Since around 1987, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been promoting the use of subsurface utility engineering (SUE) as an effective process to limit risk and potential cost overruns on highway and roadway projects.  SUE is the process of depicting existing subsurface utilities at specific quality levels by using existing utility record information, geophysical utility locating equipment and expertise, surveying, and exercising professional review and judgement.  The utility field collection process involves utilization of above-ground utility features such as hydrants, telephone pedestals, pole drops, valves, etc. to not only provide evidence of the existence of subsurface utilities, but to accurately identify and designate those utilities using direct-connection.  Even though the name implies subsurface, practitioners recognize that utility systems are complex networks above and below ground, and not isolated objects buried underground.

Since SUE seeks to depict accurate models of utility networks, the depictions require an understanding of both buried and above-ground utilities that comprise the utility network.  Some state DOT’s understood the significance of these utility networks and started requiring above-ground utility pole inventories, aerial wires and/or structures, to be included with the existing utility designating deliverables.

Luckily, the committee responsible for updating the ASCE 38 standard understood the importance of overhead utilities and is now including Utility Investigation for Overhead Utilities.  This is even reflective in the new title of ASCE 38 as the Standard Guideline for Investigating and Documenting Existing Utilities is all inclusive and even the definition of SUE now includes …scoped aspects of above-ground networks.  The importance of including above-ground utilities on designating plans as well as utility pole inventories may be one of the most significant contributions to the updated ASCE 38 standard and we are glad to see it’s no longer buried!