Subsurface Utility Engineering & Geophysics

Unexpected utility conflicts can significantly affect project safety, schedules, and budgets. RSCS provides subsurface utility engineering (SUE) and geophysical investigation services to help clients understand below-grade conditions before drilling, excavation, construction, or other intrusive activities. Our SUE capabilities include records review, field investigation, utility locating, and mapping of buried piping, utilities, structures, and other subsurface infrastructure.

Beyond utility locating, RSCS performs geophysical surveys to characterize subsurface conditions and identify variations in soil, rock, fill, and other materials. Depending on project objectives and site conditions, investigations may include seismic, electromagnetic (EM), ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity [imaging], seismic refraction and other geophysical methods. These techniques can support geotechnical investigations, environmental characterization, infrastructure evaluations, and identification of subsurface anomalies or changes in material properties.

By integrating geophysical results with existing drawings, field observations, GIS, and other site information, RSCS helps clients reduce subsurface uncertainty, improve investigation and design planning, and minimize the risks associated with intrusive work.