Blog | Util Locate

How Utility Locating Services Have Changed Over Time

Locators of utility lines use a range of equipment to complete their work. Depending on the work to be done and the type of utility that needs to be located, locators choose which tools to use for utility locating. A reliable utility location method prevents hazardous utility strikes among excavation crews and the surrounding communities.

There are a variety of tools used for detecting underground cables. Located tools are used for specific purposes and come with some limitations as well. Radars, electromagnetic utility locators, and APLs are the most popular tools for detecting underground utilities.

Common Methods For Underground Utility Location

It is possible to locate a buried utility line using a variety of methods and techniques. Before choosing a locating method, you need to gather as much information about the job site as possible, as well as any mapping information that’s available.

Electromagnetic Utility Locating

Emitting electromagnetic waves is one of the most common methods of locating private utilities.

A metallic field is created using electricity for the purpose of detecting underground cables using these tools. There are two components to the electromagnetic utility locator, the transmitter and the receiver. Electrified cables are connected to the transmitter through electric current transmission.

Early nineteenth-century discoveries gave rise to a profound understanding of electromagnetic induction. Within a generation or so of the turn of the century, electromagnetic induction had been used to locate hidden cables. Electronic cable and pipe locators have advanced to the point where they are portable, accurate, and reliable. Pipes and cables are found underground using these devices.

Ground-Penetrating Radar

Another method of locating underground utilities is utilizing Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR). An operator transmits radio waves onto the ground, which are reflected back up to the equipment, where they display objects on a screen. GPR was originally developed in the 1930s for measuring glacier thickness. In the 1960s, 1970s, and ultimately in the mid-1980s, hardware and software made significant technological advancements.

Modern Utility Locating Technology

The increased demand in locating utility services demands and increasingly complex utility grids with many intersecting lines have put additional pressure on scanning tools to provide accuracy and depth. Electromagnetic scanning technology became more advanced and featured as new features and advancements were introduced.

Utility scanning and locating are often carried out by electromagnetic induction scanning throughout the world without causing any damage to the utilities. Repairing utility lines, cabling, and fiber optics, displaying key archaeological locations during excavations, and mapping construction sites for safe excavation are just a few of the applications.

As a result of these technological advances, GPRS has been training on and utilizing the most advanced electromagnetic scanning tools for locating private utilities. Utility scanning and locating services by GPRS continue to be among the best in the industry for construction and excavation crews across the country.

Whenever you require expertise in locating and scanning infrastructure, contact Util-Locate! To locate and map underground utilities efficiently, our team consists of highly skilled professionals using GPR. We at Util-Locate can assist you with private utility locating. Please contact us at 888-885-6228 for more information.

5 Myths About Utility Mapping

There are a number of cables, pipes, and other conduits beneath your feet that carry gas, electricity, water, and digital information. As a result, site planning for development and design projects has become even more crucial, not only to extend the utility lines’ lives, but also to provide uninterrupted views.

A project can be kept on track if you are familiar with the location of buried utilities before you start construction. During the early planning stages, knowing the locations of utilities is often crucial, depending on the scope of your project. Then, you can develop your site plan and determine the feasibility of your project in the most cost-effective manner.

You should always locate utilities accordingly when planning your next project, even though they are a bit misunderstood. The following information will ensure a smooth and successful construction project by dispelling a few common misconceptions about utility mapping.

1. Pre-Existing Utility Maps Are Reliable

The utility map you have of your property may seem reliable, but it may not include older lines that weren’t recorded at the time the map was made. The map may not include any utility lines that have been built since it was created.

Using a utility map alone is not always a good idea, since they are not always completely accurate and can be misinterpreted. Prior to any excavation or drilling, utility marking needs to be done, even if you believe the map is accurate.

2. Mapping & Locating Utility Assets is Accurate

Despite its improvements over the last few decades, utility locating remains an imperfect science. It is possible for readings to be inaccurate for a variety of reasons. An operator’s experience, the type of equipment used, and the ground conditions all play a role.

Despite advances in technology, accurate results might not always be achieved. Although ground-penetrating radars and other pipe-locating equipment are highly accurate and provide cutting-edge technology, they have some limitations. Don’t forget that the readings taken are the operator’s interpretation.

3. Utility Mapping Checks Are One-Time Only

A thorough mapping of existing utilities is done before beginning any new excavation or drilling project to ensure everyone’s safety. Since the last excavation or utility survey, there may have been a new electric or gas service added. Markouts are always a good idea before digging.

There might be obstructions during the survey time that prevent utility locators from fully accessing the site. It is also possible to gather clues by discussing the site with staff familiar with it, as well as by accessing nearby utility rooms and finding utility records.

4. Non-Metallic Utilities Are Not Detectable

It is still possible to locate non-metallic utilities using Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR), even if GPR is not able to see all utilities. Additionally, the utility can be traced using a cable or pipe locating device if the conduit pipe is hollow with a metallic trace wire inserted into it.

5. You Can Locate All Utilities With The 811 Service

It is vital that your property be surveyed if you plan to dig. Conducting a survey with Call 811 will help prevent accidental damage. After you call 811, your local utility provider will get in touch with you to let them know you’re planning on digging.

