How does ASCE 38-02 relate to subsurface engineering?
In 2002, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) published a document for the purposes of conducting and standardizing SUE on excavation plans. This document is titled “CI/ASCE 38-02 Standard Guidelines for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data.” Commonly referred to as ASCE 38-02, this guideline is a protocol for engineers to use in rendering a professional opinion about the quality and reliability of utility information depicted on excavation plans. In essence, ASCE 38-02 spells out a process for engineers to use to quantify the quality of the utility information that is plotted on excavation plans. By following the process spelled out in ASCE 38-02, an engineer can quantify the quality of the utility information in terms that a lay person or non-engineer can understand. ASCE 38-02 defines four distinct levels of quality with respect to utility information. The quality of the utility information is ranked from the most reliable, Quality Level A, to t
