At the most basic, resilience for utilities means the uninterrupted continuation of service. Knowing the location of existing utilities and the potential impacts due to construction is critical to avoiding utility impacts. That’s one reason utility system records are kept and construction permitting requirements exist. When those aren’t integrated or up to date, there can be problems. Subsurface Utility Engineering services can provide precise utility location data.
A digital twin is a dynamic, virtual representation of a physical asset, product, process, or system. It digitally models the properties, condition, and attributes of the real-world counterpart. A digital twin uses data from connected sensors to tell the story of an asset all the way through its life-cycle. A digital twin for horizontal utility infrastructure starts with a realistic and robust 3D model. T2 Utility Engineers can provide these models for incorporation into digital twins.
The surveying of above and below ground utility elements or markings.
Major SUE activities are:
SUE provides benefit across the project lifecycle. Proper use of this cost-effective professional engineering service will mitigate many of the utility problems typically encountered on projects, including:
Utility maps show the location, position, depth, and identification of the infrastructure, such as pipes, cables, lines, typically referring to buried or underground utility mapping. Because these utilities are not visible, they create significant risks to construction. As a result, engineering standards and best practices have been developed to improve the reliability of information. T2 Utility Engineers conduct utility investigations recommending the appropriate Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) tools and techniques to identify, designate and locate utilities so project designers have the information to reduce utility-related risks.
A utility report is a professionally sealed deliverable, meaning a licensed PE or PLS reviews and approves it, that:
Professionally sealed deliverables mean the information has been reviewed and is approved by a qualified and licensed professional engineer or surveyor who is in good standing with the licensing requirements of the specific state. To be professionally registered, the person must meet the education, experience requirements set by the State Board. There are legal obligations related to the requirement.
By providing horizontal and vertical utility location information, conflict analysis and resolution, and professional utility insight, T2ue services add value by reducing risk through all phases of project design and construction. T2ue provides Subsurface Utility Engineering, utility coordination, and surveying consulting services for project owners or developers.
The Utility Coordinator is the person(s) on a project team who acts as the liaison between the project owner, project designer, and the utility owners for the project. The responsibilities can vary greatly depending on the project and the scope, but include;
A Utility conflict matrix is the document that identifies the relevant information about all of the utilities that have been identified within the project footprint. The document serves as a tool to track the status of the utilities in relation to the design, including; no conflict, potential conflict, conflict, owner, utility type, size, location, assessment, relocation required, actions, resolution.
Utility conflict analysis is the process of evaluating and understanding the nature and requirements of each utility or structure within the project footprint in order to recommend a solution. A conflict matrix is typically used to evaluate and compare depicted designating information with proposed project plans to inform stakeholders of potential conflicts, potential resolutions, costs related to the various options, and the status of each utility.
We frequently consult on projects where the goal is to locate all kinds of underground structures, utilities or otherwise. We usually employ advanced geophysical techniques, including Ground Penetrating Radar and Multi-Channel Ground Penetrating Radar to perform this type of work. These scanning tools allow us to collect data across the entire project area in an efficient and detailed manner. Once the data is collected it is processed and interpreted back in the office to generate a comprehensive image of the subsurface environment.
Many times our efforts prove essential as we have located unexpected subsurface anomalies like protruding basements, concrete footings, abandoned infrastructure, train tracks, and more. All of these have the potential to cause major disruption. By utilizing our expertise and cutting-edge technology we are able to help identify these hazards before construction, saving clients time and money.
At T2ue we have a variety of techniques at our disposal to document the dimensions of underground chambers when confined space entry isn’t possible. In most cases we employ advanced 3D laser scanning or 360 photographic documentation tools to model the interior space. These highly accurate tools allow the manhole’s perimeter to be georeferenced into the existing plans or utility drawings.
With this information the full extent of the chamber can be factored into planning and any horizontal or vertical conflicts can be identified prior to construction. This allows work to proceed with fewer unknowns and greater confidence in what are usually very congested utility environments.