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Our Services

 

Surveying Expertise & Technology

Unmatched Precision

30+ Years Of Experience

In-depth, Detailed Reports

What we do

Precision underground utility location, exposure, and mapping that delivers survey-grade accuracy.

Private Utility Locates

Let us help you avoid delays and extra expenses by locating, identifying, and labeling all utilities – both public and private –  that are buried underground and unknown on your project site. These may include telecommunication, electricity, natural gas, cable television, fiber optics, traffic lights, streetlights, storm drains, water mains, wastewater pipes, and others. The fact is, often times only 40% of utilities are covered by calling 811. We can help you make sure there are no unpleasant surprises.

Potholing/Daylighting

A worker wearing a yellow safety vest carrying two orange cones

This process is used to perform routine checks–exposing underground structures by digging a test hole to ensure there are no cracks, leaks, or damage to the utility, and that the surrounding area is free from obstructions. Traditionally, these holes were dug using heavy machinery, sometimes creating elevated risk to the utilities, workers and residents in the area. Today, however, potholing/daylighting is done using a safer, much more efficient process called hydro excavation.

Slot Trenching

When a project requires the installation of underground utilities such as pipes, cables, and conduits, a method referred to as slot trenching is frequently used. Narrow trenches are created using hydro excavation for increased precision and accuracy, while greatly reducing the area of disturbed earth. Slot trenching is also used for the installations of vaults, shelters, tanks, and various other underground structures where there may be unknown utilities. Slot trenching can also be used to sample an area to ensure it is free from utilities before the installation of a structure, such as a new water meter vault installation.

Utility Mapping

The team at JAUE provides field reports identifying buried utilities, including gas pipes, water mains, electric cables, and telecoms. We can save clients time and money by investigating thoroughly underground before any construction or even design begins and delivering a comprehensive, survey-grade report that reflects sub-centimeter accuracy.

Hydro Excavation

Hydro Excavation enables a team to dig to expose a desired target or area with greater safety and efficiency than traditional excavation methods. Without the need for heavy machinery, hydro excavation uses pressurized water to penetrate the ground, exposing underground facilities to make sure there is no damage to the utility, including cracks or leaks. The water safely breaks apart the surface without causing damage to surrounding soil or structures. All loose soil and debris are then transferred via vacuum to a debris tank.

A worker working on subsurface utility engineering

Subsurface Utility Engineering (S.U.E)

Below are the four standardized SUE Quality Levels used to determine the exact location and condition of underground utilities:

Quality Level A (QL-A)

Quality Level A provides the highest degree of accuracy in the SUE process. Utilities are physically exposed using minimally intrusive excavation methods, such as hydro-excavation, to determine precise horizontal and vertical coordinates. This level also allows engineers to document utility size, material, and condition. QL-A is typically required for final design, conflict resolution, and situations where the consequences of utility conflicts are severe. It drastically reduces uncertainty, redesign risks, unexpected delays, and utility strike potential.

Quality Level B (QL-B)

Quality Level B uses surface geophysical methods, such as electromagnetic locating, ground-penetrating radar, and radiofrequency tracing, to identify the approximate horizontal location of underground utilities. Designated utility paths are then surveyed to project tolerances and added to design base maps. QL-B is considered the minimum acceptable level of data for engineering design and conflict analysis. While significantly more reliable than QL-C, its accuracy depends on soil conditions, utility depth, signal response, and material type. QL-B does not provide verified depth information.

Quality Level C (QL-C)

Quality Level C improves upon QL-D by incorporating a field survey of visible above-ground utility features, such as manholes, hydrants, utility poles, valve boxes, pedestals, and risers. Engineers correlate these surveyed features with QL-D records to approximate the horizontal alignment of underground utilities. QL-C provides greater reliability than record-only information and is commonly used during early design phases to identify potential conflict zones. However, it does not provide exact horizontal mapping where surface indicators are sparse and does not provide any depth information.

Quality Level D (QL-D)

Quality Level D represents the starting point of SUE data collection and relies entirely on existing documentation, such as old maps, as-built drawings, GIS files, circuit diagrams, valve books, and verbal recollections. This level provides only a general understanding of the utility environment and is considered the least reliable form of utility data. It is typically used for conceptual planning and feasibility analysis, helping identify potentially congested utility zones and utility owners in an area.

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