Mitigating Infrastructure Project Risks With SUE: The Need for Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)

As our cities continue to grow, budget and timeline overruns in infrastructure projects continue to make headlines globally. A significant factor contributing to these setbacks is the discovery of unknown utilities underground, which forces redesign work and planning modifications that can blow out timelines and budgets. 

Reveal is dedicated to education and the adoption of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) practices for all infrastructure projects to mitigate risk, reduce wasteful spending, and ensure safer working environments for all. 

On major infrastructure projects, a common practice for contractors is to allocate a contingency percentage from 10% to 30% of the total project construction budget for dealing with unforeseen issues related to utilities; this can fluctuate depending on the size and scope of a project. By proactively engaging in SUE practices, the risk of requiring the contingency budget is greatly reduced.  

Slowly, the infrastructure industry is waking up to the need for SUE and utility locating to ensure projects run with less wasteful spending, overrun, and utility-related accidents. However, there are still numerous cases where SUE has not been mandated as part of a contract causing a detrimental impact. A recent case was reported in 2022 at the Creative Construction Conference involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Savannah District, that is a perfect illustration of the importance of SUE. 

The resulting devastation from a gas pipe utility strike

Case Study: Utilities Cause Chaos For The US Army Corps Of Engineers, Savannah District

In 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District embarked on designing the future Cyber Center of Excellence campus. The project involved the construction of four new buildings, ranging in size from 235,000 sq. ft to 139,000 sq. ft., over an eight-year timeline. Remarkably, subsurface utility engineering (SUE) was not mandated, a decision that would prove to have profound implications. 

The US$96 million construction contract for the first building was awarded in June 2020. However, progress was stopped by unforeseen site conditions—abandoned steam lines conflicting with the building's foundations. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to confirm the extent of the obstruction, leading to a US$872,843 contract change and an additional 63 days in construction duration. The building's foundations were not completed until one year after initial commencement.  

During construction of the second facility, a challenge arose during excavation when existing hot water piping and an electrical power duct bank were not as per the design drawing, incurring a US$30,708 cost. Later, the project was stalled again, as it required the redesign and relocation of a storm drain and detention pond due to an inaccurately located telecommunications duct. Not acting on past experiences, the use of GPR to confirm the actual location of the assets wasn’t conducted until four months after initial discovery, costing another US$280,000 in redesign. 

The SUE Advantage: A Global Solution 

This case study is not unique, reflecting a global issue. Infrastructure projects worldwide consistently contend with unforeseen utility conflicts, resulting in significant financial losses and time overruns. The US alone spends a staggering US$117 billion on project rework, highlighting the urgency for a global shift in approach. 

Had SUE been implemented during design development, the project could have saved over $1 million and several months of construction time. This is without considering the indirect costs of disruption to the military base and surrounding areas throughout this time. Unfortunately, this case is not isolated – numerous projects globally have faced similar challenges. Many variables can adversely impact a project’s cost and progress during construction. SUE can reduce, if not eliminate the underground utility environment, from being one of those variables. 

Conclusion: A Call to Action for the Adoption of SUE 

The Savannah District's experience underscores the tangible benefits of incorporating Subsurface Utility Engineering into project planning and design globally. By investing in SUE, stakeholders can identify and mitigate potential conflicts before construction commences, saving valuable time and resources. It's time policymakers enforced the adoption of SUE to ensure the success and efficiency of infrastructure projects, reducing wasteful spending.  

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