1. byby
Jonathan L. TanJonathan L. Tan
Geotrack, Inc.Geotrack, Inc.
Benefits of Subsurface Utility
Engineering

2. SUE - The professional service
that will comprehensively and
effectively locate subsurface
utilities and upgrade the quality
of underground utility maps for
the benefit of any infrastructure-
related activity, including
engineering, construction and
maintenance.
What is Subsurface Utility
Engineering?

3. Why Use Subsurface Utility
Engineering?
Sources of Utility Information:
Engineers in the past and currently typically use
one or more of the following sources to compile
a utility composite that overlays the new design:
 Old Project plans (As-Designed)
 Old Project plans (Red-Lined)
 Utility records (As-Designed)
 Utility records (As-Built)
 Maintenance Records
 Repair records
 Visual observation
 Field study

4.  Utility Damage affecting
the Safety of Construction
Crew or General Public
 Redesign Costs
 Higher Construction Bids
 Change Orders
 Extra Work Orders
Risks of Proceeding with Unreliable
Inaccurate and Incomplete Utility Data
 Construction Claims
 Higher Insurance Costs
 Higher Financing Costs
 Project Delays
 Detours
 Bad Publicity
 Money and Time Loss
Intangibles (Legal Fees,
Commerce Loss, etc.)
SUE, properly applied, will often eliminate
financial, legal and catastrophic risks associated
with utility conflicts on engineering/construction projects.

5. Subsurface Utility Engineering
(S.U.E.)
 Utilities Records Research;
 Relocation Cost Estimates;
 Utility Design / Relocation Design;
 Plotting of Utilities from Records.
SUE Combines traditional
Engineering practices, such as:
With State-of-the-Art
Technologies and Processes
 Electromagnetic, sonic, vibratory, radio detection technologies;
 Air or water with non-destructive vacuum excavation;
 CADD, Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems;
 Geotrack’s SUE Quality Control Plan.
Recently
published ASCE
Guidelines
suggest that
SUE is integral
to the standards
of care and best
practices

6. Subsurface Utility Engineering is
Comprised of Three Key Processes
1. Designating: modern line
tracing techniques to
detect horizontal position
of subsurface facilities
2. Locating: non-destructive
air (or water) vacuum
excavation to precisely
and safely expose
subsurface facilities
3. Data Management:
state-of-the-art survey,
mapping and data
management processes
and technologies

7. What is the Standard of Care for Utility Data?
American Society of Civil Engineers Standard CI/ASCE 38-02
STANDARD GUIDELINE FOR THE COLLECTION AND DEPICTION
OF EXISTING SUBSURFACE UTILITY DATA
 A consensus standard that defines the quality of utility location and
the attribute information that is ultimately placed on engineering or
construction plans;
 It presents a system of classifying the quality of data associated
with subsurface utilities that will allow the owner, engineer and
constructor to reduce risk associated with less reliable utility data;
 CI/ASCE 38-02 is designed to be used either as a reference or part
of a specification for a project involving existing underground
utilities;
 The Guideline refers to several methods of data acquisition relevant
to the four Quality Levels, including electromagnetic, ground
penetrating radar and non-destructive vacuum excavation methods;
 It addresses the appropriate utility/utility data depiction
methodologies, including legends, line coding, labeling, and notes.

8. Utility Data Quality Levels
 SUE providers uniformly use four Quality Level
categories to convey to designers the accuracy of the
subsurface utility information provided.
 Quality Level D (Historical Utilities Records
Research)
 Quality Level C (Site Assessment)
 Quality Level B (Designating)
 Quality Level A (Locating - Non-Destructive Air-
Vacuum Excavation)
 Note: Quality levels attached to the plotted utility in
plans.
 Geotrack’s professional engineers and/or surveyors
certify each set of updated utility plans and test hole
forms

9. Quality Level D (Existing Records)
 Least reliable level of data
quality
 Data is plotted on plans
solely from records,
occasional field visuals, or
verbal recollections
 Appropriate for:
 Project planning phase
 Route selection
 Utility inventories, and
 Very early utility relocation
cost estimates

