Utility contractor field coordination: every conflict, inspection hold, and open RFI pinned to the location where it lives.

What you get

• Utility conflicts logged at the exact GPS location

  When the crew hits an unmarked utility, log it as an RFI at that coordinate. Attach photos, the depth, and the utility type. Status tracks from open to responded to resolved — visible to the whole team without a separate email chain.

• Custom pin categories for your utility workflow

  Create pin categories that match how you work: Inspection Hold, Bore Location, Valve or Manhole, Conflict Zone, Compaction Test Required, Permit Pending. Each gets a distinct color on the map. The foreman sees the full status view at a glance.

• Inspection holds tied to specific structures

  Drop an inspection hold pin at the manhole, the splice vault, or the crossing. Status stays yellow on the map until the inspector clears it. The PM sees holds before scheduling the next phase — no phone call needed to find out what is blocking the crew.

• Directives documented at the location where scope changed

  A utility agency calls for a route change mid-bore. A permit condition requires extra depth at a specific crossing. Log the directive at the GPS coordinate with the date and description so the paper trail supports the change order.

• Plan overlays for as-builts and conflict checking

  Overlay utility design plans on the satellite map. Compare the design alignment to the field GPS pins to spot conflicts before they happen and validate the bore path against the permitted corridor.

• Multi-party access for utility agency coordination

  Gas company rep, electric utility inspector, city permit holder, and your super all on the same live map. Every open item visible to every party without a status meeting.

Why not spreadsheets, sticky notes, or memory?

• A utility conflict at Row 4 of the spreadsheet is invisible to the bore crew at the site — the location is gone.
• Inspection holds tracked in a text thread have no audit trail when the permit agency asks for documentation.
• Multiple utility types in separate rows of a spreadsheet cannot show you the spatial relationship between a gas main and an electric duct bank at the same station.
• Directives called out in the field and written on a sticky note do not become change order support.
• The inspector cannot verify a hold is cleared without calling the field or waiting for the next email update.

See the map and custom pin system in action

The video below walks through how HeavyCivilHelper's map and custom location pin feature works for field tracking. The interface and available features have expanded significantly since this was recorded — plan overlays, RFI and directive record types, AI risk reports, and mobile improvements are all live now — but the core GPS map workflow is exactly what you see here.

Custom pin categories built for your utility workflow

Utility work does not fit a one-size-fits-all pin type. A gas contractor's field status vocabulary is different from a telecom HDD crew's. HeavyCivilHelper lets you define your own pin categories — with custom names, colors, and status workflows — so the map speaks your project's language.

• Inspection Hold

  Work paused at this location until the inspector clears it. Stays visible and yellow on the map until the status is updated. The PM sees active holds before scheduling the next phase.

• Bore Location / Entry and Exit Pit

  Mark bore entry points, exit pits, and hand holes on the GPS map. The engineer and inspector see the bore path in relation to crossing utilities and permit boundaries.

• Utility Conflict Zone

  Unexpected utility found during excavation. Log the GPS coordinate, the depth, the utility type, and attach photos. Opens an RFI at that location automatically.

• Valve / Manhole / Vault

  Asset locations tracked for as-built documentation. The inspector verifies coordinates during the walk by comparing the GPS pin to the permit plan.

• Compaction Test Required

  Mark locations where compaction testing is pending. Status updates from 'required' to 'passed' or 'failed' with a timestamped record at the GPS coordinate.

• Permit Pending

  Locations where work cannot proceed until a specific permit is cleared — an encroachment permit, a utility crossing agreement, or a traffic control approval.

Dig alerts, utility markings, and locate conflicts

Every excavation requires an 811 Call Before You Dig notification. When the locating company marks the surface with APWA color-coded paint or flags, the crew needs to know which tickets are active, when they expire, and what to do when the marks on the ground conflict with the design or with each other. HeavyCivilHelper gives every one of those conditions a GPS pin and a documented record.

• Marking conflicts logged at the GPS coordinate

  When a utility mark is missing, mislocated, or conflicts with another utility's marks, drop a pin at that exact location. Attach a photo of the markings on the ground. Open an RFI at that coordinate — the timestamped, geolocated record protects the contractor if a utility strike is later disputed.

• Locate ticket tracking by section

  Create a 'Locate Active' pin category and an 'Locate Expired — Re-Notify Required' category. Add the 811 ticket number and expiration date in the pin notes. When a ticket expires, flip the status so the foreman knows exactly which sections of the alignment are on hold until the new locate clears.

• Positive response and utility agency coordination

  Some states require positive response from each utility owner before excavation. Log the response status at each marked location — 'Responded — Clear to Dig,' 'No Response Received,' 'Conflict — Potholing Required.' The PM sees which segments are cleared and which are still waiting, without calling the field.

• Pothole and test pit documentation

  When a marked utility cannot be verified by surface markings alone and the crew needs to pothole, log the pothole location as a GPS pin with photos of the exposed utility, the depth measurement, and the utility type. That record supports the as-built and protects against depth disputes later.

Multi-utility coordination on the same corridor

Public right-of-way utility projects often involve gas, electric, telecom, water, and sewer installations happening simultaneously along the same alignment. Each utility type has its own inspector, its own permit conditions, and its own conflict risks.

In HeavyCivilHelper, each utility type gets a distinct custom pin category. When a conflict arises between a gas main and a new duct bank at a specific station, the RFI is pinned at that coordinate with both utility types noted. The affected utility agency contacts, the permit holder, and the construction team all see the same open-item status on the same live map — without a separate status email chain for each utility type.

• Color-coded pin categories for each utility type on the same map
• RFIs and directives tied to specific utility conflict locations
• Inspection holds visible by utility type and location
• Plan overlays for each utility permit corridor

Documentation for permit compliance and as-built records

Utility work in public right-of-way requires documentation of actual installation locations for as-built records, encroachment permit compliance, and utility agency verification. GPS pins in HeavyCivilHelper are timestamped, location-stamped, and photo-attached — giving you the field record that becomes the as-built documentation.

When the permit agency asks for the location of the installed vault, the GPS coordinate is already in the project map. When the inspector needs to verify that compaction testing was completed at each backfill location, the status timestamps are on the map. The documentation is created in the course of doing the work — not compiled after the fact.

Common questions about utility contractor software

Does HeavyCivilHelper work for underground utility contractors?

Yes. Underground utility work — gas, electric, telecom, water, sewer — is one of the best fits for HeavyCivilHelper because the work is geographically distributed and the field questions (utility conflicts, changed conditions, permit holds) all have specific locations. Each RFI, directive, or inspection hold is a GPS pin at the exact location it applies to. Custom pin categories let you label inspection points, bore locations, valve or manhole coordinates, and conflict zones the way your workflow runs.

How does HeavyCivilHelper track utility conflicts and changed conditions?

Mark the conflict location and enter its description, utility type and supporting photos within your plan allowance. When a formal RFI is needed, create that record explicitly and place it at the relevant location. A custom conflict pin does not automatically become an RFI or send a notice to the engineer. Authorized project members can review saved status updates when their project view refreshes.

Can I use custom pin categories for utility inspection points?

Yes. Custom pin categories are one of HeavyCivilHelper's most flexible features for utility contractors. You can create categories like 'Inspection Hold,' 'Bore Location,' 'Valve/Manhole,' 'Conflict Zone,' 'Permit Pending,' and 'Compaction Test Required.' Each category gets its own color and icon on the map, so the foreman and inspector see a live status view of every point along the alignment at a glance.

How does it handle multi-utility coordination on the same corridor?

On a project with gas, electric, telecom, and water utilities all being installed or relocated along the same corridor, each utility type can get its own pin category with a distinct color. When a conflict arises between two utilities at a specific station, the RFI is pinned at that station and visible to everyone on the project — GC, utility subs, and the utility agency contacts who need to respond. No one is waiting on a status email to know what is active at their location.

Does HeavyCivilHelper work with horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and trenchless work?

Yes. Bore locations, entry and exit pits, crossing conflicts, and inspection holds all have specific GPS coordinates that make them natural pin locations in HeavyCivilHelper. An HDD crew can mark the bore path entry and exit on the map, log conflicts found during the bore, and track inspection holds at each crossing — all visible to the engineer and inspector in real time.

How does HeavyCivilHelper help document dig alert and utility marking issues?

Document the observed marking issue with a location, notes and permitted photos. Create any required RFI or directive separately and follow the applicable 811, locating, notification and excavation procedures. HCH records support review; they do not verify utility clearance, authorize excavation or guarantee protection from liability.

Can we track 811 locate ticket expiration by location in HeavyCivilHelper?

Yes. Create a custom pin category for 'Locate Ticket Active' and another for 'Locate Expired — Re-Notify Required.' Drop a pin at each segment or structure where a locate ticket applies. Add the ticket number and expiration date in the notes. When the ticket expires, update the status to 'Expired' so the foreman and PM know exactly which sections of the alignment need a new locate request before work can continue. The locate ticket history at each location becomes part of the project record.

Is HeavyCivilHelper useful for utility work on public right-of-way projects?

Utility work in public right-of-way is one of the primary use cases. Right-of-way projects involve permit coordination, utility agency agreements, inspector access, and documentation requirements that generate significant volumes of RFIs and directives. HeavyCivilHelper's GPS map handles the spatial complexity of multi-permit, multi-utility right-of-way work — and gives the permit holder a real-time view of what is open at each permitted location.