4M follows the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Standard Guideline for Recording and Exchanging Utility Infrastructure Data, ASCE/UESI/CI 75-22, to ensure consistency, clarity, and industry alignment across all utility mapping displayed in the platform.
This article defines how 4M classifies:
Utility sectors and sub-sectors, including the color conventions used across maps, and
Utility object types, along with their availability across Foundation Data and Validated Data in 4M projects.
This serves as a reference for how utility lines, assets, and infrastructure data are standardized within 4M. You can use this guide anytime you need to understand how a utility asset is categorized or why it appears in a specific color.
Utility Line Color Standards
4M uses a standardized color system for all utility linework, consistent with ASCE guidelines. Each sector and sub-sector is assigned a specific color, and those sector names are reflected directly in the 4M’s Layers panel and mapping data.
Line Color | Utility Sector | Utility Sub-Sector |
Red | Electricity | Power |
Red | Electricity | Street Lighting |
Red | Electricity | Undetermined Electricity |
Red | Electricity | Power |
Red | Electricity | Traffic System Power |
Orange | Communication | Cable TV |
Orange | Communication | Alarm and Signals |
Orange | Communication | Undetermined Communication |
Orange | Communication | Telephone |
Orange | Communication | Fiber Optic |
Orange | Communication | Traffic System Signaling |
Orange | Communication | CCTV |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Natural Gas |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Crude Oil |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Steam |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Other Petroleum |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Chemical and Gaseous Materials |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Fuel |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Undetermined Petroleum |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Brine |
Yellow | Petroleum and Gaseous Materials | Produced Water |
Blue | Potable Water | Potable Water |
Blue | Potable Water | Undetermined Potable Water |
Blue | Nonpotable Water | Raw Water |
Purple | Nonpotable Water | Reclaimed Water |
Purple | Nonpotable Water | Irrigation |
Purple | Nonpotable Water | Slurry |
Purple | Nonpotable Water | Salt Water |
Purple | Nonpotable Water | Cooling and Heating |
Dark Green | Wastewater and Stormwater | Wastewater |
Dark Green | Wastewater and Stormwater | Combined Sewer |
Dark Green | Wastewater and Stormwater | Undetermined Wastewater And Stormwater |
Light Green | Wastewater and Stormwater | Stormwater |
Pink | Undetermined | Undetermined Utility |
Utility Object Types in 4M
In addition to line-based utilities, 4M maps a wide range of utility objects, including valves, manholes, poles, control boxes, and other above-ground assets.
Different project types in 4M include different levels of object detail:
Foundation Data provides broad coverage using satellite and street view imagery.
Validated Data provides higher accuracy with historical imagery and QA/QC from geospatial experts.
The table below outlines each utility object type and its availability across Foundation Data and Validated Data.
Utility Object | Identified in Foundation? | Identified in Validated? |
Valve | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Antenna |
| ✔️ |
Cover |
| ✔️ |
Camera |
| ✔️ |
Cathodic Protection |
| ✔️ |
Clean Out |
| ✔️ |
Control Box | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Headwall |
| ✔️ |
Inlet | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Fire Connection Point |
| ✔️ |
Grate |
| ✔️ |
Generator |
| ✔️ |
Grease Trap |
| ✔️ |
Handhole |
| ✔️ |
Outfall |
| ✔️ |
Hydrant | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Junction Box |
| ✔️ |
Manhole | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Meter | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Pedestal | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Pipe End |
| ✔️ |
Pole | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Sample Point or Test Hole |
| ✔️ |
Solar Panel |
| ✔️ |
Tank |
| ✔️ |
Transformer | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Undefined Utility | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Vault |
| ✔️ |
Vent |
| ✔️ |
Wellhead or Well |
| ✔️ |
Wind Turbine |
| ✔️ |
Tower |
| ✔️ |
Monitoring Well |
| ✔️ |
Sign |
| ✔️ |
Flag |
| ✔️ |
Mark | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Marking Post |
| ✔️ |
Questions?
If you have any questions about these classifications or need help interpreting your mapping data, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager.