Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Lackawanna Industrial Highway, Lackawanna County

So-Deep performed designating and locating services on the “fast-track” basis for Lackawanna Industrial Highway.  So-Deep coordinated with five (5) different consultants to provide Penn DOT accurate design information.  These projects presented substantial technical difficulties.  The terrain provided obstacles for our crews since the utility ran cross-country through coal fields.  Existing survey control was sporadic throughout the project and very few surface structures existed.  Consequently, considerable survey work was necessary to document utility information.  All information was returned on time.

Delaware Department of Transportation, Route 113

So-Deep has provided designating and locating services on several large projects, including rural, interstate and urban highways.  On a project on Route 113, So-Deep designated and surveyed over 100,000 feet of underground utilities in a congested commercial area.  So-Deep found significant discrepancies between recorded and actual utility locations.

Delaware Department of Transportation, S. Madison Street Connector

This project was to provide access to the proposed development of the Christiana Riverfront. The site was a former industrial park dating back to the early 1900's. While providing subsurface utility engineering services on this project, So-Deep found significant discrepancies between utilities indicated on records, and those actually existing. So-Deep designated approximately 15,500' of underground utilities and excavated seventy-two (72) test holes.

Maryland State Highway Administration, Columbia, Maryland

MSHA contracted So-Deep to design the relocation of water, sewer, gas, telephone, electric and CATV facilities along Route 29 in Columbia, Maryland.  This project involved both arterial/collector road and interstate/expressway requirement options for both overhead and underground utilities. MSHA also engaged So-Deep to provide relocation design for a gravity sanitary sewer that was in conflict with a proposed storm retention pond.  So-Deep worked with one of our certified disadvantaged business enterprises to complete the project to MSHA’s satisfaction on this time critical project.  A relocation plan and profile design was returned in an AutoCAD format.  In addition to traditional engineering and surveying services, So-Deep utilized designating services to avoid other utility conflicts.

Maryland State Highway Administration, Intersection of Route 29 and Johns Hopkins Road

This project with the MSHA investigated the value of utility inventory as a cost-saving service.  So-Deep performed the utility inventory and relocation study to provide two separate options to the state, each requiring specialized relocation constraints.  Option 1 was to meet all requirements for an arterial collector road.  Option 2 was to meet all requirement for limited access highway.  Both options were documented and depicted on plans.  By comparing costs for both the MSHA and affected utility companies, MSHA was able to select the most cost-effective option. 

Maryland State Highway Administration, Montgomery County, Maryland

So-Deep provided a full complement of services to MSHA on this project in Montgomery County on MD Route 355.  So-Deep started the project by performing for the Project Planning Division of MSHA, which gave MSHA an estimate of utility congestion and a dollar estimate for utility relocation.  So-Deep then designated approximately 80,000' of utilities and located approximately 125 utilities and points of conflict.  We also provided a determination of septic systems and wells and underground storage tanks that may have affected right-of-way acquisition, highway design and construction.  Through these services, So-Deep has provided MSHA with the utility information needed for design of the highway.

Maryland State Highway Administration, New Hampshire Avenue

Approximately sixty (60) homes and businesses along a ten (10) mile stretch of this urban/rural stretch had no records of their septic systems, wells, or underground storage tanks (USTs).  Previous construction on a different section of the road was delayed, property was purchased at a premium price, temporary housing and clean-up costs were incurred, and extra orders promulgated when the excavator discovered these structures within the construction zone.  So-Deep utilized its knowledge of septic system/well/UST installation practices, surface geophysics, hydrology, geomorphology and non-destructive techniques to identify drainage fields/wells/USTs, etc.  This process was such a success that it has become a staple of work scope for So-Deep’s MSHA contract.

Ohio Department of Transportation, (Western Reserve Engineering & Survey Company), Chagrin Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio

So-Deep provided designating and locating services to assist in the design of the widening of Chagrin Boulevard.  So-Deep was able to discover many discrepancies between the utility records and the actual utility positions.  In one case, a sewer line that was recorded as being on the south side of Chagrin Boulevard was actually on the north side.  In another case, a pipe that was recorded as carrying telephone lines was actually a gas line.  An ODOT representative stated to the Chagrin Herald Sun “[t]his should help us avoid any delays once the project begins.  We are spending more money up-front, but saving time and money in the long run.”

