Disruption to construction sites — when information about existing utilities is inaccurate or incomplete, when abandoned utilities are not documented, when changes in infrastructure are not updated throughout the project phases.
Utility Conflicts
Avoid utility conflicts with early prevention and continuous coordination.
Good management of utility conflicts is the key to executing a project with greater cost-schedule certainty and less inconvenience or interruption of service to the local area. Utility conflicts can arise at any time throughout the project timeline, from planning to post-construction, between an existing utility and a planned or ongoing design or construction process, as well as between an on-site process and regulations for utility accommodation, permitting, or safety and accessibility.
Problems
Many problems can arise when utility conflicts are not managed well, leading to:
Accidental utility strikes and damages — causing interruptions to service, health and safety risks, and release of hazardous or explosive liquids or gases.
Unnecessary utility relocation or service interruption — due to late discovery of conflicts between existing and planned facilities and inadequate planning for design accommodation.
Project schedule and budget overruns — due to late discovery of conflicts causing the need for design changes, construction halts, new contractor bids, possible litigation, and greater disruption to the public.
Overview
4M gives a comprehensive overview of existing infrastructure on your site, supporting early awareness and resolution of utility conflicts.
Conflict prevention during planning.
4M uses a cost-effective, rapid, and remote utility mapping technique to discover utility conflicts as early as possible. Our data encourages better utility conflict management through avoidance, preservation, and coordination of utilities before construction begins, leading to lower overall costs and greater schedule certainty.
Conflict avoidance during construction.
Once construction breaks ground, site markings can quickly become illegible and surface conditions can make locating unmanageable. 4M provides a consistent, reliable, and digital GIS record to keep track of known utility locations throughout the construction process.
No last-minute surprises or dangers.
Our utility mapping technology can identify buried infrastructure even when it is not discoverable by standard geophysics methods. That means we reduce the risk of accidental strikes or last-minute discoveries of abandoned or undocumented utilities that are in conflict with the planned site works.
FAQ
Everything you need to know
What is management of utility conflict?
Utility conflict management methodically identifies potential conflicts between different stakeholders and manages and resolves these disputes. These stakeholders include governmental entities, utility owners, and project overseers. Utility conflict management begins with investigating potential conflicts, resolving these conflicts, coordinating with various stakeholders, getting approvals for design, and liaising during utility relocation management.
Which are the benefits of identifying and managing utility conflicts?
Identifying and managing utility conflicts ensures construction projects' timely and successful completion. It eliminates damages to subsurface utilities and reduces safety risks to workers and communities near construction sites. It also establishes trusting relationships with various stakeholders, which benefits future projects.
What is a utility conflict matrix?
Successful resolution of utility conflicts is hampered by roadblocks resulting from poor communication, coordination, and cooperation. A utility conflict matrix addresses these three Cs. It ensures disputes are resolved effectively with the help of effective communication, ongoing coordination between various stakeholders, and cooperation between different entities, including utility owners, governmental authorities, and project contractors.
Want to find out more?
All the utility data you need in one place — one map
