News

By Andrew Clark, SAM, LLC

As Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) professionals, we rely on field markings as a primary means of communicating subsurface utility information to designers, surveyors, utility coordinators, contractors, and other project stakeholders. Paint markings are often the most visible—and sometimes the most misunderstood—deliverable we provide in the field. Because of that visibility, the choices we make regarding paint color and marking practices matter more than we sometimes realize.

Across the industry, there is no single, consistent approach to how SUE utilities are marked in the field. Some SUE providers use APWA color-coded paint exclusively, others use a combination of pink paint with color-coded identifiers, and some use pink paint only. Based on my experience, I strongly believe that pink paint is a must when performing SUE investigations. Pink clearly communicates that the markings are not utility owner responses to a one-call (811) request, and that distinction is critical.

A SUE provider is marking utilities for design and planning purposes, not for excavation clearance. There should be no misunderstanding between SUE markings and utility owner markings, yet in practice, confusion happens frequently.

Where Confusion Occurs—and Why It Matters

SUE markings are seen by far more people than just the design team. Surveyors, utility owners, contractors, inspectors, project stakeholders visiting the site, and even the general public encounter these markings. When SUE paint closely resembles 811 markings, it is easy for observers to assume the markings represent utility owner locates—even when that was never the intent.

I have seen this confusion create real issues in the field. In one case, a utility owner did not respond to a one-call request because they believed someone else from their organization had already marked the site—those markings were actually placed by a SUE provider using color-coded paint only. In another instance, a surveyor did not collect SUE markings because they assumed the paint represented standard one-call locates. Neither situation involved negligence; both were the result of understandable assumptions driven by how the markings looked.

These scenarios highlight an important point: paint is a communication tool, and if that communication is unclear, the risk extends well beyond the SUE team.

What Paint Can—and Cannot—Communicate

Paint markings are extremely effective for visualization. They help show that an area has been evaluated beyond a basic one-call response and that additional investigation has occurred. However, paint alone should never be interpreted as representing precise horizontal accuracy, vertical accuracy, utility size, or material. It does not—and should not—convey that level of certainty. Attribute information such as these should be documented, reviewed, and relied upon through formal SUE deliverables—not interpreted from paint in the field.

When paint markings are misunderstood or over-relied upon, they can create false confidence, misinform design decisions, and introduce unnecessary risk into a project. This is especially true when SUE markings are visually indistinguishable from utility owner locates.

Recognizing these limitations underscores the importance of adopting consistent field marking practices that clearly communicate intent without overstating certainty.

Best Practices to Protect the Integrity of SUE Markings

In my opinion, SUE providers should adopt a consistent, intentional field marking process that protects the integrity and intent of the work. A best-practice approach includes:

• Pink paint as the primary marking color to clearly identify SUE work
• Optional color-coded dots or identifiers to supplement (not replace) pink markings
• Use of line identifiers or labeling for quality control and internal verification
• A standardized field process applied consistently across projects and crews

This approach balances clarity for external stakeholders with the internal needs of the SUE team, while reducing the likelihood that markings are misinterpreted as one-call responses.

Standards, Education, and the Path Forward

ASCE 38-22 provides an important framework for SUE, but it is intentionally a general guideline and does not currently address paint color practices in detail. While future revisions of the standard may offer more clarity, the issue today is less about regulation and more about education and professional best practices.

As SUE professionals, we should be proactive in how we communicate our work in the field. Clear, intentional marking practices help protect our data, reduce confusion, and support better outcomes for designers, utility owners, and construction teams alike.

Paint color may seem like a small detail, but in practice, it plays a significant role in how our work is perceived and used. By standardizing our approach and being deliberate in how we mark utilities, we can improve understanding, reduce risk, and strengthen the overall value of SUE on our projects.

APWA / CGA Utility Marking Color Code

Color   Utility Type

Red                 Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables

Yellow             Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or gaseous materials

Orange            Communication, alarm, signal lines, cables, or conduit

Blue                Potable water

Green              Sewer and drain lines

Purple             Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines

Pink                 Temporary survey markings (commonly used by survey and SUE providers)

White              Proposed excavation limits or pre-marking

The Federal Highway Administration announced on February 24 it is implementing an “Every Day Counts” (EDC) initiative promoting the use of subsurface utility engineering (SUE) by state departments of transportation.  “Every Day Counts” is a  State-based model that identifies and deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations - saving time, money and resources that can be used to deliver more projects. Included in the recently released 8^th list of innovations is Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE). EDC began in the first Trump Administration, was continued in the Biden Administration, and has been resumed in the second Trump term. While not binding on state agencies, EDC help promote best practices and encourages agency implementation. Click here for the news release announcing the current initiatives.

“Enhancing acceptance of SUE in the marketplace was one of the founding objectives of the SUE Association. This recognition of SUE is the direct result of advocacy by our association and our strong liaison with the Federal Highway Administration. We commend FHwA for this initiative and look forward to working with the FHwA staff on its implementation in the state departments of transportation,” said SUEA Executive Director John Palatiello.

By Lawrence Arcand, P.Eng, PE, 4Sight Utility Engineers

Ask any project owner, designer, or contractor what keeps them up at night, and utilities will be near the top of the list. Unknown utilities, incomplete records, unexpected conflicts, and last-minute relocations remain leading causes of schedule delays, change orders, and cost overruns on infrastructure projects. There have been decades [LA1] [NP2] [NP3] of advancements in SUE, data standards, and coordination practices, yet despite this, utilities remain one of the most misunderstood and overlooked elements of project delivery.

This persistent challenge has created an emerging need across North America: the Project Utility Engineer (PUE). The PUE is a specialized Professional Engineer responsible for4Sight Utility Engineers managing all aspects of existing utility infrastructure throughout the project lifecycle—from early planning to final construction. As projects become more complex and urban corridors more congested, the role of the PUE has become essential to ensuring safe, predictable, and cost-effective project execution.

Why Every Project Should Have a Project Utility Engineer

Utility conflicts consistently rank among the top contributors to schedule slippage and change orders. A dedicated PUE provides clear value by:

Reducing Risk - The PUE identifies and evaluates risks associated with existing utilities,including unknowns, inaccurate records, aging systems, and potential construction impacts such as vibration or loading. Early identification prevents surprises during construction.

Improving Cost and Schedule Certainty - Unplanned utility relocations or protection strategies often lead to redesigns and project delays. The PUE develops early mitigation strategies to avoid or minimize utility conflicts, keeping costs and schedules on track.

Ensuring Technical Consistency - Infrastructure designs involve multiple disciplines— roadway, drainage, structural, traffic, and more. The PUE integrates utility information across all disciplines, ensuring conflicts are identified and resolved before construction.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure - A single damaged gas main, fiber line, or water transmission pipe can cause widespread outages. The PUE ensures designs and construction methods protect existing systems and minimize service interruptions.

Navigating Permitting and Compliance - Utilities are governed by complex environmental requirements, prior-rights agreements, and specialized permits. The PUE ensures that the project complies with local, provincial, federal as well as utility specific requirements.

What does a Project Utility Engineer Do on your project?

The Project Utility Engineer leads all utility-related activities on a project, including:

• Planning and scoping of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) investigations, in accordance with ASCE 38 Standard

• Coordinating field investigations including the use of geophysical methods, vacuum excavation, and survey tasks

• Identifying and evaluating utility conflicts

• Developing strategies for avoidance, protection, relocation, or system modifications

• Integrating utility information into project design disciplines

• Managing utility owner coordination, agreements, and permits

• Reviewing utility construction staging, tie-ins, and service continuity plans

• Ensuring compliance with utility accommodation policies and environmental requirements

• Overseeing utility-related risk management practices

• Managing utility asset data and as-built deliverables

A PUE is the single point of accountability for integrating utility information with both design intent and construction reality.

