Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)

EMC’s SUE Process

The accurate depth and location of existing utilities are essential to safe and productive new designs and construction. EMC, Inc. are specialist in subsurface utility engineering (SUE). Our surveys will save you time and money while minimizing the safety risks of your project. SUE is a branch of engineering practice that involves managing certain risks associated with utility mapping at appropriate quality levels for design, construction, and relocation of utilities. SUE Methods are essential in assessing utility conditions and communicating data to the concerned parties. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), State DOTs, and the Military support the SUE methods as best practices. There are (4) levels of the SUE methods:

• Quality Level D (record Research/Data Collection)-Information derived from records research or oral history. This level of service can provide a “feel” for overall congestion of utilities, but is often limited in terms of comprehensiveness.

• Quality Level C (Visible Surface Feature Survey)-Utility surface feature data is obtained from surveying and plotting above ground utility features. Level C data supplements level D 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 documentation, and mapped onto plan documents.

• Quality Level A (Utility Locating-Test Hole)-For the highest confidence level, precise horizontal and vertical location of utilities is obtained using non-destructive vacuum excavation equipment to safely expose, measure and map utilities. Includes all quality level tasks and conflict resolution.

EMC, Inc. specializes in Quality Level A which encompasses all quality levels of the SUE methods. Once our SUE crew completes the subsurface investigation, our survey crews will map all of the SUE findings as well as full site topo creating an accurate survey both below ground and above ground.

As both design and construction projects get more competitive, it is imperative to not overlook what lies beneath the ground of your project. As you bid or design a project, let EMC be your means to increase productivity and reduce costs due to delays of encountering unknown underground obstructions and other unforeseen damages:

• Reduce delays due to unforeseen obstructions in turn increasing productivity with accurate locations and depths of utilities

• Reduce costs in damages of unknown underground utilities

• Minimize safety hazards with accurate locations of high voltage UG power lines, high- and low- pressure gas mains, and other dangerous utilities

• Minimize environmental impacts due to damaged sewer and water lines

• Minimize destruction to asphalt and concrete pavement with accurate readings from technologies like GPR and RF Line Locators

• Utilizing Non-destructive Air/Vacuum excavation lets you safely expose and verify utilities for either gathering data or critical utility crossings. By using Air/Vacuum we are able to backfill the pothole once the data is collected as opposed to Hydro/Vacuum where you have to import in material to fill your potholes.