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AIRPORTS

Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii

So-Deep designated nearly 250,000' of underground utility systems at Honolulu International Airport.  The project was performed as a subcontractor for M-K International.  Even with the vast scope of the project, it was completed in a relatively short time frame of less than three (3) months.  This completion schedule was facilitated by So-Deep’s ability to mobilize multiple crews to the site, who remained on site for the project duration.  This project also involved significant cell library changes in the CADD work to accommodate both the owner’s and the client’s specific needs.  With the final work product, Honolulu International Airport had a comprehensive Quality Level “B” map of the approximate horizontal location of virtually all utilities within project boundaries.

Dulles International Airport & National Airport, Northern VA

So-Deep has worked for PMC, a consortium of firms that operate as construction manager for WMAA’s upgrades at Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport.  Under various contracts, So-Deep has provided designating services on an on-call basis.  In addition, So-Deep has worked for a multitude of architectural engineering firms and contractors who have worked at Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport.  On one particular project of note involved the designing of the parking deck at Reagan National Airport.  So-Deep found approximate 30% error and/or omission rate between the Quality Level “D” services previously provided by another firm and the Quality Level “B” (designating) services provided by So-Deep. The finding of these discrepancies resulted in significant project savings to WMAA.

Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland

So-Deep has been providing utility mapping for Andrews AFB for a variety of clients and projects since the early 1980s.  Specific projects included upgrades to the base steam system, electrical distribution system, day care center design, and runway/taxiway improvements.

Dover Air Force Base, Delaware

So-Deep has been providing utility mapping for Andrews AFB for a variety of clients and projects since the early 1990s.  Specific projects included entrance improvements, runway/taxiway improvements, and master plan security updates.

McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey

So-Deep worked as a subconsultant to Hartmann and Associates in 1994-1995 to map utilities for a variety of projects including runway/taxiway expansions.  Approximately 60% of the airport was mapped at QL B.  QL A data was mapped at critical locations.

Raleigh International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina

So-Deep was a subconsultant to HNTB for the 1997 Terminal Expansion program.  Approximately 50% of the airside was mapped to QL B standards.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seatac, WA

So-Deep worked with CH2M Hill, Kennedy-Jenks, and Parsons Transportation to develop a utility mapping work plan in support of the North End Development Project.  This work plan included such functions as development and management of GIS utility data, cost and time budgeting for comprehensive mapping through mapping of a “trial representative area”, QL C / QL D  mapping of limited access and other approach roads.

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RAIL PROJECTS

CSX Railroad, City of Raleigh, North Carolina Department of Transportation,

Designating and locating services were requested on fiber optic facilities in an active railroad right-of-way.  So-Deep managed close coordination between crews, NCDOT staff and CSX representatives to ensure safe operations.  Due to physical and permit constraints, remote vacuum excavation procedures were utilized to safely locate the fiber optic facilities.  Designating crews, working with the utility owners, identified and recorded the location of buried splice boxes, the position of which were previously unknown.

Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Agency, Cleveland, OH

The Cleveland Indians’ new Baseball Stadium had to open on time.  The GCRTA planned a pedestrian tunnel to connect their rail facilities with the stadium.  Utility information gathered from record and visual inspection indicated that there would be one section of the tunnel where head clearance would be less than six (6) feet due to a non-movable 100 year old brick sewer.  So-Deep’s utility investigation showed that there was an available corridor that would provide more head room.  Construction proceeded, the Indians played on time in their new stadium, and no one has to duck their head in the tunnel.

CSX Railroad, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta, Georgia

So-Deep developed utility maps for seven separate CSX road crossings for a city-wide rail safety program.  These rights-of-way were highly congested with fiber optics, petroleum pipelines, railway command and control facilities, and a large number of water, gas, electric, and phone lines normally found in a large city.  So-Deep crews were certified by the railroad to work within their right-of-way.  Utility drawings were in plan and profile views.