What a Project Utility Engineer Needs to Know

ASCE-Utility Engineering Survey Institute has identified 6 primary domains of knowledge that a PUE should possess in order to fulfill their role:

1. Utility Risk Management - The PUE identifies risks related to location, age, material, pressure, and clearance requirements of existing utilities. They assess construction methods and evaluate how staging, loads, vibration, and excavation might affect buried infrastructure. They also develop mitigation strategies, such as conducting a Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) investigation, to identify and minimize risks early. These risks can then be addressed during the design phase, ensuring they are properly managed before construction begins.
2. Utility Investigation & Documentation - Project Utility Engineers ensure accurate identification and mapping of utilities through records research, electromagnetic locating,GPR, sondes, vacuum excavation, and engineering survey. They prepare Utility Engineering Reports, assign ASCE 38 Quality Levels, and communicate data limitations that may influence design decisions.
3. Utility Systems Knowledge - A PUE possesses a deep understanding of water, wastewater, stormwater, gas, electric, communications, district energy, and fuel systems.This includes materials, pressures, appurtenances, joint types, design constraints, and potential failure risks—knowledge essential for predicting conflicts and selecting mitigation strategies.
4. Utility Coordination - Effective utility coordination requires understanding of accommodation policies, prior-rights rules, cost sharing, environmental and utility-specific permits, and stakeholder engagement. The PUE leads conflict evaluation, prepares utility conflict matrices and composite utility plans, and develops solutions that are feasible, constructible, and acceptable to all parties. They are experts? master’s in communication, collaboration and cooperation among all project stakeholders.
5. Project Utility Asset Management - As ASCE 75 establishes new expectations for utility data, the PUE supports utility geodatabases, data standards, data exchanges, and documentation processes that enhances the long-term value of utility information for owners and stakeholders.
6. Utility Construction - The PUE has a thorough understanding of open cut, HDD, jack and bore, and other trenchless construction techniques, along with cut-over strategies, shutdown constraints, testing, commissioning, and environmental compliance. This expertise ensures design decisions are constructible and compatible with utility owner requirements.

   UESI Board Certification – Raising the Standard for the Profession

   The Board-Certified Project Utility Engineer (BC.PUE) designation is being developed by Civil Engineering Certification (CEC) and the Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI) under the American Society of Civil Engineers. Expected to be rolled out in 2026, it establishes a rigorous professional standard for the discipline.

   Certification demonstrates:

   • Mastery of the PUE Body of Knowledge, including the six domains explained above.
   • Advanced expertise related to utilities, beyond typical basic licensing expectations
   • Significant professional experience and contributions to the field
   • Commitment to ethics and continuing education
   • Competency evaluated through a comprehensive written exam

   As infrastructure projects become more complex and the need for utility expertise grows, board certification provides owners, agencies, and the public with confidence that utility risks are being managed by a qualified specialist. The expectations are that the first Board Certified PUE’s will be announced in 2026, and we expect that with adoption from the profession the value and number of BC PUE’s will grow over the coming years.

   Next Steps

   Almost every infrastructure project touches utilities, and many of the major project delays involve them. For far too long, utilities have been treated as peripheral issues handled by the generalist project manager, rather than as central engineering challenges managed by a specialist. The Project Utility Engineer changes that. By bringing specialized utility expertise into the project team—early and consistently—owners can reduce risk, improve cost certainty, and deliver safer, more efficient infrastructure.

   The case is clear: if you want to control one of the most unpredictable elements of project delivery, your project needs a Project Utility Engineer.

   
   

   

   About the Author

   Lawrence Arcand, P.Eng, PE is the founder and President of 4Sight Utility Engineers in Whitby, Ontario, and a recognized thought leader in Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE). With over 25 years experience as a Project Utility Engineer on infrastructure projects throughout North America, Lawrence brings unmatched expertise to the field. He currently serves as the committee lead working with the Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI) on the development of the Board-Certified PUE certification, helping establish a rigorous professional standard for the discipline.

   About 4Sight Utility Engineers

   4Sight Utility Engineers is Canada’s leading authority in Utility Engineering, Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), and Utility Coordination. We don’t just support infrastructure projects; we help shape smarter decisions from the very start. As an employee-owned, specialized consulting firm, our team brings decades of hands-on experience delivering clarity where uncertainty poses the greatest risk.

   Learn more: https://4sightue.com/

   
   

By Steven M. Rienks, P.E., PMP, American Surveying & Engineering, Ltd.

