Subsurface Utility Engineering (S.U.E) is an engineering discipline that provides accurate mapping of existing underground utilities during the project design process to avoid costly utility conflicts or construction delays.  After S.U.E. is performed and the job engineered, we are able to advise the client of potential impacts on existing subsurface utilities.  Studies have shown a large return on investment by utilizing the principles of subsurface utility engineering throughout the initial development of all types of projects – both money and time are saved.  Members of Draper Aden Associates’ team have been performing S.U.E. since the early 1990s.

Draper Aden Associates’ S.U.E. team has skilled surveyors, engineers, and technicians who are trained in all aspects of collection and depiction of underground utilities.  Our team performs all research, field surveys, testing, data management, and final CAD preparations.  Members of our team have experience with Departments of Transportation, one-call systems, municipalities, and numerous utility companies and consulting firms throughout the eastern United States.

Draper Aden Associates also provides ground penetrating radar (GPR) - a nondestructive geophysical method that produces a continuous cross-sectional profile or record of subsurface features, without drilling, probing, or digging.  GPR profiles are used for evaluating the location and depth of non-metallic, metallic pipes and underground storage tanks, buried objects and to investigate the presence and continuity of natural subsurface conditions and features.  GPR is used where standard locating technology cannot be provided.

Combining geophysical sensing equipment, surveying and civil engineering, subsurface utility engineering involves the following major services:

• Underground utility locating, designating, and mapping – Determining the existence and horizontal and vertical position of underground utilities.  Precisely locating underground utilities helps plan for proper protection, eliminate potential damage to underground facilities during construction and avoid unnecessary relocations.   
• Residential/light commercial septic fields, wells, and UST detection and mapping -Techniques include terrain conductivity, magnets, radio frequency, electromagnets, and non-destructive excavation.
• Contamination detection and mapping – Utility trenches provide preferential migration paths for contaminants, tremendous benefit to DOT’s environmental division.
• Data management - Surveying utility information is entered into the computer-aided design (CAD) system, which allows us to examine project options and plan ahead to eliminate utility conflicts.