Vacuum Dig
Enterprises Inc
 Surface / Sub-Surface Utility And Structure
Location
 Primary and Secondary Vacuum Locates
Vacuum Dig Enterprises Inc.
1274 Mystic Way
West Palm Beach FL 33414
Office: 561-798-3219
Cell: 561-603-5696
Email: erpowell@vacuumdig.com
Our Website www.vacuumdig.com
Vacuum Dig Enterprises Inc
About The Company
Vacuum Dig Enterprises Inc is a multifunctional Utility Location and
subsurface structural location service. We offer a wide variety of work
products designed to assist engineering and architectural firms
produce accurate design drawings. Our firm can perform services
ranging from simple surface marking of underground utilities up to,
and including vacuum excavation and exposure of sub surface utilities
and structures. Through our affiliate, the firm can also provide
surveying and mapping services to further enhance the work product.
Our mission is to provide timely customer service, producing an
accurate and professional work product.
Available Services
Our services are typically referred to within the industry as sub-surface
utility engineering (S.U.E.). There are circumstances in which
conventional methods do not precisely locate the utilities. In these
cases additional means may be utilized. These include ground
penetrating radar (for non-metallics), and Vacuum Dig field of
expertise; vacuum excavation.
In order to give the client exact information as to where the utility-in
question lies, we use the nation’s leading vacuum excavation
technology for environmentally safe, non-destructive test holes.
The S.U.E. Analyst will determine the exact location for test hole
excavation by utilizing methods mentioned previously. Once the
excavation location or conflict point is determined, the trained Vacuum
Dig crew prepares the test hole for visual verification. Using a vacuum
hose and pneumatic air lance in tandem, the soil is carefully disrupted
and cleared to provide the safest method of utility exposure available.
After the utility is located, the technician replaces the native soil, if
possible, or, will use a special fill as determined by code or client.
Depths of the utility are taken and a survey marker is posted in order
to re-establish the test hole location at a future date, should the need
occur. A typical utility line is exposed within 4” x 8” test holes. Test
holes may be as big as 12” x 12”
DATA MANAGEMENT AND WORK PRODUCT
There are three steps to the data management of a S.U.E. project:
1. Preliminary Data Assignment and Assessment
Once a job has been negotiated and accepted, the project
manager analyzes the data as given by the client and researches
the area of work. Necessary background information is provided
by the client will be reviewed by our engineering staff and the
S.U.E. analysts are briefed as to what to expect on-site.
2. Data Collection
Using the information provided, the technicians assigned to the
project will designate and locate the utilities as specified in the
contract. Locations are performed utilizing the benchmarks and
traverse points provided by the client.
-OROur surveying and mapping affiliate will be contracted to provide
survey quality location to existing landlines and /or the state plane
coordinate system. A signed and sealed surveyor’s report may
accompany the work product. Under this scenario, using state-of-theart computer systems, the survey information can be converted into
computers plans in an AutoCAD format. The designation and location
work performed can then be transported into a subsurface utility
overlay of existing road design or other design product.
3. Work Product
Test hole reports are made for each test hole with the computer
generated sketch of the test hole location and all other pertinent
information to form a concise, informative data sheet for the
utility or structure.
Alternately, should a computer generated work product not be
required, a hand drawn sketch and data sheet may be provided.
Collectively these steps constitute the standard practice, which is
employed by Vacuum Dig Enterprises to provide our clients with the
most accurate information in the safest manner. Proven to be
extremely cost-effective and responsive to time constraints, Vacuum
Dig Enterprises will work with your team to assure efficient and lowrisk completion of your projects.
SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING
Vacuum Dig Enterprises Inc. provides “Subsurface Utility Engineering”,
(SUE) which is a new technology that can reduce conflicts between
highway construction and underground utilities. It provides accurate
information on the horizontal and vertical location of the underground
utility facilities during the early development of highway projects.
Through use of this technology, engineers can identify conflicts points,
design around the, and move projects faster. The three main
components of subsurface utility engineering as defined by the Federal
Highway Administration are Designation, Location and Data
Management.
Designation: The approximate horizontal location of subsurface
facilities are detected using geophysical techniques such as electromagnetics and sonics. They are then marked with paint or other
marking devices. This information will be recorded on plan sheets. This
phase of the process allows broad-scope engineering decisions to be
made early in the project.
Location: Designation alone does not provide the high accuracy
required for the detailed design of the highway project. The use of
Vacuum Dig Enterprises vacuum excavation technology allows
technicians to measure and record the precise depth and horizontal
position of a utility line through a hole that may be no larger than 203
x 203 mm (8 x 8in), preserving both utility lines and surface integrity.
Data Management: The key phase is data management involves
incorporating information of utilities into the process of designing a
highway project. The earlier the data is used the better. A project’s
impact on underground utilities may be a critical factor in determining
a cost-effective design.
Quality Levels of Service as defined by The American Society of Civil
Engineers are:
QL “D” – This information results strictly from a Review of Utility
Records. Such information is highly limited in terms of
comprehensiveness and accuracy.
QL “C” – This information is obtained by augmenting the QL “D”
information. It involves surveying the locations of visible above ground
utility objects and entering this data into a CAD system.
QL “B” – This information is obtained through the use of “designating”
technologies (i.e., geophysical prospecting technologies). Designating
technologies are capable of providing good horizontal information as
design activities advance, but are not capable of providing trustworthy
vertical information.
QL “A” – This involves obtaining accurate vertical data by digging a
small hole using Vacuum Digs vacuum excavation techniques. This is
the nondestructive, minimal intrusive capability to go into the ground,
physically uncover a line, and measure it in three dimensions with a
high degree of accuracy.
QL “A” this provides accurate information at crucial highway/utility
conflict points. QL “A”, information should be obtained and used every
time an excavation crosses utility lines.
VACUUM DIG ENTERPRISES INC – KEY PERSONNEL
In addition Ernest R. Powell Jr. to the firm completes our management
structure. Mr. Powell will as our Field Operations Manager and is to be
the key contact point for our clients. His biography is a follows;
ERNEST R POWELL JR
Present
Field Operations Manager, Vacuum Dig Enterprises
Responsible for all phases of horizontal and vertical
utility locating.
2003-2008
IT/Sales/Field Operations at Centex Homes. Top 3
Builder for the US.
1995-1999
Field Engineer Jet Mechanic for the US AirForce
EDUCATION AND LICENSES:
CISCO CERTIFICATION
LAND ACQUISTION IN THE STATE FLORIDA
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Colleges:
Florida Atlantic University, USC, Georgia Military College