Subsurface Utility Damage Prevention

Abstract

In 1970, the American Public Works Association (APWA) produced a study that highlighted the need to coordinate construction-related activities according to rights of way. This study paved the way for the formation of APWA’s Utility Location and Coordination Council. In the 1950s and 1960s, an earnest effort began to place utilities underground as a way to protect them from climatic damage. This chapter presents key terminologies with which excavators and homeowners should be familiar while addressing damage prevention acts in their states. An evaluation is also included on the benefits of measuring and tracking damage trends to help stakeholders determine appropriate educational focus and identify opportunities for reducing the risk of damage.