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Design Utility Locates for Architects & Designers

At Know Before You Dig Locates, we help architects and design teams plan smarter by providing design-grade underground utility data (QL‑B) before you finalize layouts or issue design drawings. Many clients don’t need a stamped engineering deliverable—they just need to know what’s below. That’s where we come in.

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Utility Mapping for Design Projects

When you're designing a site or preparing a feasibility study, understanding where existing underground infrastructure is located can save your team—and your client—time and money. We provide field-verified utility data to help you:

  • Identify conflicts early

  • Reduce redesigns

  • Coordinate with engineers and surveyors more efficiently

Whether you have engineers in-house or you’re working with an external team, we’ll support your process with clear, accurate, survey-ready data.

CAD drawing with QL‑B underground utility data integrated into a topographic survey, including sewer, water, and electrical lines marked for design planning.

Why Architects & Designers Work With Us

  • We don’t provide stamped engineering drawings—and many of your clients don’t need that level of cost or formality.

  • We offer affordable, design-grade QL‑B data that’s perfect for feasibility studies, concept development, and preliminary design packages.

  • If your project already has a surveyor or engineer, we’ll coordinate directly with them to ensure our markings are captured and incorporated.

  • Whether your surveyor is in-house or external, simply introduce us—we’ll provide them with everything they need to complete your deliverable.

  • Need a surveyor? We can help connect you with a trusted partner who understands how to integrate our underground data into their deliverables.

  • Our reports include site photos, Quality Level (QL) labels, and clear marking documentation, so your team knows exactly what’s in the ground and how to plan around it.

Technician using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to locate underground utilities during a design locate on a roadway.

What You Get

  • Utility record research (QL-D)

We gather and review available utility records to establish known infrastructure on or near the project site.​

  • Surface Feature Correlation (QL‑C)

We identify and interpret visible utility appurtenances—such as valves, pedestals, manholes, hydrants, and meter connections—and can assist your field crews in understanding their function and significance. If your team is unfamiliar with this process, we’re happy to provide training.

  • Geophysical Utility Locates (QL‑B)

​We use electromagnetic locating, sonde tracing, and GPR to detect both public and private buried infrastructure, assigning QL‑B where confirmation is possible.

  • Field Markings & Report

Our deliverables include an easy-to-read summary of all markings and photos, designed to help your field crew quickly interpret and survey our utility data. We prefer to meet your crew onsite to walk them through and explain our work.

  • Coordination Support

We’ll work directly with your internal or external surveyor or engineer to ensure smooth delivery and integration of utility data into your base files.

⚠️ We provide QL data to support early-stage design decisions but do not issue stamped engineering drawings. Our service is ideal for planning, feasibility, and coordination when full SUE is not required.

Design Confidently. Reduce Surprises. Build Smarter.

Let’s help your team plan better with underground intelligence that fits your budget and timeline.

CONTACT US 

Or call us at 1-800-905-8204

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