So-Deep Company Profile

So-Deep, Inc. was incorporated in Virginia in 1981. So-Deep US, P.C. was incorporated in North Carolina. Together, these closely affiliated companies are known as So-Deep.
So-Deep developed the concepts, definitions, scopes of work, and the market for what is now known as:

SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING

A branch of engineering practice that manages certain risks associated with subsurface utilities via: utility mapping at appropriate quality levels, utility coordination, utility relocation design and coordination, utility condition assessment, communication of utility data to concerned parties, utility relocation cost estimates, implementation of utility accommodation policies, and utility design. (American Society of Civil Engineers / Federal Highway Administration definition - Jan. 2000).

So-Deep is highly and uniquely qualified to perform these services. So-Deep has performed over $100,000,000 worth of utility mapping and utility coordination projects. So-Deep currently holds subsurface utility engineering prime contracts for the departments of transportation of Maine, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Delaware, Washington, and New Jersey. So-Deep holds task-order contracts with municipalities, such as the County of Fairfax, VA and the City of Austin, TX. So-Deep holds task-order contracts with various authorities.

So-Deep's staff consists of professional engineers, land surveyors, and geologists, supported by CADD and field technicians, utility records and coordination specialists. These nearly 100 people are supported by a wide range of equipment, including over 300 individual pieces of surface geophysical equipment, uniquely designed air-vacuum assisted excavation trucks, and all necessary survey, computer, and software.

So-Deep continues to develop and lead the subsurface utility engineering profession and sets the standard of care. So-Deep has served as the FHWA’s technical consultant on subsurface utility engineering since 1989. In this capacity, So-Deep’s principals conducted briefings to state DOTs; wrote, directed, and produced both FHWA films on subsurface utility engineering; and have provided technical and editorial assistance regarding FHWA documents on SUE. So-Deep principals have served as AASHTO’s speaker on subsurface utility engineering at their national functions for the past five years. We have conducted workshops on subsurface utility engineering at National Highway Utility Conferences since the conference’s inception in 1989.

A So-Deep principal, James H. Anspach, P.G., founded and serves as Chairman for the American Society of Civil Engineer / American National Standards Institute new national standard ASCE/C-I 38-02 entitled Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data. This document helps define the standard of care for how engineers and project owners should deal with existing underground utilities.

According to a 2000 Purdue University/FHWA study, the use of subsurface utility engineering services on typical street and highway projects returns $4.62 for every $1 spent in upgrading utility information from QLC to QLB/QLA. This 462% return on investment is a minimum quantifiable savings, and the actual savings are much more, according to the study.

So-Deep is available nationwide to help you manage your utility risks. So-Deep has never filed a claim against its professional liability insurance policy. Since 1988, So-Deep has not missed a contractual due date for any client.

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