retrieval Vehicles for "safe dig" operations
+ Nondestructive vacuum excavation equipment
+ Radio frequency detection

PROJECT EXAMPLES

SUE Service Capabilities: Utility Survey Services and Underground Utility Locating

SAM, Inc. Utilities Locator service identifies, locates, and maps existing underground utilities using state-of-the-art geophysical sensing equipment and nondestructive excavation techniques. Experienced professional engineers and technicians perform all research, field surveys, testing, data management, quality control, and final CAD Plan Preparation for the most demanding underground utility locating and utility survey projects. Standards defined by the ASCE classify the quality of subsurface utility information obtained.

SAM, Inc. performs all SUE Quality Levels:

Quality Level D:
Record Research/Data Collection

Information derived from records research or oral history. This level of service can provide a "feel" for the overall congestion of utilities, but is often limited in terms of comprehensiveness and accuracy.

Quality Level C:
Visible Surface Feature Utility Survey

Utility surface feature data is obtained from surveying and plotting above ground utility features. Level C data supplements Level B data and finds omissions and errors in record information.

Quality Level B:
Utility Designation

Designation data is collected by thorough applications of appropriate surface geophysical sensing technology. Located utilities are marked, field-tied to project monumentation, and mapped onto plan documents.

Quality Level A:
Underground Utility Locating (Test Hole)

For this highest confidence level, precise horizontal and vertical location of utilities is obtained using nondestructive vacuum equipment excavation to safely expose, measure and map utilities. Includes all other Quality Level tasks and conflict resolution.

Subsurface Utility Engineering Seminar for Continuing Education Credit

SAM, Inc. offers a one-hour Subsurface Utility Engineering Seminar designed for licensed architects and engineers in Texas . In some instances, seminar participation may be applied to requirements for continuing education.

For more information on this and other seminars, please see the Education section of our website.

PROJECT EXAMPLES

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)

SUE Service Capabilities: Utility Survey Services and Underground Utility Locating

Quality Level D: Record Research/Data Collection

Quality Level C: Visible Surface Feature Utility Survey

Quality Level B: Utility Designation

Quality Level A: Underground Utility Locating (Test Hole)

SERVICES

Quality Level D:
Record Research/Data Collection

Quality Level C:
Visible Surface Feature Utility Survey

Quality Level B:
Utility Designation

Quality Level A:
Underground Utility Locating (Test Hole)