Case Study: How Precise Utility Locating Saved a Fort Myers Underground Utilities Project Time and Money

Introduction

This case study shows how targeted locating and verification for Underground Utilities turned a risky Fort Myers redevelopment into an on-time, under-budget delivery, and why precision is worth the upfront cost.

Project context

A mid-sized Fort Myers redevelopment needed a new sewer trunk line through a corridor crowded with water mains, fiber, and electrical ducts; record drawings were inconsistent and prior repairs had produced undocumented changes in the Underground Utilities network.

The problem

Initial plans assumed standard locates and mechanical excavation, but the owner pushed for a SUE Level B survey with Level A verification at conflict points to avoid a potential clash with a primary fiber backbone and a high-pressure water main that could cause a major shutdown.

The approach

A SUE provider used electromagnetic locating, ground-penetrating radar, and GNSS control to map probable utilities and assign confidence levels; the team then used vacuum excavation for Level A verification at the highest-risk crossings to confirm material, depth, and orientation relative to Fort Myers Underground Utilities.

Key actions taken

Vacuum excavation confirmed an undocumented lateral and verified a fiber conduit positioned slightly off-record, allowing the design team to shift the sewer alignment and avoid relocation. Each verified exposure was GPS-tagged, photographed, and uploaded to the GIS the same day so subcontractors worked from current Fort Myers Underground Utilities data.

Results

The precise locating prevented two costly outcomes: it avoided an emergency fiber relocation and allowed a controlled bypass of a water main rather than an unplanned shutdown. Those actions saved an estimated three-week delay and substantial emergency response costs.

Quantified savings

Targeted SUE and Level A verification added mapping costs but avoided downtime and emergency mobilization costs that far exceeded that spend; the precise locating effectively paid for itself through avoided delays and protected municipal services.

Operational improvements

Daily uploads of verification photos and as-builts kept trades aligned and reduced rework; municipal inspectors accepted the verified deliverables faster because the submission included depth measurements and confidence metrics for Fort Myers Underground Utilities.

Lessons learned

Targeted, high-quality locating is most effective when integrated with sequencing and immediate documentation. Vacuum excavation and Level A verification are invaluable at critical crossings while Level B surveying serves broader planning needs for Underground Utilities.

Conclusion

This Fort Myers case proves the point: spend where risk is highest and you save far more in avoided outages, emergency work, and community impacts. Precise locating converted uncertainty into manageable risk and protected both project schedule and Underground Utilities.