Over
the decades, highway designers and other civil engineers have had a difficult time obtaining
reliable underground utility information.
Now this information is available through the use of an
engineering process called Subsurface Utility Engineering
(SUE).
SUE
incorporates new and existing technologies to accurately identify,
characterize and map underground utility facilities during the
early development of a project.
This information is very important as it allows
designers to make minor plan changes that avoid unnecessary
utility relocations, eliminate unexpected conflicts with utilities
and enhance safety during the construction stage.
Four major activities are involved: