EMS was contracted by a major Midwest gas distribution company to provide project management, engineering design, survey, and related technical services for their 10-year cast iron replacement program. To date, EMS has provided this client with services for over 100 miles of cast iron, bare steel, and copper line replacement, ranging in sizes from 2 to 20-inch diameter.

In the initial stages of the project, EMS worked closely with client representatives to plan and schedule each phase of the overall 10-year program. Since the beginning, EMS has executed individual project “modules” of 2 to 5 miles of line replacement, averaging about 11 modules per year.

Execution of each module begins with a careful review of existing as-built drawings and documents, part of the pre-execution planning for that particular module. Then EMS survey crews survey the lines to be replaced, using survey procedures developed with the client in the early stages of the program. Survey results are then combined with as-built information to produce base maps, which are then used by the engineering design group to produce designs for the line replacement. Client reviews, followed by EMS reviews, are performed prior to construction, minimizing, or eliminating re-work.

In addition to project management, engineering design, survey, and mapping, EMS also provides services required for local, state, federal, and railroad permitting. All permits are prepared and filed by EMS on behalf of the client. Careful planning and scheduling are performed to ensure that the necessary permits are filed and approved prior to construction. EMS also has retained the consulting services of former client employees who have been instrumental in efficient execution of work, minimal downtime for learning client standards and practices, and inter-department client communication.