New Jersey Transit Authority, Newark, NJ

So-Deep has performed utility mapping and conflict determination on the North East Rail Line (NERL) and its related highway project on Rte 21 in downtown Newark NJ.  We performed utility records research, designating, locating, survey, CADD, conflict determination, and utility relocation route selection and cost estimate assistance on this 4 mile project.  We designated over 500,000+ feet of utilities and excavated 500+ test holes, on schedule and within budget.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington DC.

So-Deep has performed utility mapping for virtually all of the Washington DC Metro system  (WMATA) over the years of its design and build.  This included rail stations, maintenance facilities, and track locations. Much of this system is underground and runs through one of the most complex sites in the country, with national parks, federal buildings, wetlands, other rail systems, and ancient utility systems as fun challenges.

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UTILITY COMPANIES

Arkansas Power & Light Company, Arkansas Nuclear One Power Station

Nuclear power plants have highly congested subsurface facilities.  In addition, the potential risk of catastrophic loss from service interruptions due to cable and piping cuts is quite high.  Surprisingly, however, records of underground facilities on these sites are often inaccurate.  So-Deep was asked to provide a comprehensive site plan for the nuclear facility, including existing structures, underground utilities and elevations.  So-Deep used a combination of surface survey, designating and locating (test holes) to develop the three-dimensional comprehensive map.

Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, South Carolina

So-Deep provided designating and locating services near the “K” reactor inside the security area.  WSRC was concerned that soil subsidence problems could create voids under existing utilities and cause utility damage.  They proposed to bore through the soil into suspected voids at an angle, and then fill the voids with grout.  To do that without damaging utilities required them to know the three-dimensional location of all underground structures.  By using a combination of designating and locating technologies, So-Deep was able to safely guide the bores directly beneath the utilities.  So-Deep subsequently provided designating services for a fire water distribution main installation for WSRC.

Texas Utilities, Comanche Peaks Nuclear Power Facility

So-Deep mobilized to Texas to provide varied subsurface utility engineering services on this site.  So-Deep provided Quality Level “B” services on select portions of  the project to provide a detailed plan view map of utility systems.  So-Deep also provided Quality Levels “C” & “D” in areas deemed less critical to the client derived from actual field measurements.  The overall result was a comprehensive map of virtually all utilities in the site, with varying degrees of reliability tailored to the client’s specific needs.

Duke Power, Oconee Nuclear Power Plant, Catawba Nuclear Plant

So-Deep provided designating and locating services to locate underground facilities in selected areas of these highly congested sites.  As with other jobs on nuclear facilities, the data provided by So-Deep greatly enhanced (and in some instances corrected) utility data from Duke Power’s records.

Virginia Power, Lake Anna Nuclear Plant

So-Deep provided designating and locating services to locate underground facilities in selected areas.  So-Deep continues to provide services for this site on an “as-needed” basis.

Colonial Pipeline, Fairfax County, Virginia

In order to relocate approximately 1-1/4 mile of a fuel products pipeline for a highway widening project, So-Deep provided a plan and profile design for utility relocation in accordance with VDOT project requirements.  So-Deep utilized data derived from utility designating, survey, locating and mapping that So-Deep provided to Colonial Pipeline Company.  The scope of work included the modification of existing easements to accommodate relocations.  The completed job was returned in an Intergraph design file.  So-Deep was able to incorporate VDOT’s CADD files of the roadway project to reduce the time necessary for design.  The completed design plans were given to Colonial Pipeline and its contractors for use in the construction phase.

Columbus Southern Power Company, Columbus, Ohio

So-Deep provided utility designating, survey, locating and mapping for Columbus Southern, a utility owner in Columbus, Ohio.  Additionally, So-Deep’s engineers utilized this utility data to design the “best routing” possible with minimum conflicts.  The installation of this line is complete.  There were no significant conflicts to slow construction.  So-Deep integrated client records and other utility records, with field data gathered by So-Deep, to develop an Intergraph system design file providing a unique and practical work product.  The construction of the pipeline was budgeted at $4 million.   The construction bid came in $400,000 lower than anticipated and the project was completed on time and under budget.  According to the contractor, a significant part of the cost reduction was attributable to So-Deep’s accurate subsurface utility data.

