Why is Underground Utility Mapping Important?
Underground utility mapping is important, period. It is critical because an accurate location map that precisely outlines existing underground utilities is required in the planning and installation of new utilities, as well as when access to existing assets for repairs or improvements is required.
Missing accurate maps can have critical consequences. Not only can it cause disruption to utility services, many times it can be fatal and catastrophic.
What is Underground Utility Mapping?
Underground utility mapping is the process of identifying the location of buried utilities. These underground assets may include lines of various types, such as telecommunication, electricity, natural gas, and water. In cities, it gets even more complicated, as utilities compete for space underground with things such as subways, rail, and road tunnels.
The detection of utilities is a complex but very necessary domain. It combines multiple fields of expertise, mainly geophysics and geomatics. Modern surveying equipment has evolved over the years, and now, it is even possible to map utilities without turning the lines off. That is, of course, provided you have the right tools.
At the end of this process is a nice utility map, which shows the positioning and identification of all buried pipes and cables beneath the ground. This utility map can be used by work crews whenever they have to service a utility line or install new underground assets, whatever it may be.
Why is Underground Utility Mapping Important?
Underground utility mapping is important for primarily two reasons: preventing damage and preventing unnecessary costs.
Utility Mapping Prevents Damage
If you are breaking ground for any reason, you must be aware of the buried utilities underneath. Otherwise, you can cause many problems such as damaging other utility lines and causing accidents that can harm your equipment as well as your crew. Not to mention, with trenchless technology nowadays, there is a risk of not even knowing that you’ve damaged another utility line. The prime example is cross boring, in which an underground asset installed via trenchless technology penetrates another, creating a dangerous intersection that can be a ticking time bomb of a hazard.
Utility Mapping Prevents Unnecessary Costs
Whenever work needs to be completed on a utility line, contractors rely on utility maps to know where they need to start digging. So, if the as-built maps are inaccurate, that is additional work and cost in order to figure out where the utilities are. You might be looking to do service on a gas line, and dig into the spot where the map says it should be, and if it isn’t, you may find yourself digging a very large crater just to locate the line.
According to Common Ground Alliance’s 2019 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT), estimated damages to underground assets in the US were up 4.5% year-over-year in 2019. As our infrastructure is getting older and requires rehauling, more work will have to be done underground in the coming years. So always remember to check for accurate utility mapping before going into the field.