10. Quality Level C (Surface Features Survey)
 Visible utility valves, manholes, hand holes, hydrants, pedestals,
transformers, etc. are surveyed and plotted on a current base
mapping along with other existing site information. (Boundary, R/W,
Topography, etc.)
 Utility data from records is correlated to those surface features.
However, problems with record interpretation still exist. For example,
no schematics or appurtenances are depicted, buried utilities may
or may not not necessarily lie in a straight line between
appurtenances, may have been altered for upgrades or repair, or in
fact no records exist at all. More and more common due to
deregulation that utility owners will not share records with anyone,
even with government agencies.
Its application should be
confined to rural projects
where utilities are not
prevalent

11. Quality Level B (Designating)
The Key to getting the best data is Designating
This is a significant upgrade in quality level over C & D
 Surface geophysical methods used to search for and
trace existing utilities (“Designating”)
 Designated utilities are then surveyed and plotted into
base mapping.
 Non-recorded utilities are found
 Utility routes between appurtenances are imaged
 Typically used in early preliminary design and
construction footprint design
 This information is usually sufficient to accomplish
preliminary engineering goals, and result in
substantial cost savings by eliminating utility
relocations.

12. Utility Designating
(Level “B”)
 Use of geophysical
prospecting
techniques, such as
electromagnetics and
sonics, to confirm the
existence and
approximate
horizontal location of
underground utilities.
 This is where SUE
begins. Designating is
vital to detecting
undocumented lines
and determining
where and how many
test holes are needed.

13. Designating (Level B) at
Newark Liberty International Airport

14. Quality Level A (Locating/Test Holes)
Highest Quality Available – Most accurate and
comprehensive Data
 Utilities found via non-destructive air vacuum means
digging at critical points to determine the precise
horizontal and vertical position of underground
utilities
 Precise horizontal locations and elevations/depths are
surveyed and plotted
 Materials, sizes and conditions are documented
 Used in final design stage
 Allows for small adjustments in design for big savings
in construction

15. Utility Locating
 Vertical location of utilities
utilizing air-(or water) vacuum
excavation equipment
 Non-destructive vacuum
excavation systems expose
and locate utilities precisely
and safely.
This Produces the
Highest Quality Level
of data, Level “A”

