Subsurface Utility Engineering Technology
Subsurface utility engineering, or SUE, is an engineering practice that uses nondestructive geophysical investigating techniques to verify the existence, condition and exact location of underground utilities. With SUE, technicians can pinpoint natural gas lines, electric cables, water and sewer pipes, fiber optic cables and telephone and cable TV lines. Unexpectedly discovering these utilities during construction can wreak havoc on project safety, schedule and budget.
McKim & Creed provides all four quality levels associated with subsurface utility engineering:
- Quality Level D - Information gathered solely from existing utility records.
- Quality Level C - Involves surveying visible, above-ground utility facilities and correlating this information with existing utility records.
- Quality Level B - Uses surface geophysical techniques to determine the existence and horizontal position of underground utilities.
- Quality Level A - Employs nondestructive digging equipment at critical points to determine the precise horizontal and vertical position, as well as size and type, of underground utilities.
In addition, McKim & Creed offers:
- Data Collection
- Utility Inspection
- Electromagnetic detection
- Ground-penetrating radar
- Computer processing
- Map development
