Horizontal/Subsurface Infrastructure & Transportation

Many people are not aware that, "Utility Engineering is a branch of Civil Engineering that focuses on the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and asset management of any and all utility systems, as well as the interaction between utility infrastructure and other civil infrastructure." If you are interested in Civil Engineering from a utility perspective, ASCE's Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute is the place to get your current information. If you are not involved in an Institute, the UESI is the place to learn about utilities and how they affect your projects. 
http://www.asce.org/utility-engineering-and-surveying/utility-engineering-and-surveying-institute/

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[Al] [Field] Aff.M.ASCE
[President]
[Al Field & Associates]
[Phoenix] [AZ]
[602-616-3618]
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Thanks, Al. And for those who haven't met Al, he is a thought leader on the subject of utility location and coordination. Even with the prevalence of Blue Stake laws and improving GIS tools, getting accurate, timely information about existing utilities is a challenge more often than it should be for effective design and construction. 

Add to that the trend to pass this responsibility by contract to someone else in the delivery process--often ineffectively--and we have a recipe for delays, disputes, and unnecessary disruption of the construction process. There is a better way, by educating owners/developers and AHJs about the benefits of underground utility engineering and surveying studies and coordination.

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P. Douglas Folk
MEMBER
Clark Hill PLC
Scottsdale AZ
dfolk@...
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​For those interested in the utility mapping aspect of Utility Engineering, there is the ASCE Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data (38-02) that is the reference document on this subject.  The committee is currently developing an update to that guideline and are working through the committee balloting procedures.  The update will provide further clarifications and commentary on the application of the guideline at it relates to Quality Levels, Engineering and Owner responsibilities, along with the associated geophysics and other associated topics.

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Kevin Nichols P.E., M.ASCE
Sr. Project Manager
CH2M (Jacobs Engineering)
Bellevue, WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2018 12:11
From: P. Folk
Subject: Utility Engineering

Thanks, Al. And for those who haven't met Al, he is a thought leader on the subject of utility location and coordination. Even with the prevalence of Blue Stake laws and improving GIS tools, getting accurate, timely information about existing utilities is a challenge more often than it should be for effective design and construction.

Add to that the trend to pass this responsibility by contract to someone else in the delivery process--often ineffectively--and we have a recipe for delays, disputes, and unnecessary disruption of the construction process. There is a better way, by educating owners/developers and AHJs about the benefits of underground utility engineering and surveying studies and coordination.

------------------------------
P. Douglas Folk
MEMBER
Clark Hill PLC
Scottsdale AZ
dfolk@...
------------------------------

------Original Message------

​For those interested in the utility mapping aspect of Utility Engineering, there is the ASCE Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data (38-02) that is the reference document on this subject.  The committee is currently developing an update to that guideline and are working through the committee balloting procedures.  The update will provide further clarifications and commentary on the application of the guideline at it relates to Quality Levels, Engineering and Owner responsibilities, along with the associated geophysics and other associated topics.

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Kevin Nichols P.E., M.ASCE
Sr. Project Manager
CH2M (Jacobs Engineering)
Bellevue, WA
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​Many utility drawings are essentially staking sheets referencing standard details "asbuilts" are accurate electrically.  Physical aspects are adjusted to actual conditions.  More and more of this work is being done by designers and non engineers as utilities cut cost so drawings are being overlaid on Google Earth reference files.  Larger utilities who can provide staking and surveying drawings are tied to state planes coordinates.

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Mark Flott P.E., M.ASCE

Papillion NE
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Thank you, Al for posting this valuable information.  Good to hear from you!

Initially, I did not see a utility discussion here, so I started a new  Utility community thread.  Here is the link:

Utility Coordination and Utility Management - American Society of Civil Engineers

Asce		remove preview
Utility Coordination and Utility Management - American Society of Civil Engineers View this on Asce >

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Debra Wiedenhoeft P.E., M.ASCE
Parker CO
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Hi Deb, I suggest you get involved with the ASCE UESI!! We are in Phoenix meeting with CGA discussing utility issues from many perspectives. We just finished discussing the recent Colorado legislation regarding 8-1-1. We'd welcome your expertise!!

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[Al] [Field] Aff.M.ASCE
[President]
[Al Field & Associates]
[Phoenix] [AZ]
[602-616-3618]
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-26-2018 13:46
From: Debra Wiedenhoeft
Subject: Utility Engineering

Thank you, Al for posting this valuable information.  Good to hear from you!

Initially, I did not see a utility discussion here, so I started a new  Utility community thread.  Here is the link:

Utility Coordination and Utility Management - American Society of Civil Engineers

Asce		remove preview
Utility Coordination and Utility Management - American Society of Civil Engineers View this on Asce >

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Debra Wiedenhoeft P.E., M.ASCE
Parker CO
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