16. Vacuum Excavation Truck (Quality Level A) in DC

17. Data Management
 With traditional or GPS Survey
methods utilizing Computer
Aided Drafting and Design
programs and/or Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) to
translate the exact utility data into
a computer-generated three-
dimensional form.
 Produces a clear and exact
visual representation of the
position of existing
underground utilities in any
area where excavation will
occur.
GEOTRACK,INC.
Client:
Contract#
Project#
Name:
City:
County:
State:
GeotrackJob#
Truck#
CrewChief
DrawnBy
Date
CheckedBy
SKETCHPLAN:
*NOT TOSCALE *
HORIZONTALSURVEY
ACCURACY =+/-0.15mm
SYMBOLLEGEND
-TESTHOLEHUB/PK
-UTILITY POLE
-FIREHYDRANT
-WATER VALVE
-GAS VALVE
-STORMMANHOLE
-SANITARY MANHOLE
-ELECTRICMANHOLE
-CATCHBASIN
-ELECTRIC
TRANSFORMER
-CABLETELEVISION
PEDESTAL
-TELEPHONE
PEDESTAL
-DIAMETER/
SPECIES
-SURVEYTRAVERSE
POINT
S
T
T
C
E
E
D
ABBREVIATIONS:
- Baseline
- Benchmark
- Catch Basin
- Centerline
- Curb& Gutter
- Cast Iron
- Corrugated
MetalPipe
- Concrete
- Conduit
- DuctileIron
- Driveway
- Electric
- Elevation
- Edge ofPavement
- FireHydrant
- Gas Valve
- High Pressure
Plastic
- Light Pole
- Polyvinyl
Chloride
- Reinforced
ConcretePipe
- Right-of-Way
- SanitarySewer
- StormSewer
Grate
- StormSewer
- Sidewalk
-Steel
- TestHole
- TerraCotta
- Transformer
- SurveyTraverse
Point
- UtilityPole
- WaterLine
B.M.
CB
CG
CI
CMP
CONC
COND
DI
DW
ELEC
ELEV
EP
FH
GV
HPP
LP
PVC
RCP
R/W
SAN
SG
STM
SW
STL
TH
TC
TRAN
TRAV
UP
W/L
BL
CL
CERTIFICATION:
Iherebycertifythattheinformationshown
hereoniscorrecttothebestof myknowledge
andbelief.
-STORMGRATE
-INLET
1.00 181.1 443
(BOTTOM-TOP)
OUTSIDEDIAMETERS
MEASUREMENTSTO
FLAGGINGCOLOR
VERTICALSURVEYACCURACY=+/-0.15mm
STRUCTURE
BOTTOMOFUTILITY/
-
STRUCTURE
TOPOFUTILITY/
MEASUREMENT
DEPTHFROM MANUAL
(HUBEL-TOP)=
BOTTOMOFUTILITY/STRUCTURE
TOPOFUTILITY/STRUCTURE
1.00 181.1 443
SURFACEREFERENCEPOINT*NOTTOSCALE*
(281)420-9491
(281)422-0941
SH121
THECOLONY
DENTON
TEXAS
60000
413,123
C.SELLARS
C.DOSKOCIL
2/11/01
ORANGE
4.88'
593.98'
312BobSmithRd.,SteA
Baytown,Texas 77529
G.HANS
-5.01 ft.
589.10'
588.97'
N
SH121WB
EP
UP
UP
3"EDGETOEDGE
11/2"
O.D.
PVC
11/2"
O.D.
PVC
LINENo.: T9
W18
W18
E18
E18
E18
E18
T14
T1
T1
T1
T41
T41
T15
T15
T15
T15
T15
T9
T9
T9
T9
T9
T31
T31
T31
T31
T31
WW
E17
E17
E17
CATV1
CATV1
E19
E19
T1
T1
CATV2
CATV2
TH#20A
TELEF.O.
X=2466227.30
Y=7078028.20
BenchMark:Name/No. Elev.=
TESTHOLEPROFILELOOKINGSOUTHEAST
P.K.NAIL/HUBSTAKE/CHISLEDX
UtilityLocationReportforTestHole20Aof29inU.S.SurveyFeet.
Pavement:N/Ain.AsphaltN/Ain.Concrete
N/Ain.Other: N/A
Soil:TypeCLAY Conditions:DAMP
Utility:TELEF.O.Size: (2)11/2"Material:PVC Cond:GOOD
Wasitfound?YESAttherequestedlocation?YES
BenchMark:Name/No. 121-50 Elev.=593.04'
Asshownonsheet2of12ontheplans
dated1/9/01andcalledSH121UTILITYLOCATIONS
23.5'
ELEV.= ATTHE
ELEV.= ATTHE
ELEV.= ATTHE
-TELEMANHOLE
PLANOPKWY.
88.9'
43.6'

