Utility Locating

Underground utilities are among the most common sources of unexpected cost, schedule disruption, and safety risk on infrastructure projects. A utility strike can cause injuries, service interruptions, redesigns, damaged equipment, construction delays, and significant unplanned expense.

GUY Engineering provides Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), Subsurface Utility Mapping (SUM), and utility locating services that help project owners, designers, and contractors identify underground infrastructure before it becomes a problem. Our team delivers accurate, usable utility data to support safer decisions from survey and design through construction. GUY has provided utility locating services for transportation, municipal, federal, healthcare, education, and private-development projects. GUY has supported utility investigations across all eight ODOT districts and brings more than 30 years of experience working within ODOT processes.

Know What Is Below Before You Build

Utility locating creates value throughout the project lifecycle:

• Survey: Develop reliable utility mapping and as-built information that can be used throughout the project instead of repeating utility-location efforts.
• Design: Give engineers and designers dependable information to identify conflicts early, reduce redesign, and avoid unnecessary relocations.
• Preconstruction & Construction: Protect workers, equipment, existing services, and project schedules by reducing the risk of utility strikes.

Industry studies show that every $1 invested in quality SUE can save $11.39 in total project costs by identifying utility conflicts before construction.

Utility Locating Services Include

SUE Quality Levels A–D

GUY provides all four SUE quality levels in accordance with current ASCE guidelines. The appropriate level depends on the project’s phase, complexity, and need for certainty.

• Quality Level D: Review of available utility records and existing information.
• Quality Level C: Correlation of utility records with visible surface features, such as valves, manholes, poles, and pedestals.
• Quality Level B: Field detection and mapping of utilities using geophysical methods, including electromagnetic locating and GPR.
• Quality Level A: Precise utility verification through non-destructive test-hole investigation performed by qualified specialty subcontractors. GUY surveys and maps the exposed utilities to document their horizontal and vertical location, depth, size, material, and other critical details.

Advanced Tools. Verified Results.

GUY uses advanced locating and mapping technology, including GPR, RD8000 utility locators, Pipehorn equipment, duct tracing equipment, and survey-grade GPS. Our team applies a multi-method verification process, combining field observations, electromagnetic detection, GPR, available records, and independent review to increase confidence in the final utility data.

A More Confident Path to Construction

With offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Houston, GUY can respond quickly and support projects throughout Oklahoma and beyond. Our in-house survey, utility coordination, roadway, bridge, drainage, and right-of-way capabilities allow us to integrate utility data into the broader project-development process, helping clients identify conflicts early and keep projects moving.

GUY helps you see below the surface, reduce uncertainty, and build with confidence.