Authors Al-Bayati and Panzer discuss the use of utility location services and the role that all stakeholders contribute to the reduction of damages to underground utilities during construction.

CI/ASCE Standard 38-02 presents a credible system for classifying the quality of utility location information that is placed in design plans. The Standard addresses issues such as: how utility information can be obtained, what technologies are available to obtain that information; how that information can be conveyed to the information users; who should be responsible for typical collection and depiction tasks; what factors determine which utility quality level attribute to assign to data; and what the relative costs and benefits of the various quality levels are. Used as a reference or as part of a specification, the Standard will assist engineers, project and utility owners, and constructors in developing strategies to reduce risk by improving the reliability of information on existing subsurface utilities in a defined manner.

As right-of-way acquisition and utilities coordination grow more complex, transportation agencies in the United States are under pressure to streamline the process of providing cleared right-of-way for highway projects. The Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program sponsored a scanning study of England, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands to review best practices in right-of-way and utilities services. In the countries visited, the U.S. delegation observed a philosophy of sensitivity to the needs of property owners affected by highway projects, as well as innovative techniques for compensating owners. Highway agencies emphasize coordination with utilities to minimize delays. Right-of-way professionals undergo formal education and ongoing training to develop expertise in their field. The scanning team's recommendations for U.S. application include encouraging property owner input by involving owners in the design phase and using an in-depth interview process, creating a voluntary land consolidation pilot program, developing education programs for right-of-way professionals, and promoting greater coordination and communication between State transportation departments and utilities.