18. GEOTRACK,INC.
Client:
Contract#
Project#
Name:
City:
County:
State:
GeotrackJob#
Truck#
CrewChief
DrawnBy
Date
CheckedBy
SKETCHPLAN:
* NOT TO SCALE *
HORIZONTAL SURVEY
ACCURACY =+/-0.15mm
SYMBOLLEGEND
-TEST HOLEHUB/PK
-UTILITY POLE
-FIRE HYDRANT
-WATER VALVE
-GAS VALVE
-STORM MANHOLE
-SANITARYMANHOLE
-ELECTRICMANHOLE
-CATCH BASIN
-ELECTRIC
TRANSFORMER
-CABLE TELEVISION
PEDESTAL
-TELEPHONE
PEDESTAL
-DIAMETER/
SPECIES
-SURVEYTRAVERSE
POINT
S
T
T
C
E
E
D
ABBREVIATIONS:
- Baseline
- Benchmark
- Catch Basin
- Centerline
- Curb &Gutter
- Cast Iron
- Corrugated
Metal Pipe
- Concrete
- Conduit
- Ductile Iron
- Driveway
- Electric
- Elevation
- Edge of Pavement
- Fire Hydrant
- Gas Valve
- High Pressure
Plastic
- Light Pole
- Polyvinyl
Chloride
- Reinforced
Concrete Pipe
- Right-of-Way
- Sanitary Sewer
- StormSewer
Grate
- StormSewer
- Sidewalk
- Steel
- Test Hole
- Terra Cotta
- Transformer
- Survey Traverse
Point
- UtilityPole
- Water Line
B.M.
CB
CG
CI
CMP
CONC
COND
DI
DW
ELEC
ELEV
EP
FH
GV
HPP
LP
PVC
RCP
R/W
SAN
SG
STM
SW
STL
TH
TC
TRAN
TRAV
UP
W/L
BL
CL
CERTIFICATION:
I herebycertifythat the information shown
hereon iscorrect tothe best of myknowledge
and belief.
-STORM GRATE
- INLET
1 .001 81.14 43
(BOTTOM-TOP)
OUTSIDEDIAMETERS
MEASUREMENTSTO
FLAGGINGCOLOR
VERTICALSURVEYACCURACY=+/-0.15mm
STRUCTURE
BOTTOMOF UTILITY/
-
STRUCTURE
TOPOFUTILITY/
MEASUREMENT
DEPTH FROMMANUAL
(HUBEL-TOP)=
BOTTOMOFUTILITY/STRUCTURE
TOPOFUTILITY/STRUCTURE
1 .001 81.14 43
SURFACEREFERENCEPOINT*NOTTOSCALE*
(281)420-9491
(281)422-0941
SH121
THECOLONY
DENTON
TEXAS
60000
413,123
C.SELLARS
C.DOSKOCIL
2/11/01
ORANGE
4.88'
593.98'
312BobSmithRd.,SteA
Baytown,Texas 77529
G.HANS
-5.01 ft.
589.10'
588.97'
N
SH121WB
EP
UP
UP
3"EDGETOEDGE
11/2"
O.D.
PVC
11/2"
O.D.
PVC
LINENo.: T9
W18
W18
E18
E18
E18
E18
T14
T1
T1
T1
T41
T41
T15
T15
T15
T15
T15
T9
T9
T9
T9
T9
T31
T31
T31
T31
T31
WW
E17
E17
E17
CATV1
CATV1
E19
E19
T1
T1
CATV2
CATV2
TH#20A
TELEF.O.
X=2466227.30
Y=7078028.20
BenchMark:Name/No. Elev.=
TESTHOLEPROFILELOOKINGSOUTHEAST
P.K.NAIL/HUBSTAKE/CHISLEDX
UtilityLocationReportforTestHole20Aof29inU.S.SurveyFeet.
Pavement:N/Ain.AsphaltN/Ain.Concrete
N/Ain.Other: N/A
Soil:TypeCLAY Conditions:DAMP
Utility:TELEF.O.Size: (2)11/2"Material:PVC Cond:GOOD
Wasitfound?YESAttherequestedlocation?YES
BenchMark:Name/No. 121-50 Elev.=593.04'
Asshownonsheet2of12ontheplans
dated1/9/01andcalledSH121UTILITYLOCATIONS
23.5'
ELEV.= ATTHE
ELEV.= ATTHE
ELEV.= ATTHE
-TELE MANHOLE
PLANOPKWY.
88.9'
43.6'
Sample
Geotrack
Test Hole
Form
Quality
Level A
P.E. or
P.L.S.
Certification

19. Benefits of Professional SUE and Mapping
Services:
• Save You and Your Clients Money
FHWA reports savings average of $4.62 per dollar spent on
SUE. Other State DOT’s have found up to $40 saved per $1
spent - DOT’s have found
that their projects are completed on time and under
budget with SUE.
• Save Time
With SUE, large and small projects finish without
delay claims, multiple change orders, and utility
service disruptions
• Get lower contractor bids
More accurate and complete information will reduce
“contingencies” in proposals

20. 
Save time, money, and manage your projects
more effectively with Geotrack’s SUE Services