As-Built

As-built drawings are created during or after construction to document deviations between the original design plans and the actual installed conditions. In underground utility work, as-builts record the true horizontal position, depth, material, diameter, and routing of pipes, cables, and conduits. This information is critical for future maintenance, repair, and construction activities in the same area.

The accuracy of as-built records varies enormously. Older as-builts may have been created from field sketches with limited survey control, and they often contain errors in position and depth. Even modern as-builts can be inaccurate if the surveying was performed before backfilling, if the utility shifted during compaction, or if record-keeping was inconsistent. This inherent uncertainty is one of the primary reasons that hydrovac potholing is required to verify utility positions before new construction.

Hydrovac contractors both rely on and contribute to as-built records. When performing potholing or daylighting, the exposed utility data is often used to update or correct existing as-built records. Some hydrovac companies provide detailed pothole reports with GPS coordinates, depth measurements, photographs, and utility descriptions that serve as updated as-built documentation for the project.