Bell Atlantic, Roanoke, Virginia

So-Deep participated in VDOT experiment in Roanoke, Virginia to determine the feasibility of including all utility adjustments into the highway plan.  Since Bell Atlantic was unfamiliar with the procedures necessary to include this work into a highway plan, VDOT recommended So-Deep.  So-Deep (1) analyzed all underground utility conflicts, (2) determined the routing locating for new telephone ducts (3) provided engineering drawings showing the method of relocation in plan and profile, and (4) provided complete installation specifications in the special provisions.  The installation was subsequently completed by the highway contractor.  VDOT’s District Utility Engineer stated that the project proceeded smoothly and without delay, and that the experiment was an unqualified success.

Washington Gas Light Company, Falls Church, Virginia

So-Deep performed a relocation design of a 6 inch wrapped steel gas line on Haycock Road for WGLCo.  So-Deep chose a route that resulted in minimal conflicts and associated construction delays.  The 25 remaining conflicts that could not be eliminated (grade changes, existing and planned utilities) were identified by So-Deep and subsequently resolved by So-Deep design. 

Another project for WGLCo. involved a relocation design of both WGLCo. facilities and C & P telephone facilities along Route 7 in Falls Church.  This project was performed in an extremely congested utility corridor and it provided an excellent showcase for So-Deep’s capabilities.  So-Deep conducted survey work to determine easement locations for the exact placement of proposed utilities.  In addition, So-Deep coordinated the relocation of the telephone vaults, ducts and multiple gas facilities within parameters consistent with the City of Falls Church engineering requirements. 

Additionally, while performing UCS for VDOT on the Springfield/Route 95 interchange area, So-Deep assisted the Fairfax County Water Authority and WGLCo. in their relocation designs.  This project involved the design on a 30 inch water line relocation and a 6 inch plastic, high pressure gas line relocation along Backlick Road and the Interstate 95 interchange.

Commonwealth Edison Power Company, Chicago, Illinois

So-Deep contracted to provide subsurface utility engineering services as well as design services for Commonwealth Edison, a Chicago based utility company.  The project covered approximately 3.5 miles through the Village of Schaumburg, Illinois.  The route was for the installation of a 138kV pipeline.  By using the underground utility data obtained during the locating and designating portions of the project, So-Deep was able to suggest a proposed routing and supply plan and profile design during construction.  Contractors were able to void underground utilities along the prescribed pipeline route, saving time and costly change orders.  The project proceeded without delay and without conflicts.

Ohio Bell, Lost Nation Road, Willoughby, Ohio

So-Deep excavated 29 test holes for Ohio Bell on this politically sensitive project.  Even though Ohio Bell used other area consultants to identify conflicts, they were not convinced the information was accurate.  So-Deep found six (6) areas where exiting utility information previously supplied to Ohio Bell was in error.  These errors would have caused major delays and more political embarrassment for all parties.

Silas Ray Power Station, Brownsville, Texas

So-Deep provided designating and locating services on the Silas Ray Repowering Project for Black & Veatch.  Utilities on this project were so congested that it became necessary to add additional detail to the CADD drawings of the Quality Level “B” (designating) information.  So-Deep was able to add this additional detailing directly into the client’s CADD file in order to avoid confusion on the standard scale CAD mapping.

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MUNICIPAL

City of Pittsburgh, Liberty Avenue, City of Pittsburgh

While providing subsurface utility engineering services on this project, So-Deep found significant discrepancies between utilities indicated on records, and those actually existing.  In one instance, a sanitary sewer that was marked as running in-road, was found to run out-of-road, underneath the sidewalk, and below an electrical duct vault.  Since this was the oldest part of the City, sewers were made of brick, dating from the 1850's.  So-Deep was able to recover records over 100 years old, and excavated test holes to the crown of these sewers with no utility damage.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, MASSEY BUILDING COMPLEX

This project was necessary for security upgrades at the Massey Complex in the City of Fairfax. So-Deep performed Level “B” designating services on a “fast track” basis at the busy complex at a time when extensive security measures were prevalent at the Courthouse. So-Deep mobilized multiple crews to complete the project within ten (10) working days.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, GOVERNMENT CENTER

This was another project that was made urgent by security issues.  Again, So-Deep mobilized multiple crews to provide Level “B” designating services to facilitate the completion of this project ahead of schedule.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, LOWER POTOMAC POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT

So-Deep performed comprehensive subsurface utility engineering services as a subconsultant to the joint venture of CH2M Hill and Dewberry & Davis for the Lower Potomac Pollution Control Plant. This project posed significant challenges due to the magnitude and complexity of utility systems at the plant. Services included providing a comprehensive Quality Level “B” mapping for virtually the entire plant facility and Quality Level “A” services at select locations requested by CH2M Hill-Dewberry & Davis. Being local to Northern Virginia, So-Deep was able to supply additional crews, as required by the client, to assure timely completion of all project milestones.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, COLONIAL PIPELINE LEAK

When an oil pipeline ruptured in Fairfax County, spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel into Sugarland Run, So-Deep was called on Sunday afternoon on an emergency basis. The County planned to build a retaining pond to drain the top two (2) inches from the creek. The retaining pond was to be used to skim the oil from the surface of the water, so it would be easier to recover. On a Sunday afternoon So-Deep gathered two (2) crews with no notice, mobilized, and designated the proposed area. So-Deep had available in-house records that otherwise would have been unavailable on a Sunday.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, OLD KEENE MILL ROAD

On this project, a large sanitary force main needed to be found. There was no reliable information as to its location. The line was extremely deep. So-Deep used a combination of designating equipment and vacuum excavation to determine the exact location of the utility.

FAIRFAX COUNTY LINE MAINTENANCE, NEAR DULLES TOLL ROAD

Fairfax County needed to work on a sanitary line, but record information was poor. So-Deep was able to designate the sanitary line and the utilities that crossed it to create an underground utility map the County could use as they worked on the line. The County identified several areas where they had found problems with the sanitary line. So-Deep excavated test holes on two (2) elliptical storm drains that crossed the sanitary line and found that the sanitary line was crushed underneath the crossing. Given this information, the County then assessed responsibility for the damage.

FAIRFAX COUNTY BUS SHELTERS

The County planned numerous bus shelters to help reduce the burden on Fairfax County roadways.  These shelters were a politically sensitive and priority project.  So-Deep reduced design and mapping costs by utilizing the County’s ArcView GIS system as an information base.  In many cases, the requirements for topo surveys were completely eliminated.  At no cost to the County, So-Deep obtained GIS training for its most experienced CADD technician, who is now dedicated to these types of County projects.

FAIRFAX COUNTY,  ROUTE 123

This project is being designed and built by Fairfax County Department of Public Works. So-Deep has provided designating and locating services under numerous task orders.  These services have all been portrayed as time-critical; as such, So-Deep utilized numerous crews in order to meet the County’s time frame.  So-Deep provided CADD services to document the utility owners’ relocations onto the project construction plans.  So-Deep also attended weekly project meetings to assist the County in resolving utility issues.

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INDUSTRIAL

Scott Paper Company Plant, Owensboro, Kentucky

So-Deep provided a comprehensive package of subsurface utility engineering services on this industrial development project, working with Rust International.  Such services included designating and locating.  On this particular project, the client did not have a base CADD system in place.  The client requested that each position from which survey measurements were taken be numbered and incorporated into the mapping.  With this information, the client was able to recreate So-Deep’s services in the field.

Kaiser Hanford, Richland, Washington

So-Deep was retained to provide consulting services at the Department of Energy’s Hanford site.  This two (2) week study involved a top-to-bottom look at engineering and construction practices relative to utility damage prevention.  This site is one of the most complex and dangerous areas anywhere in the world.  The recommendations forwarded in the final report were implemented in entirety and served as a basis of DOE Safety Notice.

Merck Pharmaceutical Facility, Rahway, NJ

So-Deep worked on a variety of projects on this 1 square mile old and complex facility.  Projects included plant-wide chemical sewer, electrical distribution systems, treatment facility, and new buildings.  After six years of individual projects, So-Deep's QL B data now covers the entire site.  This data forms the basis for a GIS database used for design, construction, security, safety, and utility management purposes.  

US Government, Various Locations

So-Deep's government security clearances allowed us the opportunity to map various important sites, such as the White House, CIA complex, Pentagon, military bases, and other secured facilities. 

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