But some utility companies don’t mark your ground quickly, so private utility lines may not be taken into account if the meter, box, or transformer is on your side. Marking the communication, electric, gas, water, and sewer lines within your property will usually require the assistance of a private locating company.

A professional, reliable, and trustworthy utility mapping service is what you can expect from our team of skilled experts. Contact Util-Locate today at 888-885-6228 or email us at info@util-locate.com for more information about our services!

Utility Service Locator with Depth Indicator

It is common knowledge that utility locating keeps workers as well as residents safe. Additionally, it contributes to on-time and on-budget project completion. It’s important to keep in mind that this service can be used for much more than damage prevention, however.

Utility locating contributes to the efficiency of construction sites, the safety of communities, and the operational efficiency of utilities. In order to effectively locate materials, utilities, diggers, and 811 operators must cooperate.

Utility Locating: How Does It Work?

Utility locating involves creating a detailed map of what’s going on under the surface using high-tech equipment, also known as underground utility mapping or utility detection. A utility locator verifies existing infrastructure and manages excavation practices safely, rather than risking damage to underground pipes and cables.

The ability to map and account for utilities before opening the ground is vital when using hydro excavation and other soft digging equipment. Location services using electromagnetic field technology are among the most popular today, since this technology generates, sends, and receives electromagnetic radio frequencies through the earth.

By converting signal strength into depth, modern locators can also measure depth. Signals from other sources can, however, cause distortion, resulting in errors in in-depth measurements.

What Are the Uses of Utility Locating?

Residential, commercial, and civil utilities can be mapped with underground utility mapping technology. Private builders and government organizations involved in infrastructure projects use this technology regularly, although it can be prohibitively expensive for small residential jobs.

Locators reduce the risk of damaging underground pipes and other services by preventing them from being hit and broken. To reduce the risk of exposure to dangerous electric wires and waste-water pipes, pipe locator technology is also an important part of health and safety.

Using advanced technology and training, private utility locators are capable of producing more detailed deliverables, such as digital maps, thereby reducing the possibility of mistakes and costly delays. Construction delays, buried line damage, and injuries are more likely to occur when locators miss buried lines or surface markers due to limited technology or training.

When Should You Call a Utility Locator?

Any project that involves digging deeper than 16 inches into the ground requires the assistance of a licensed utility locator. Calling the national service line is generally sufficient for simple residential projects. However, companies that perform utility location services can be contacted for larger commercial or municipal projects.

To locate underground gas lines, electrical lines, water pipes, and more, a utility locator uses certain technologies, such as EMR and EMI. For your project to run smoothly, this is an absolute necessity. In order to avoid liability and safety risks, it is imperative to conduct a new assessment of underground utilities.

This process can take a few hours to several days, depending on the size of the property, to be scanned. You will reduce your liability risk if your crew is injured or an accident occurs when utilities are marked before you begin work.

Looking for experienced surveyors to assist with your large-scale commercial project? With advanced technology and in-depth utility locating training, Util-Locate delivers high-quality, accurate field data through a large pool of utility services locating experts to its customers.

Util-Locate is ready to provide safety and expertise for your utility mapping project if you’re looking for a reputable and experienced utility mapping company. For more information about concrete scanning at Util-Locate, feel free to contact us at 888-885-6228.

4 Reasons to Call In Private Underground Utility Locating Services

You’re planning on building a new property. You were told to get help from a utility locating service. You’re not sure if you should. Is it worth the cost? Maybe you can just do the work yourself. This article will go through the reasons why you need help from a private utility locating service.

What is a Private Utility Locating Service?

Before we go through the reasons why you need help from a private utility locating company, we have to identify what this kind of provider is. It’s important to distinguish public utility lines from private utility lines.

Public utility lines are those provided and serviced by utility companies and include power, gas, sewers, communications, water, and other public utilities.

On the other hand, private utility lines are those that are installed privately by the owners of the property or someone else. For example, an electrical line going to a barn from the main house or a gas line going to a grill can be considered private utility lines.

Reasons to Get a Utility Locating Service

So, why should you get help from a utility locating service? Here are four of the reasons why:

They Specialize in Utility Location

You might suppose that it is best to go DIY with locating the conduit or the fiber lines under your property, but a mistake on your part can be costly. It can also be dangerous.

It is best to hire experts who are experienced at locating the buried lines under your property and have them mark those. Their experience and knowledge will ensure that building your structure is off to the right start.

They Have the Right Equipment

On top of the knowledge and experience, a team from a utility locating service will also have the right tools to do the job. For example, they can use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to locate communication and sewer lines that might not be detected by other methods.

They also have access to other sophisticated tools that can be used to identify everything that is underground.

They Provide Fast Service

You know that there is an electric line under your property but you’re not sure where it is located. You can try tracing it but that will take time. It can take days for you to identify its path on the ground.

Unfortunately, you don’t have the luxury of time to get it done. This is why you should ask for help from a utility locating service. They can get the job done quickly, so you can move on with your project.

