Innovation for Long-Term Planning — Using a Mapped Layout of Underground Utilities to Cut Risks and Save Costs

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The underworld is real—and Allen & Company’s underground mapping professionals can uncover it

On any given day, people walk over a bustling array of underground utilities without even realizing it. By one estimate, there are over 20 million miles of below-grade wires, cables, and pipelines beneath the ground we walk, run, bike, drive, and commute on. Engineering professionals spent time and effort installing those underground utilities over many years. And even after installation—sometimes years or even decades later—work crews often need to dig down again for necessary repairs.

Understanding the layout of below-ground utilities is crucial before any of the digging commences to ensure the safety of construction workers and their equipment. Thanks to a competency known as Subsurface Utility Exploration (SUE), Allen & Company’s professional surveyors and mappers can get a peek into the intricate maze of cables and pipes hidden below the surface. SUE technology allows for a deeper and more detailed look at what’s underground, helping companies dig smarter and faster.

The reality is that America’s infrastructure is aging—and many areas require repairs to remain operational and relevant. The United States is a large, geologically diverse country, with well over a century’s worth of telephone, internet, sewer, and other utilities installed underneath the ground. The problems associated with this are legion, not the least being the possibility of mysterious fires underneath streets, as recently happened in Baltimore.

While it may be impossible to get out ahead of every potential problem affecting underground utilities (remember there are 20 million miles’ worth of underground assets), employing SUE technology to obtain a fuller understanding of the subsurface environment helps engineers and other problem solvers know where the issues might be, and then formulate a plan to fix them.

In addition to correcting subsurface utility installations of the past, SUE technology also allows us to look at solutions for crafting the infrastructure of the decades still to come. This year’s hurricanes devastated aboveground power lines, requiring a thorough revision of how the community is supplied with electricity. In Tampa, those familiar wooden poles are being taken down and power lines are being relocated underground. This is one small way in which SUE professionals are looking ahead at the longer term for an energy future, and an infrastructure plan, in which utilities must be relocated below the surface to withstand stronger and more frequent weather-related events.

In addition to locating and potentially replacing outdated utility lines, the technology can uncover storage tanks, contaminants, and septic tanks, which may need updating and/or remediation—without digging. We’ve shared data before from the Department of Transportation that every $1 spent on SUE translates to $4.62 in total savings. Furthermore, the agency reports that SUE also reduces construction-related costs. Accordingly, the long-term solutions to the infrastructure issues of the present won’t necessarily bring along a hefty price tag. Think of it as investing in our collective future.

“The pipelines and other utilities that exist under the ground represent a patchwork of work undertaken by different companies, agencies, and workers for well over a hundred years—and much of it is in drastic need of modernization,” said Kyle Binni, Allen & Company’s Director of Sales and Business Development. “By using SUE, we are able to locate all of these underground installations, and provide the market with valuable data, empowering better decision making by civic authorities exploring long-term, cost-efficient plans for envisioning an entirely new infrastructure that will stand for generations to come.”

Our Allen & Company team has spent years refining the processes of applying SUE tech to see beneath the ground and create the most up-to-date maps of below-grade utilities. The technology also has other applications for highways, railroads, military, and other types of construction as well.

Get in touch to learn how Allen & Company’s underground mapping professionals continue to innovate on projects requiring economically efficient solutions to the ongoing puzzles located beneath our feet. We will continue to safely apply the latest SUE technologies to ensure your development and construction projects get off the ground successfully.

This Fourth of July, We Celebrate George Washington for His Patriotism and His Surveying Skills

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In addition to being our first President, George Washington was a great many other things too: statesman, general, farmer, soldier…and surveyor. Yes, a surveyor!

In honor of our nation’s 248th birthday this month, let’s learn more about how the Father of Our Country spent some of his early years in the then-colony of Virginia, applying the tools of the surveying trade centuries before Allen & Company became a leader in this industry. We’re honored to share in this great discipline that continues to shape many facets of our world.

Long before he reigned as the lord of Mount Vernon near what became the nation’s capital city—not coincidentally named for him—George Washington spent his formative years on a plot of land called Ferry Farm, located on the Rappahannock River about 50 miles south. The future military and political leader had to grow up fast when his father, Augustine, died when young George was only 11—leaving him “the man” of the farm in charge of caring for his mother and younger siblings. (George’s older brother, Lawrence, inherited the property at Mount Washington, which George would one day claim as his own.)

George Washington's Farm Survey from 1766

A collection of George Washington’s surveys—including this one of his farm from 1766—is archived at the U.S. Library of Congress.

Always on the quest to expand his horizons even as a young man, George—who had only a rudimentary, nonformal education—opted to strike out on his own as a surveyor as a teenager. By the age of 16, America’s first President was already surveying land far from the family confines at Ferry Farm and soon found himself in what was then the Virginia frontier, assisting George William Fairfax in taking detailed measurements of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Fairfax family was part of early America’s landed gentry; they even lent their name to a county, which today is home to over a million people as well as portions of Dulles Airport. Even though George was only 17 at the time, the Fairfax family connection helped him secure a position as the surveyor of newly created Culpeper County; those crucial connections in high society would serve him later on, paving the way for him to court his eventual wife, Martha Dandridge.

Not only was surveying a noble and exacting profession, but it could also bring in a substantial fortune, especially for someone as busy as Washington, whom the Library of Congress credits with 199 surveys conducted during his journeyman days—including of the D.C. suburb of Alexandria. George seldom stopped long enough to set down his compass.

During the Seven Years’ War between England and France—or what we in the Colonies called the French and Indian War—Washington’s surveying and wayfinding skills came in rather handy when he joined the Virginia Regiment. By then a skilled veteran of mapmaking, Washington’s familiarity with the untamed frontier of Indian territory in what is today western Pennsylvania and Ohio—to say nothing of his natural abilities as a leader—saw him quickly advance within the ranks, eventually rising to full colonel and de facto leader of the entire Virginia Regiment.

Washington’s familiarity with natural terrain enabled him to outmaneuver several French garrisons in the Ohio Valley, burnishing his reputation throughout Colonial America and around the world. And if you’ve ever been to Pittsburgh, you can thank Washington for “discovering” it as he once created a map of a key strategic point at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers during the war; the city stands there today. (A statue overlooking Pittsburgh recreates Washington’s 1770 meeting there with the Seneca leader Guyasuta.)

George Washington’s career as a professional surveyor would need to take a backseat again to world affairs, as on July 4, 1776, on a sweltering day in Philadelphia, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Thirteen disparate colonies, without a centralized professional military, faced the unenviable prospect of squaring off against the British Crown, the world’s greatest armed power. They needed a leader, and there was only one man for the job: Washington.

Following years of war, Washington served as the new nation’s first president (Washington started the tradition of opting to be called “Mr. President” rather than such royalty-adjacent honorifics as “Your Excellency”). Washington eventually retired to Mount Vernon for the last time in 1797. He seldom gloried in his significant past accomplishments, opting instead for a quiet life with his family—while still occasionally picking up those surveying tools.

It all started with a curious teenager and his surveying kit on the shores of the Rappahannock River. So as you drive to a barbecue, ballgame, or fireworks display this Fourth of July, keep in mind that in addition to the hundreds of overhead satellites directing your GPS which turns to take, you can thank George Washington for being not only a Founding Father but a faithful surveyor and mapmaker who helped make those digital maps possible.

As one of the oldest professions in the world, surveying plays a major role in the development of infrastructure, commerce, and residential projects—making it an invaluable skill for the 21st century as it continues to evolve with new technologies and a new generation following in the footsteps of George Washington.

Understanding the Underground World to Maximize the Potential of Site Development with Subsurface Utility Exploration (SUE)

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Understanding the Underground World to Maximize the Potential of Site Development with Subsurface Utility Exploration (SUE)

 Although Subsurface Utility Exploration (SUE) might seem futuristic, Allen & Company uses it all the time to see what’s underneath a construction site. This is especially handy when redeveloping a job site that requires locating and/or moving below-ground utilities. After all, you can’t plan how to accomplish this before knowing what’s down there.

At the same time, paying attention to the necessary compliance requirements is critical. Horror stories abound when the process is not undertaken properly. This can be especially costly when proper underground mapping hasn’t taken place before the bulldozers start rolling. One recent example from our home base of Florida involves a town being on the hook for utility relocation even though it was a state project. This resulted in the town ultimately deciding to sell its water rights to a private concern this spring. While it is impossible to imagine “what might have been” in this situation, it remains true that applying SUE technologies as early as possible can head off such potential pitfalls later.

Allen and Company - Ground-Penetrating Radar services (Subsurface Utility Exploration)

S.U.E. team member from Allen & Company inspecting underground infrastructure using Ground-Penetrating Radar.

Allen & Company continues to be an industry leader in applying SUE technology to magnify the possibilities of how site development proceeds. Being fully informed about the often-unseen underground world at a job site can help maintain cost and schedule during development. Even if no previous structure has ever existed at the site and no previous utilities installed, it is crucial to have a “clear” picture of what is there—which is where SUE comes into play.

While it is highly unlikely that an undeveloped piece of land may be hiding subsurface sewer, power, or other utility lines, SUE technology might uncover items of archeological interest. For example, many unmarked graves around the country have been spotted thanks to ground penetrating radar. And right here in the Sunshine State, the remains of members of Native tribes that once lived extensively throughout the Florida Peninsula have been discovered beneath public parks. Disturbing human remains is a complicated issue at the best of times; relocating them is fraught with additional legal and cultural complications, especially when it comes to Indigenous graves that existed long before there even was a United States. This is another important way in which SUE tech can be applied to get the full subterranean picture of the underground past before an above-ground structure can be erected.

But no matter how you plan to use ground penetrating radar and/or SUE technology, it is key to understand the appropriate laws and procedures—a major safety imperative for Allen & Company’s SUE Department. Case in point, the FCC requires that utilizing such equipment stays within safe radiation limits and that it does not potentially disrupt other electronics or utilities that may already be under the ground. Each state may have additional restrictions as well, so it is important to familiarize yourself with any such limitations and work with a reputable company to ensure compliance.

The exciting future of SUE technology is still being written and Allen & Company. Its uses in construction and redevelopment help mitigate risks and keep projects on track to complete on time and on budget.

Contact us today to get a quote for any subsurface or underground utility identification needs and allow our experienced SUE team to deliver the information you need with advanced technologies like ground penetrating radar, RFID scanning, and specialized devices to help you stay safe and effective in your construction and development projects.

Announcement: Allen & Company Acquires Nexus 3D Consulting; Expands Capabilities, Staff and Geographic Footprint

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Surveying and Mapping’s Evolution through Geospatial Services and UAV Technology

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Allen & Company’s Advanced Technology department is at the forefront of the geospatial evolution thanks to our fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

As major players in the transformation of the surveying and mapping industry, Allen & Company’s array of UAVs have been instrumental in delivering enhanced outputs for our clients.  Going beyond the capabilities of traditional photogrammetry, our Advanced Technologies have ushered the firm into a new era of increased accuracy, maximized efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the field of data collection and analysis. Most importantly, our clients have seen the difference and now depend on the fidelity and richness of UAV-acquired data with our LiDAR/3D laser scanning and other reality capture payloads.

At Allen & Company, UAVs are reshaping the way our surveying professionals gather and utilize geospatial data for a wide range of applications, from urban planning to supporting the development of commercial and theme park projects in Florida. Whether you call them UAVs or drones, these versatile industrial aircraft take to the skies thanks to our team of FAA Part 107 licensed pilots, equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technologies that have been miniaturized over the years.

UAVs as Geospatial Services Assets

Traditionally, surveying and mapping tasks involved manual labor, time-intensive measurements, and costly equipment. Allen & Company’s team members have found themselves in the difficult task of trying to cover an area with thick brush, swamps, and wildlife, including dangerous rattlesnakes, alligators, and wild boar. Add to that the need to have accuracy while having to manage through difficult or inaccessible locations—all while having to meet the deadline for a demanding client. Considering all these factors, this is where our Advanced Technology team excels at using UAVs for surveying and mapping.

The adoption of drones or UAVs has revolutionized this practice by providing an efficient and accurate solution. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, and GPS technology, Allen & Company’s UAVs can quickly and precisely capture vast amounts of geospatial data—often at a fraction of the time it would take using traditional surveying methods. Once collected, the data can then be transformed into detailed 3D models, mesh graphics, and point cloud data sets, providing an unprecedented level of accuracy and detail not available a decade ago.

Specialized Applications for Surveying and Mapping

The integration of these technologies has significantly reduced the time and resources required for surveying and mapping projects, creating new possibilities for industries that rely on precise geographical information. Without question, the impact of UAVs on the surveying and mapping industry is far-reaching, with applications spanning various sectors:

  • Construction and Infrastructure Development: UAVs are rapidly becoming indispensable tools for construction companies and infrastructure developers. Here in Central Florida alone, Allen & Company supports many enterprise-level builders by monitoring construction progress, analyzing geospatial data, and creating topographic maps of construction sites. As valued partners to our clients, our capabilities enhance project management, reduce errors, and promote safer working environments.
  • Agricultural and Resource Management: Our UAVs have proven invaluable for environmental monitoring and conservation efforts, particularly in supporting Central Florida’s agricultural industries. The Advanced Technology teams can survey remote and sensitive ecosystems, helping municipalities and government agencies monitor wildlife populations, track deforestation, and assess the impact of severe storms and hurricanes. These insights are crucial for developing effective conservation policies, irrigation solutions, and overall effective management of our cities and towns.
  • Urban Planning and Management: Urban planners leverage Allen & Company’s Advanced Technologies to create detailed urban models, analyze traffic patterns, and plan infrastructure upgrades. Our UAVs can rapidly scan, photograph, and assess the dynamics of a designated project area and create accurate resource or asset assessments. These services can also help public and private organizations in their planning for infrastructure expansion, which in turn fuels Central Florida’s progress and growth.
  • Cultural Heritage Documentation: This is an area that continues to grow as cultural heritage organizations can benefit from UAVs’ ability to capture high-resolution images of historical sites and artifacts. These images facilitate the creation of detailed 3D models, aiding in the documentation and restoration of cultural heritage sites. In the event of a major storm or hurricane, this data can help manage through the rebuilding of historical landmarks, as well as document their physical condition for insurance recovery purposes.

The integration of UAVs into geospatial services offers numerous advantages that have increased their widespread adoption by Allen & Company. Through our ongoing cross-training of surveying and mapping professionals—many of whom have earned their FAA drone pilot license—we have created new opportunities in what some considered to be a “dying” profession. Instead, our Advanced Technologies team has been successful in creating a complementary menu of Reality Capture services using aerial tools that continue to redefine our industry. From time and cost efficiency to enhanced accuracy and real-time data—Allen & Company can deliver the most impressive results of any competitor using state-of-the-art tools, without compromising our team members’ safety and with greater accessibility to project sites than ever before.

In the coming years, Allen & Company expects further advancements in UAV and Reality Capture technology, with increased sensor capabilities and data processing techniques that should increase the sophistication of our deliverables. These developments will likely lead to even more refined and comprehensive geospatial services, expanding the possibilities for industries that rely on accurate and up-to-date geographical information. The rapid data collection, enhanced accuracy, and versatility of drones are reshaping how technology evolves—and at Allen & Company, we can anticipate a future where UAVs play an increasingly integral role in shaping our understanding of Central Florida’s landscapes and environments.

Contact Allen & Company’s Business Development team for a consultation and scope review by calling us at (877) 893-4815 or reach out to us via our online contact form.

Beyond Geospatial: How Allen & Company’s Reality Capture Services Extend the Capabilities of Traditional Surveying and Mapping Methods

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Our Advanced Technologies department delivers accurate data sets through the application of Reality Capture solutions for facility scanning with high-fidelity imaging deliverables.

The future of surveying and mapping lies in harnessing the potential of laser scanning, LiDAR, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and many more tools and data capture devices. These technologies can capture and analyze vast geospatial datasets, significantly speeding up the deliverable for our clients and enhancing their decision-making process. Without question, Allen & Company has been at the forefront of the geospatial evolution for surveying and mapping firms, and we use advanced technologies to create value for our customers while exceeding their expectations as forward-thinking innovators. Case in point, we have been working with these advanced geospatial tools for over a decade, allowing us to engage today’s opportunities with proven knowledge, experience, and insight.

Foreseeing how AI-driven tools will improve data accuracy by identifying and correcting errors in surveying and mapping data, Allen & Company uses a combination of traditional surveying and mapping methods, supported by geospatial methods that can reduce human intervention and enhance the reliability of the geospatial data produced in our data acquisition projects. This includes the concept of XR or Extended Reality—a moniker for the aggregate Reality Capture outputs of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR) technologies. These XR environments are expected to revolutionize how we visualize and interact with geospatial data in the surveying and mapping industry.

  • Augmented Reality (AR): Another example of Reality Capture applications is how urban planners can use AR to visualize proposed infrastructure projects in their actual locations, helping them assess potential impacts and make informed choices. At Allen & Company, AR technology can support our construction and development clients by providing real-time information while they are on-site, streamlining data collection, and validating construction processes—as well as contributing to existing Building Information Management (BIM) solutions. AR overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing situational awareness and aiding decision-making in real-time, helping us create solutions never before possible across many industries.
  • Virtual Reality (VR): VR is another advanced technology application of our Reality Capture services, which allows users to immerse themselves in virtual environments. This capability is valuable for simulation and modeling applications, and virtual training purposes for military and law enforcement, but also allows Allen & Company’s surveyors and mappers to practice their skills in various scenarios without physically being present at the location. This is why our firm is always willing to take on the most complex and difficult surveying projects—regardless of their size or location.
  • Mixed Reality (MR): The continuous evolution of Reality Capture applications can also help us blend the physical and virtual worlds to create a mixed reality (MR) environment. By blending these two media environments, training and simulation can become more realistic by integrating them into simulators or gaming. Some of its outputs include 3D depictions on which a user can become immersed or even a holographic image of a building of interior facilities. Allen & Company operates as a teaming partner in industrial, entertainment, and defense organizations’ projects where we provide data capture services to be processed and implemented into MR applications—making us a remarkable partner with the knowledge and experience to create exceptional results.

It is important to consider how the proliferation of cloud computing is transforming how geospatial data is stored, processed, and shared. Allen & Company uses cloud-based geospatial services to store and manage vast amounts of data securely and with a focus on data integrity. This accessibility fosters collaboration among different stakeholders—from our advanced technology team to our clients and their own customers—and facilitates the integration of geospatial data into various construction, industrial, and simulation applications. It should be noted that cloud computing reduces the hardware and infrastructure costs associated with data processing, enabling even small organizations and startups to access advanced geospatial capabilities.

Allen & Company’s Reality Capture services enable the convergence of cutting-edge technologies such as GNSS, GIS, LiDAR, drones, AR, MR, and VR into our geospatial services. Our goal is to facilitate efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility in geospatial data acquisition and analysis, benefiting a wide range of industries and promoting efficiency in our deliverables. As the world becomes more interconnected, geospatial services will play a pivotal role in shaping our future, enabling smarter decision-making and a deeper understanding of our physical environments.

Contact Allen & Company’s Business Development team for a consultation and scope review by calling us at (877) 893-4815 or reach out to us via our online contact form.

