Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) enables State and local DOTs, municipalities, design consultants, and utility companies to locate existing subsurface utilities with a high degree of accuracy and comprehensiveness. SUE utilizes a combination of civil engineering, geophysics, and surveying elements. It involves the use of appropriate surface geophysical methods such as pipe & cable locators (PCL), metal detectors, and ground penetrating radar (GPR), mapping technologies such as computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) and geographic information systems (GIS), and vacuum excavation equipment. When used properly, SUE can minimize project-utility conflicts, reduces project delays and unnecessary utility relocation, and minimizes utility damage. SUE adds value, quality, and accountability to any project.
We are one of a handful of companies based in Illinois capable of all ASCE Quality Levels of Subsurface Utility Engineering! Sanchez & Associates is one of the only firms to provide quality control on subsurface utility engineering projects.

  • Quality Level A

    Quality Level A consists of the utilization of our Vacuum Excavator to expose the underground utility in a non-destructive method, otherwise known as a test hole (pothole). The test hole data is added to an ASCE QL A survey drawing.

  • Quality Level B

    Quality Level B is the task of locating utilities with electromagnetic locators, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) then surveyed and used to create an ASCE QL B survey drawing.

  • Quality Level C

    Quality Level C is the task of surveying visible utilities and if accessible, opening to determine interior structure material, dimensions, pipe diameters, pipe direction and pipe invert depths to calculate elevations. This data is added to an ASCE QL C survey drawing.

  • Quality Level D

    Quality Level D consists of gathering record utility information, otherwise known as utility maps, from available sources or entities. This information is added to an ASCE QL D survey drawing.

(773) 444-0144imoc.cp-zehcnas%40ofn

(773) 444-0144imoc.cp-zehcnas%40ofn