As part of our utility design service, we regularly prepare topographic and utility surveys to locate existing conditions along the corridors where we propose new underground infrastructure. Key to that process is the location of existing underground utilities which requires that we contact the Utility Notification Center. The Utility Notification Center notifies underground utility providers in the area of a proposed excavation so that existing utilities can be located and marked in the field.

If you bring up the topic of drones in random conversation, you’re likely to receive a variety of responses. Some will be excited at the possibilities. Some will express hesitancy until the rules have been cleared up. And some will issue stern warnings about a dystopian future where our every step is watched by machines in the sky.

Count me as a member of the excited group.

I recently sat down with Brian Ranney, Senior Engineering Geologist and Trenchless Installation designer at GeoEngineers. GeoEngineers is a leader in the trenchless technology industry – they designed the first successfully completed US Direct Pipe ® installation under a USACE-regulated levee and have been ranked in the Top 25 Trenchless Design Firms by Trenchless Technology Magazine for the last eight years. We discussed the top four issues you should consider the next time you tackle a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) project.

Recent volatility around oil prices has sent our gas clients on a frantic scramble to do more with less. The impacts are far reaching and the result is rapid change. Fortunately, new technologies are available that are shortening survey, design, and construction delivery times and dramatically decreasing costs.