The Development of an Underground Utility Management Plan for Company XYZ

Abstract

Company XYZ is involved in various disciplines of design, construction, and maintenance projects across the United States. A common issue amongst all types of projects are damages to underground utilities. Damage to underground utilities can result in injuries, loss of life, schedule delays, and financial losses. Companies engaged in the design, construction, and maintenance of underground utilities face risk when relying on traditional underground utility management practices. The purpose of this study is to establish a company-wide Underground Utility Management Plan (UUMP) that will effectively manage the risk of damage to underground utilities during construction or maintenance activities. Objective goal of the UUMP is to develop a plan for verifying the presence of underground utilities on construction sites to minimize the risk of injuries, property damage, financial loss, and environmental damages. The UUMP will be developed by a review of current best practices and by a comprehensive analysis of Damage Reporting Information Tool (DIRT) reports over a 10-year span.