Crews of two or three will use equipment mounted on small tripods or hand-held computers to gather property information such as topography and locations of trees, buildings, and utilities. Each surveying activity will typically take two to three days to complete and may require follow up visits, as needed.

Crews will use computers, measuring equipment, and sketch pads to gather site-specific information to prepare and verify data. Work will likely take one to three days per visit. Light vegetation cutting may be required if there is thick brush or blackberries in the area. Crews will remove and dispose of any cut vegetation.

The utility companies that serve a property or have easements will locate their utilities and mark their subsurface locations on the surface of the property. Subsurface Utility Engineering uses Electromagnetic (EM) locating and survey tools to define the location of utilities. Teams access cabinets, pedestals, manholes, vaults, valve covers, and other locations to obtain information and hook up equipment. It will appear similar to One Call services out in the road marking utility locations. Field crews may visit a site several times to obtain data on all the utilities.

In addition, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) will be utilized on the project and will be either truck mounted, towed, or on a pushcart similar to a lawn mower.

Crews will install, monitor, and remove sound and vibration testing equipment to document ambient noise levels in both indoor and outdoor locations, as well as understand how vibration might travel from potential light rail alignments. Vibration monitoring typically takes about one day to complete, which includes set up, testing, and take down. Noise monitoring typically takes two to three days, which includes set up, testing, and take down.

To study soil and groundwater conditions, a drill rig is used to bore vertically into the ground while collecting soil samples. Following the collection of soil samples, a monitoring device is installed and will be used by crews to monitor water levels on future visits. Water level readings will be taken every few months as the design phase progresses. In accordance with all local regulations, the 4- to 12-inch diameter borings will be installed carefully to avoid soil erosion and dirt or mud from leaking into surface waters, wetlands, and drainage systems. Following the completion of the work, any exposed soil will be reseeded with a native seed mix.

To determine the precise location and depth of existing utilities, crews will use steam and equipment to evacuate soils and investigate underground conditions. Equipment used for this work will sound like a large truck running. Noise typically lasts for about two to four hours. Once the work is complete, crews will restore the ground to as close to its prior condition as possible.

Cone penetration testing (CPT) uses a truck-mounted probe to push a cone-tipped rod into the ground. As the cone advances, sensors measure soil resistance to help engineers understand soil layers, strength, and groundwater conditions without the need for boreholes. Work typically takes one to two days per location.