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<br />ATTACHMENT B <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Utility Quality Level Definitions <br /> <br />· Quality Level D information comes solely from existing utility records. It may provide an overall "feel" <br />for the congestion of utilities, but it is often highly limited in terms of comprehensiveness and accuracy. Its <br />usefulness should be confined to project planning and route selection activities. <br /> <br />· Quality Level C involves surveying visible above-ground utility facilities, such as manholes, valve boxes, <br />posts, etc., and correlating this information with existing utility records. When using this information, it is <br />not unusual to find that many underground utilities have been either omitted or erroneously plotted. Its <br />usefulness, therefore, should be confined to rural projects where utilities are not prevalent, or are not too <br />expensive to repair or relocate. <br /> <br />· Quality Level B involves the use of surface geophysical techniques to determine the existence and <br />horizontal position of underground utilities. This activity is called "designating". Two-dimensional <br />mapping information is obtained. This information is usually sufficient to accomplish preliminary <br />engineering goals. Decisions can be made on where to place storm drainage systems, footers, foundations, <br />and other design features in order to avoid conflicts with existing utilities. Slight adjustments in the design <br />can produce substantial cost savings by eliminating utility relocations. <br /> <br />· Quality Level A involves the use of nondestructive digging equipment at critical points to determine the <br />precise horizontal and vertical position of underground utilities, as well as the type, size, condition, <br />material, and other characteristics. This activity is called "locating." It is the highest level presently <br />available. When surveyed and mapped, precise plan and profile information are available for use in making I <br />final design decisions. By knowing exactly where a utility is positioned in three dimensions, the designer <br />can often make small adjustments in elevations or horizontal locations and avoid the need to relocate <br />utilities. AdditIonal information such as utility material, condition, size, soil contamination, and paving <br />thickness also assists the designer and utility owner in their decisions. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />32 <br />