Starting January 1, professional contractors and homeowners will be required to confirm the status of their locate requests through JULIE’s Positive Response System. By accessing the Positive Response Display Page, excavators can view exactly how each utility member responded to a locate request—cleared, marked, or needing more information—based on the codes they post.

 

The benefit to you? You can check who has marked or cleared their underground lines from anywhere, at any time using a phone, tablet, or computer with internet access. Learning the codes (Attached.) and process now will help avoid delays, keep your crews safe, and ensure full compliance once Positive Response becomes mandatory. Free online training, webinars, and reference sheets are available on JULIEBeforeYouDig.com to help you get ready.

Fairfax, VA –The Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Association has elected its officers and board of directors to oversee the organization for 2025-2026. The Board was elected by members attending the association’s recent annual conference in Silver Spring, MD in September, and the board subsequently elected officers.

Serving as President and Chairman of the Board of the SUEA is President is Nicholas Zembillas of Subsurface Utility Engineering, LLC, Tarpon Springs, Florida; President-Elect is Joseph Porter of Lamb-Star Engineering, LLC, Golden, Colorado;  Secretary is Andrew Clark of SAM, LLC, Knoxville, Tennessee; and Treasurer is John Berrettini, of A/I/Data, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. Immediate Past President is Daniel Checchia of Colliers Engineering & Design, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Rounding out the governing body are these directors: Art Worthman, WSP, Raleigh, North Carolina; Lawrence Arcand, 4Sight Utility Engineers, Whitby, Ontario, Canada; Rhett Sloan, The Lexis Group, North Jackson, Ohio; Clifford Meis, Utility Mapping Services, Inc., Clancy, Montana; and Robert Ramsey, T2 Utility Engineers, Phoenix, Arizona.

At the annual conference, more than 100 members and thought leaders in the SUE market heard about legislation, standards, new markets, technology, and business practices in subsurface utility engineering.

About SUEA

The Subsurface Utility Engineering Association (www.sueassociaton.com) was formed in 2018 as a trade and professional association of firms, organizations and individuals engaged in performing subsurface utility engineering services to investigate and depict existing underground utility infrastructure through the collection and analysis of records, visual, geophysical, and/or exposure methods and assigns achieved Utility Quality Levels to non-visible Utility Segments and Utility Features based upon the integration of all the analyzed data with professional judgment at a defined point in time, and depict those data for engineering decisions, as prescribed in ASCE 38-22, the Standard Guideline for Investigating and Documenting Existing Utilities. It also includes membership categories for equipment manufacturers, software providers, universities, government agencies, and other organizations related to subsurface utility engineering.

Paul Scott is an experienced Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Utility Section Manager who has spent the majority of his 33-year career advancing the practice of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) and promoting adoption of the ASCE 38 standard for utility quality levels. In his FHWA role he has combined, policy development, and stakeholder outreach to reduce utility conflicts on highway projects, improve risk management, technical knowledge, and encourage better mapping and data standards across state DOTs and local agencies.

Key Contributions & Strengths

Leadership: Directed FHWA utility programs that integrate Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) principles into project delivery and funding guidance. Actively promoted the use of SUE across programs and initiatives, earning the distinguished recognition of “Ambassador of SUE.” This leadership advanced the visibility and strategic application of SUE within the transportation engineering community.

Standards Advocacy: Championed the broader adoption and consistent implementation of the ASCE 38 utility-quality classification standard. Worked closely with agencies to translate the standard into clear and actionable contract language and specifications, ensuring uniformity and improved utility data quality across projects.

Practical Implementation: Supported pilot projects and FHWA-funded SUE initiatives on Department of Transportation (DOT) projects. Provided training and technical guidance that increased the use of SUE techniques—including geophysics, potholing, and utility coordination—to reduce change orders and project delays. Also contributed to FHWA-funded SUE Cost-Benefit Studies, demonstrating the measurable value of applying SUE practices in project delivery.

Stakeholder Coordination: Built and strengthened partnerships among DOTs, Federal, State, and Local agencies, utilities, SUE firms, consultants, and contractors. These collaborations enhanced transportation engineering and design project delivery by improving utility record accuracy, promoting data sharing, and implementing risk-based approaches throughout the design, construction, and alternative design-build processes.

