Utility Locating
Underground Utility MarkoutGround Penetrating Radar SurveyUnderground Utility Map

Performing an accurate underground utility locating survey

 requires more than just well trained underground utility locators and advanced ground penetrating radar (GPR) and cable and pipe locator technology; it requires a comprehensive and time proven process. All our underground utility locating surveys are performed with strict adherence to the following five step process:

1. Research
  1. State "One Call" center is contacted.
  2. Site maps or asbuilts are obtained from municipalities, maintenance personal, superintendents, property owners or contractor(s) that laid utilities.
  3. Aforementioned individuals are interviewed.

2. Inspect
  1. Utility Structures – Visual inspection of property and building is performed to search for utility poles, conduits, site lighting structures, manholes, handholes, catch basins, drains, sewer cleanouts, gas vents, and gas/water meters, valves and caps.
  2. Anomalies – Ground is inspected for asphalt patches, cracks or sinkholes.

3. Survey
  1. Cable and Pipe Locating
    1. Active signal is applied to:
      1. Metallic pipes and conduits via connection leads
      2. Electric, telephone and cable lines via a transmitter clamp.
      3. Inaccessible, abandoned and/or unknown lines via induction.
      4. Detectable duct rod or sonde and inserted into accessible manholes, handholes, catch basins or cleanouts.
    2. Passive sweep is performed to search for inaccessible, abandoned and/or unknown lines.
  2. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey
    1. GPR survey is performed within entire survey area to verify Cable and Pipe Locator results and to search for non-metallic, unknown, abandoned and/or inaccessible lines.
4. Designate
  1. Location and depth of underground utilities are marked on the ground with colored paint and/or flags.

5. Report
  1. Level 1 – Consultation is performed with an onsite representative to discuss results of the survey.
  2. Level 2 – Consultation is performed with an onsite representative to discuss results of survey and a written report is prepared for documentation.
  3. Level 3 – Consultation is performed with an onsite representative to discuss results of survey. A written report and underground utility map are prepared for documentation.

To learn more about our underground utility locating services, please visit the underground utility locating services page.

To view some of our recently completed projects, please visit the underground utility locating projects page.