(Harrisburg, Pa.) Dawood, an international engineering, technology, and finance solutions firm, has been pre-qualified by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to perform subsurface utility engineering (SUE) work throughout the state. SUE empowers Dawood to better manage risks by designating a utility’s position via geophysical processes and account for buried assets during transportation projects.
“Part of our turnkey solutions, SUE helps owners avoid service disruptions, costly repairs, and delays while reducing the chance of accidentally striking utilities during highway and bridge construction,” said Chad Decker, PE, PTOE, vice president of transportation with Dawood. “We’re in lockstep with PennDOT on improving public safety.”
SUE identifies, designates, and maps underground utilities—such as water, sewer, electric, telecommunication and gas lines—during preliminary phases of a transportation infrastructure assignment.
“Data gathered through the SUE process is organized, analyzed, and visualized in a way that’s actionable for engineers, construction crews, and project managers,” said Michael Gray, manager of SUE with Dawood. “Our technology teams deliver value to our clients by generating detailed maps and digital models of subsurface conditions.”
In 2022, Dawood hired Gray to lead the company’s growing multi-market SUE division. Gray is an industry expert who created a groundbreaking educational program for SUE field technicians including damage prevention and line identification using electromagnetic and ground penetrating radar technologies.
SUE supports projects for the built environment through quality-driven American Society of Civil Engineers processes. It combines civil engineering, geophysics, surveying, and nondestructive excavation techniques to avoid utility conflicts.
About Dawood
Dawood engineers global infrastructure transformation. Established in 1992, the Dawood family of companies plans, designs, and constructs sustainable environments throughout the U.S., features Government Finance Solutions, develops real estate through Good Hope Ventures, and extends surveying, GIS, and BIM internationally through ArchiTube, its 3D technology arm in Poland. Dawood delivers award-winning technology, digital twins, planning, design, and predictive analytics to utility, energy, transportation, industrial, planning, economic and land development, environmental, municipal, movie and entertainment, real estate, and retail clients. The company’s workforce development, mentor-protégé, and community programs advance STEM, diversity, and inclusion.