We're so proud to celebrate Paul Scott on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the SUE Association! This well-deserved honor recognizes Paul's years of dedication, enthusiasm, and love for all things SUE. Through his wonderful storytelling and his tireless efforts on social media, Paul has kept the SUE story relevant inspiring so many of us to share in that passion. His experience and knowledge have touch so many people in the SUE profession practitioners and consumers. Thank you, Paul, for everything you've done - and continue to do - to keep the spirit of SUE thriving.

By John M. Palatiello, SUEA Executive Director

Ever since discussions began in 2015 that led to the creation of the SUE Association in 2018, a basic tenet was established.  The association would support, promote, and cooperate with ASCE on 38-22 (then 38-02) so as to not duplicate or rival ASCE, but rather the new association would focus primarily on business and practice-related issues that are not part of the mission, programs or priorities of ASCE or UESI.

That precept continued to guide the SUE Association. And it was evident once again at the annual conference held in September in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The conference program included sessions on what is SUE (and what it is not), safety, digital twins, effective scopes of work to reduce risk and liability, new and emerging technologies, legislation and government policies, new market opportunities, and workforce development, among others. This agenda, indeed all of the association’s activities, concentrates on a principle popularized by President John F. Kennedy -- “a rising tide lifts all boats”.

The goals and objectives of the SUE Association are  to educate and inform the user community about SUE, expand the SUE market, and promote best practices in the delivery of professional services through ASCE 38-22. Whether a firm is a member of the association or not, it benefits from the work of the organization; thus the relevancy of President Kennedy’s quote.

I’ve long been enamored with a line in the song “Clocks” by the band Coldplay: “Am I a part of the cure or am I part of the disease? By being a member of the SUE Association, a firm and its employees are endeavoring to be part of the cure. By working together on policy advocacy, lifelong occupational learning for SUE practitioners, and education of the public generally and clients in particular, the association strives to create a higher quality, more profitable, and more professional SUE community and market.

One last quote, this one from Benjamin Franklin at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence: “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” There is strength in numbers and while the association has experienced steady membership growth and the leadership of SUEA is grateful for each current member, there are still many firms in the SUE field that have not yet joined the association. So a big thanks to our members and particularly those who attended the conference.  But let’s hang together, be part of the cure, raise the tide, and reach out and recruit more firms to the membership.  Together we can build a better SUE profession.

By Steve Rienks P.E., PMP, American Surveying & Engineering

On April 9, 2025, in Lexington, Missouri, a strike on a buried gas line ultimately resulted in the death of little boy and severe burns to his father and 10-year-old sister. The explosion also destroyed their home, a neighbor’s home and damaged many other homes in the area. American Locator welcomes industry expert, Steve Reinks P.E., PMP, with his own perspective on preventing such tragic incidents in the future.

Until a “Holistic Approach” is taken and enforced, these tragic and needless deaths, such as those that happened in Lexington, will continue to occur! “Holistic Approach” is characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole. The solution to the prevention of a utility damage demands a “Holistic Approach” and a strategic vision of what can be achieved.

For those of us in the Damage Prevention Industry, let’s discuss: Precautions. As defined: “measures taken in advance to prevent something dangerous, unpleasant, or inconvenient from happening”. An example, the Project had taken the Precautions of a Rigorous Utility Investigation for the Project: Planning, Design, Construction & Asset Management.

For Phase 1 Project Planning and for Phase 2 Design, use CI/ ASCE 38-02, Standard Guidelines for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data, or ASCE/CI/UESI 38-22 Standard Guideline for Investigating and Documenting Existing Utilities. This is an update to the CI/ASCE 38-02 standard reflecting the updated changes in practice, technologies, and research for detecting/documenting the uncertainties of locations of underground utilities and other infrastructure.

