05/27/2026
Knowing what’s underground can prevent surprises during excavation.
Calling 811 helps identify the location of public utilities, however encountering private utilities during excavation can also cause serious injury and damage. Underground private utilities, abandoned infrastructure, and undocumented improvements may not appear on existing records and that's where Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) becomes critical.
Technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), electromagnetic locating, and radio frequency are used by utility engineers to identify and map underground utilities before excavation starts. This information helps project teams better plan construction activities, avoid conflicts, and reduce the risk of utility strikes, delays, and unexpected costs.
Learn more in our latest Geophysics Series: https://sciengineering.com/what-is-sue/