Hi Jim, Thank you for your insightful response! I agree that, "
It might be necessary to split them (tasks) out to different persons under someone's (Project Manager's?) control." When you have time, would you mind assigning the tasks you listed to the discipline you believe should be assigned the task? For instance, "Obtaining and reviewing easements, temp and permanent" might be assigned to a Right-of-Way Agent. It's my understanding that the
Utility Coordinator would be responsible for
coordinating the listed tasks, ensuring they are scheduled and completed in a timely manner so as to ensure project timely conclusion, but I'm not sure the Coordinator should actually do the task. I'm also not sure the job title should be changed but agree that the function should be defined. Perhaps a grade level should be established listing the functions Entry Level, Junior, Mid-range and Senior Utility Coordinators must be able to achieve would serve the position well?
I agree that, "
Utility Coordinators is a recognized term, and is not as highly paid as other technologist positions", but I'm not sure that it's a reason for a name change. Again, I agree that "If you want to be worth more money, you need to be able to do more", but I would add that you also need to know more but not necessarily scholastically more but experience as well. I believe that it's much more valuable for a project team to include a person whose knowledge includes 'who to call', (a direct line to the correct person at a company/agency), not simply the knowledge that someone from that company/agency must be contacted. Much time can be wasted connected to switchboards (automated today) and websites trying to connect with/contact the right person.Does a Utility Coordinator need to be a PE, or does a PE want to become a Utility Coordinator? They are actually different positions and must be treated differently. While a PE may be able to function as a Utility Coordinator, they may not have the available utility-related and knowledge resources an experienced Utility Coordinator has. Similarly, a Utility Coordinator may be able to perform some Engineering tasks, even teaching Engineers valuable utility-related facts, however, a Utility Coordinator will never be able to act as the project team's PE.
We all wish you the best, Jim. Thank you for all you do!!
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Al Field, Aff.M.ASCE
President
Al Field & Associates
Phoenix, AZ
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-30-2020 13:07
From: James Anspach
Subject: What is Utility Coordination?
Here's a few tasks; I'm sure it's not a complete list. Some are clerical; some are technologist level, and some are professional level (PE/PLS). It might be necessary to split them out to different persons under someone's control. If you want to be worth more money, you need to be able to do more….. "Utility Coordinators" is a recognized term, and is not as highly paid as other technologist positions, so that's one reason for a potential change in name. UESI / ASCE will be moving forward with a national credentialing program to attempt to raise the bar, get consistency, and raise the perceived value of the services.
Utility relocation cost estimates, iterated throughout the project
Conflict identification
Timelines and schedules
Meetings
Easement requirements
Obtaining and reviewing easements, temp and permanent
Relocation routing concepts
Relocation routing design
Protect-in-place design
Policy exception persuasion statements
Redesign element suggestions
Redesign element schematics
Review of plans and estimates
Approval of plans and estimates
Prior rights investigations
Cost justifications undergrounding versus overhead
Develop agreements
Geotechnical and environmental issue recommendations
Joint use agreements
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James H. Anspach, PG, Dist.M.ASCE
Senior Technical Principal, T2UE
UESI President 2018
Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2019 10:09
From: Al Field
Subject: What is Utility Coordination?
Various entities have their own description and understanding of what Utility Coordination includes. This leads to confusion between agencies and designers/consultants/contractors about the details.
We at the UESI are interested in clarifying the issue and developing a universally accepted description/definition/scope of what agencies expect when they specify Utility Coordination for their projects. What does your expectation include?
Thank You!
Al Field
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