For Phase 3 Project Construction and for Phase 4 Asset Management, use ASCE/CI/UESI 75 Standard Guideline for Recording and Exchanging Utility Infrastructure Data establishes the minimum, optional, and conditional elements of spatial and non-spatial attribute data associated with utility infrastructure. The standard guideline also provides recommendations for effective practices to facilitate data exchange among project stakeholders. It is essentially a “how to specify the creation of a utility certified record drawing” so that individual utility owners’ facilities and project utilities have standardization rather than literally hundreds of differing formats and accuracies and amounts of details about the new or relocated utilities within a project’s limits. The guideline is critical to capture, document, and exchange utility data for project scoping, planning, design, construction, operation, and long-term management of utility systems as well as the management of public right-of-way and properties throughout which utility infrastructure are installed. It is also beneficial to facilitate the interaction among stakeholders for managing utility and other civil infrastructure.

Today’s project is important. But tomorrow’s project is even more important—even if we’re no longer around.

This article was originally published in "I Am An American Locator Magazine" Volume 39, Issue 2.

About the Author:

Steve Rienks, P.E., PMP is a registered Professional Engineer and certified Project Management Professional experienced in civil engineering projects and mentoring those entering the field. His experience includes the preparation of preliminary engineering studies and final construction documents and construction supervision for transportation, highway and railway projects. His background includes overall project management, including scope of work, budget, schedule, quality assurance/ control, supplements, invoices, staff assignments, report preparation, public presentations and reporting to clients. His typical projects include large highway interchanges and freeways for the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Chicago Department of Transportation and local municipalities. 

Dear Members and Colleagues:

It is my honor to serve as the new President of the Subsurface Utility Engineering Association (SUEA). Thank you for your trust and for your dedication to advancing our practice and profession. I also wish to recognize the outstanding work of past leaders whose efforts built the strong foundation we stand upon today.

 As we move forward, my vision is clear: grow our membership, strengthen our committees with a diversified group of members, support ASCE 38 and ASCE 75 standards, and expand recognition of SUE among practitioners, clients, and policy makers 

 Our goals include:

• Membership Growth – recruit more member firms that provide SUE services, as well as attract client groups and those from allied and related disciplines.

• Professional Excellence – Work with other organizations, including UESI, to promote adoption of current and future standards such as ASCE 38-22, 75-22, and others, while offering education, training, and advocacy on behalf of firms in the business of delivering professional SUE services, as well as expanding the SUE market.

• Advocacy & Recognition – strengthening SUE’s voice in federal, state, local government, and the private sector for all types of infrastructure programs and influencing positive changes in our laws, regulations, guidelines, scopes, contracts, negotiations, and risk management mitigation.
• Global Collaboration – deepening ties with other national and international organizations.
• Innovation & Technology – embracing subsurface utility engineering, utility coordination, engineering, surveying, geophysics, geospatial, geotechnical, and AI advancements for our SUE businesses.

 Over the next 120 days, I will focus on:

 

1. Listening & Assessment – engaging members and committees.
2. Building Foundations – improving communications and holding listening sessions.
3. Action & Engagement – kicking off membership growth initiatives and standards working groups.
4. Delivering Early Wins – publishing a “State of SUEA” update; offering more webinars; developing abstracts of speaking engagements; publishing technical briefs; and launching an awards program.
5. SUEA Special Projects- implementing our partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and creating other opportunities to promote SUE.   

Our strength lies in our members. I encourage you to get involved, share your expertise, and help shape the future of our association. Together, we will build safer and smarter infrastructure—both above and below the surface.

 

With gratitude,

Nicholas Zembillas

President, Subsurface Utility Engineering Association (SUEA)

Mapping the Future: Defining Career Paths in SUE - Korina Padilla, JMT

Mock Project Review - Rhett Sloan, The Lexis Group & Mark Amirault, Foundation Risk Partners

Government Policy and Legislation Affecting SUE - John "JB" Byrd, Miller Wenhold & John Palatiello, SUE Association

Survey Monitoring - What's Moving? - Kenneth Fronheiser, Keystone Precision Solutions

Introduction to SUE: What SUE Isn't - Joseph Porter & Andrew Sylvest, Lamb-Star Engineering

Redefining Utility Mapping Workflows with Today's Technologies - Marvin Lopez, PointMan by ProStar