The Future of Surveying and Mapping: How Allen & Company is Embracing the Geospatial Services Era

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Allen & Company is a surveying, mapping, and geospatial services firm with over three decades of experience delivering value to our customers across the Central Florida area—and beyond.

Surveying and mapping have been vital tools for understanding the Earth’s physical features and gathering essential information for various industries—primarily construction companies, but also for commercial Real Estate and industrial or infrastructure development. Traditionally, these practices involved manual measurements and fieldwork, which are known to be time-consuming and require significant human effort, specialized training, and even manual calculations. And while all of these skills are still needed, the evolutionary process has opened our future to new and exciting opportunities beyond construction and development.

With the advent of advanced technologies for surveying and mapping, firms like Allen & Company have evolved into the geospatial services industry as the former professional trade transitioned into a specialized technologist competency. This transformation has revolutionized how we gather, analyze, and utilize geospatial data as licensed professional surveyors and mappers. Building on years of experience of our traditional surveying and mapping methods, Allen & Company has been training and developing our teams to serve our clients with advanced technologies—and we have invested in the tools and devices that can accurately map, survey, and report with more accuracy than ever before.

How Geospatial Technologies Drive Innovation

One of the most significant drivers of Allen & Company’s geospatial services evolution involved the adoption of emerging geospatial technologies. Cutting-edge tools such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are revolutionizing data acquisition and processing. Here is a primer on how Allen & Company is using these advanced technologies:

  • GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems): GNSS provides real-time positioning information with high accuracy, allowing surveyors to precisely locate points on the Earth’s surface. This technology has found applications in agriculture, construction, disaster management, and urban planning, and many more applications for accurate measurement of points on land. GNSS is part of many of the tools and technology resources in use by Allen & Company—allowing our teams to identify and locate the position of land across our surveying and mapping projects.
  • GIS (Geographic Information Systems): GIS enables the visualization, analysis, and interpretation of spatial data, empowering decision-makers with valuable insight that uses satellite positioning. Given its accuracy and accessibility, GIS has become an indispensable technology platform across various industries—but most importantly, it is now a staple of forward-thinking surveying and mapping firms like Allen & Company.
  • LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): LiDAR technology, when combined with aerial and terrestrial platforms used in the surveying and mapping industry, can produce high-resolution 3D maps of the environment. This data is crucial for urban planning, infrastructure development, forestry, and environmental monitoring—or in Allen & Company’s case, it delivers rich data for large commercial, industrial, infrastructure, and residential development projects. Allen & Company employs a variety of LiDAR devices, from vehicle or UAV-mounted for scanning large facilities to handheld scanners that can be used indoors or in tight spaces.
  • UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles): UAVs are commonly known as drones, and they have dramatically changed the surveying and mapping profession with fast and effective capabilities when coupled with payload attachments for photogrammetry or LiDAR. Allen & Company uses drones to survey and map large areas—from tracts of land to be developed to existing infrastructure such as highways or airports. If the weather conditions are favorable to fly a mission, our UAV fleet can capture high-resolution imagery and LiDAR data, making these drones a formidable tool for cost-effective data collection.

Allen & Company’s multi-competency approach to surveying, mapping, and geospatial projects allows us to serve the needs of customers across multiple industries and markets. We actively work with enterprise-level clients with large or multiple projects requiring a variety of solutions within our geospatial spectrum, allowing us to consult prior to the proposal stage to ensure they are procuring exactly what they need. In many cases, our geospatial and advanced technology solutions can find ways to save them time and effort—leading to successful outcomes and satisfied customers.

Contact Allen & Company’s Business Development team for a consultation and scope review by calling us at (877) 893-4815 or reach out to us via our online contact form.

IAAPA 2021: Where the Theme Parks and Attraction Industry Shops for Solutions

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The New Riegl’s VUX-1UAV LiDAR Sensor Sees More Than Meets the Eye

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What should I look for when hiring a reputable surveying and mapping company?

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