Recent Studies Document Cost Savings

Recent research performed by the Virginia Department of Transportation reported a cost savings of $7 for every $1 spent on Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE). Additionally, the Society of American Value Engineers showed a $10 to $1 return, and the Maryland Department of Transportation showed savings of $18 to every $1 spent. Overall, utilizing SUE techniques can not only save money, time, and headaches, but it can also provide some peace of mind during the design and construction phases.

Today, engineering and construction professionals across the nation are recognizing and implementing SUE. SUE utilizes non-destructive technology and equipment in order to locate underground utilities and help control the risks associated with non-documented utilities.

While traditional methods take a “wait and see” approach, SUE takes a more proactive approach, identifying utility conflicts that could potentially hold up a project during the construction phase. By identifying conflicts prior to construction, damaged utilities and infrastructures are less likely; therefore significant cost savings can be recognized.

Benefits of SUE technology:

• Reduction in project delays due to utility relocates
• Reduction in claims and change orders
• Reduction in project contingency fees        
• Minimization of utility customers’ loss of service
• Fewer re-designs
• Fewer construction delays

While these are only a few benefits of SUE, they all have a common theme; they can save substantial amounts of money and time by reducing the risk associated with traditional methods of subsurface utility locating.

“The simple conclusion of this study is that Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is a viable technologic practice that reduces project costs related to the risks associated with existing subsurface utilities and, when used in a systematic manner, will result in significant quantifiable and qualitative benefits.”

Did you know?

Mid-Atlantic recently added an RD-500 to its family of utility locating instruments. The RD-500 is used to locate plastic water lines that cannot be detected by traditional means of utility locating due to their non-conductivity.

The equipment can be hooked up at any fire hydrant or water supply piping and then uses low frequencies to pick up pressure waves carried by fluid in the pipe. The pressure wave can be located over distances of up to 500 feet.

This new tool, in conjunction with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can be an extremely effective way to locate plastic water lines and other non-conductive underground utilities.