Utility Management System Cost and Time Benefits and Implications from the Local Agency Perspective

Abstract

Utility management systems (UMSs) have become more common for government agencies, and their use has recently been advocated by AASHTO on a statewide basis. By identifying current utility locations and correlating utility-related information between ongoing and upcoming projects, UMSs can reduce the occurrence of unexpected delays and cost overruns resulting from unforeseen utility conflicts found during construction. This paper presents an analysis of a two-part survey of local agency professionals in the transportation industry, regarding perceptions of UMS cost and time benefits and implications associated with implementation. The paper evaluates two hypotheses regarding local agencies’ perception on two key areas: (1) impact of UMS cost and time implementation requirements on implementation decisions; and (2) difference in cost and time benefits and implications for different types of local agencies. The study finds that despite its obvious potential benefits, UMSs are not being widely implemented at the local level because the cost to adopt them is perceived to be high. Additionally, this study found opportunities for improvement that may considerably advance UMS practices.