Cost and Time Benefits for Using Subsurface Utility Engineering in Louisiana

As an increasing number of utilities are installed below ground in urban areas, it is vital to identify the location of utilities prior to construction. The discovery of unforeseen underground utility lines during construction can not only lead to catastrophic damages, but also affect project costs and schedules. Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) has emerged as a means to reduce unexpected utility conflicts. SUE is an engineering process that utilizes data processing and site characterization technologies to accurately locate and depict underground utilities in the preliminary stages of a project. This research focuses on the potential benefits of SUE services in Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) projects. Actual costs were used to determine the benefits of SUE, hence only projects that used SUE services after encountering utility conflicts during construction were evaluated. A cost savings of $2.73 for every $1 spent on SUE was realized. This research also examined the effectiveness of SUE services on project cost and time and determined what type of projects would benefit the most from SUE. The results indicated that SUE is most applicable to larger, complex projects costing at least $3 million.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 47p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01835287
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/LA.17/644, LTRC Project Number: 15-2SS; SIO Number: DOTLT1000
  • Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Feb 7 2022 9:41AM