Pompano Beach, Fla. – February 20, 2023. Tierra Group, a provider of assured geoscience
solutions, has expanded its service portfolio to include subsurface utility engineering (mapping and
locating) for the benefit of the energy generation, power transmission, and public/private infrastructure
sectors. To head up this initiative, Tierra has hired Rufus D. Swift III who has decades of related
experience within and for various transportation and public service companies.
“The expansion of subsurface utility mapping is a natural fit for our integrated business model,
which includes providing services in multi-stage soil and groundwater remediation. Understanding what
lies below the ground surface is critical to safely developing operations for projects of new generating
capacity and other utilities’ legacy infrastructure,” said Scott Zednek, president of Tierra Group. Zednek
further added, “Rufus’ work in this area, more recently with DMRP, will prove to be invaluable to our
clients as we strive to be a one-stop resource for expansion in the utility industries.”
Subsurface utility engineering helps round out the three critical areas where Tierra can add
value for clients. That includes environmental risk assessment for project stakeholders; site evaluations,
surveying and mapping for engineering designers; and permitting and environmental compliance for
project managers.
Prior to joining Tierra, Swift served as DMRP’s subsurface utilities manager for South Florida and
prior to that role worked as CSX’s subsurface engineering services manager and crew supervisor for their
E-RAILSAFE System. His technical experience includes subsurface utility designation for large right-of-
way projects for both large and smaller sites and obtaining survey data for the various types of surveys
required. Swift has extensive experience working with utility designating equipment and has worked
with other such organizations as City of Sunrise, Broward County, Florida; Florida Power & Light; South
Florida Water Management District, Palm Beach County, Florida; and the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT).
About Us
Tierra Group™ is a professional geoscience solutions firm with decades of global and domestic experience delivering on-site and subsurface utility services anywhere, anytime, on schedule, and on budget. Tierra is specifically qualified to solve complex and diverse air, soil, and water regulatory compliance issues facing today’s and tomorrow’s projects. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) firm, Tierra deploys multi-disciplinary teams to provide nearly forty critical support services for the community, government, healthcare, transportation, power distribution, generation, and transmission sectors.