News and Information

What is Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)?
Subsurface Utility Engineering, or SUE, is a branch of engineering practice that involves managing certain risks associated with utility mapping at appropriate quality levels, utility coordination, utility relocation design and coordination, utility condition assessment, communication of utility data to concerned parties, utility relocation cost estimates, implementation of utility accommodation policies, and utility design.

Who is Qualified to Provide SUE? According to the Federal Highway Administration, SUE expertise should be evaluated on the basis of competence, experience, equipment, timeliness, financial capacity and insurability. What are the Costs of SUE? According to industry sources, the costs of obtaining designating throughout a project site and locating at sufficient locations to identify critical utility conflicts are about 1% of a typical highway and construction budget or about 10% of a typical highway design budget. Costs in urban areas are greater than in rural areas.

What Are the Benefits of SUE? Reduction in unforeseen utility conflicts and relocations Reduction in delays due to utility cuts Reduction in project delays due to utility relocates Reduction in claims and change orders Improvement in contractor productivity and quality Reduction in utility companies' cost to repair damaged facilities Increased efficiency of surveying activities by elimination of duplicate surveys Inducement of savings in risk management and insurance

For more information please visit:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/sueindex.cfm

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/design/sue/suebrochure.cfm