Subsurface

Subsurface Utility Engineering

Our Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) team can locate and identify all underground utilities before excavation begins to avoid costly and dangerous dig-ins. Using SUE on your construction or excavation project ensures a safer and more efficient project overall.

What Is SUE?

Subsurface Utility Engineering is the investigation of underground objects and utilities on a site to help the construction and design of a project and mitigate associated risks. These risks are identified through four quality levels: A, B, C, and D. These quality levels help convey the level of confidence in a utility’s position during design—minimizing risk during the actual dig.

SUE is beneficial on a variety of project types such as utility design and relocation, road widening and reconstruction, land development, building expansions, boring, and tunneling.

SUE Quality Levels

• Level D (Records Research):

This quality level provides the most basic information about the underground utilities in a dig area from existing utility records. These records could be drawings, service maps, construction plans, or even oral recollections of utility locations. 

• Level C (Visible Surface Features):

This level entails surveying any visible above ground utilities. These include features such as manholes, valve boxes, marker posts, etc. The information from those visible surface features is correlated with any records obtained from Level D. 

• Level B (Designating):

This level involves determining the existence and horizontal position of the underground utility using surface detection and survey methods. This level also includes level C and D tasks. 

• Level A (Utility Locating or Potholing):

This level provides the highest level of accuracy since it includes physically locating the underground utilities through non-destructive excavation such as potholing. This SUE level also involves the processes of levels B, C, and D.

Discovery Hydrovac’s Commitment to SUE

Everyone at Discovery Hydrovac is committed to project safety at all levels. Providing SUE services for our customers not only avoids costly mistakes like dig-ins, it also keeps your crew and the public safe. Talk to one of our industry experts to learn more about our SUE services and how we can help make your next project successful and safe.