They Ensure Safety

For any construction undertaking, safety should always be the priority and when you have unknown gas and electrical lines on the job site, there is the risk of those lines being struck. It’s better to stay safe and sure than take chances. The cost of having someone injured because of striking an electrical line is a serious risk.

Choose a Trusted Utility Locating Service for Your Next Project

Util-Locate is an industry leader and the top choice for utility locating. We have been providing damage prevention for more than 20 years with our high-quality services and cutting-edge tools. Our team is highly trained and can ensure safe utility locating service.

For more details on how to get the best utility locating service and to get the best deal for utility locating, contact us at 888-885-6228 at Util-Locate today!

Private Utility Locating: What Homeowners Need to Know

When do you need help from a utility locating service? Below, we’ll discuss what it is and what you need to know about it as a homeowner. Not all utilities are the same and it’s time for you to know the difference between private and public ones.

It’s also important that you learn about the value of private utility locating services.

Private and Public Utilities: What are the Differences?

Public utility lines are provided by utility companies and they can define exactly where their lines start and end. By dialing 811, you can get information as to where public utility lines are located. Typical public utility lines include water, gas, sewer, phone, cable, fiber, and others. Each state has its own guidelines regarding public utility lines.

On the other hand, there are private utility lines that have no state guidelines controlling them. In fact, there are more private utility lines than public ones. About 65% of all utility lines are private.

Examples of private utility lines include electrical lines going to a shed or a garage, a gas line connected to a grill, irrigation lines, and sewer laterals. Knowing where these lines are located is just as crucial to safety as knowing where public utility lines are.

Utility lines, whether private or public, are all dangerous when they are struck during digging and can cause damage.

Private Utility Locating 101

If you are planning on digging around your property, then you need to call 811 or maybe visit the respective 811 website for your state and request that utility lines be marked properly so you don’t hit any line or pipe underground.

Keep in mind that 811 will only locate and mark public utility lines. For buried private utility lines, that would be your responsibility. And with that, you will need to get help from a utility locating service provider.

Technicians of utility locating service providers undergo extensive training to be sure that they can cover the entire ground and they can locate all lines, conduits, valves, pipes, and cables under your property.

They use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to locate where hidden lines are. GPR uses radio waves to detect and identify objects that are hidden. It’s inevitable that some lines cannot be identified by traditional methods. Without GPR, these lines would not be identified at all.

Just relying on the traditional methods of looking for lines is not enough, especially when there is a good chance that private utility lines have been buried on the job site.

Get Help from a Trusted Utility Locating Service

So, if you are digging in your property and you are unsure if there have been utility lines buried there, it would make sense to get help from a utility locating service provider.

If you need assistance in locating utility lines under your property, you may fill out our online form to get help from a top-notch private utility locating service, or contact us at 888-885-6228 at Util-Locate today!

What Should You Do Before Concrete Drilling?

You should always consider the first crucial steps before drilling into concrete, no matter the type of project you are working on, such as building or repairing a new shop or a residential neighborhood.

Concrete drilling is hindered by a lot of extraneous objects, like electrical conduits, steel rebar, and PVC or metal pipes and sewer lines. It’s dangerous to drill into these embedded things if they’re not identified beforehand.

Various methods can be used to determine the exact location and what is happening inside drains in order to keep them clean and clear. It is easy to neglect or forget about wastewater pipes and drains because they are hidden. In spite of this, the infrastructures we use every day play an extremely important role.

To maintain a healthy, hygienic environment, drains must be cleaned regularly. Inspecting drains and sewers has never been easier, thanks to modern closed-circuit television video (CCTV) drain survey technology. A CCTV drainage survey is an effective way to ensure no clogs are present in drains and no internal problems exist.

What is a CCTV Drainage Survey?

CCTV pipe inspection cameras mounted on wheels can be lowered and gain access into sewer line pipes instead of digging them or having engineers manually enter them; high-definition images are then displayed on the CCTV camera systems monitor.

From their mobile units, technicians can remotely identify possible problems with pipes using the CCTV video cameras from the CCTV pipe inspection. In addition to rodent infestations and displaced joints that let pests enter drainage systems, these issues can include fissures on sewer lines, worn sections, collapsed sections, pipe blockages, and hairline cracks.

During the analysis, a full drain survey report is provided, along with video footage of the drain system and recommendations as to how the project may be pursued. Suitable for both commercial and residential properties, CCTV sewer inspection can be performed on drains of all diameters.

What is Used in a CCTV Drain Inspection?

Getting a clear picture of the internal components of your drainage system requires various tools and equipment due to its highly technical nature. Tools and equipment for the exercise are typically provided by a leak technician or plumbing professionals. These tools include:

Waterproof CCTV Cameras
Sonar Units
Pipe Rods
Crawlers

Why Perform a CCTV Drain Inspection?

There are several reasons why pipe inspection and analysis should be performed every few months. In the case of a new home purchase, a CCTV drainage survey is usually required.

Homeowners can perform a CCTV sewer inspection to assess the drain system’s condition prior to purchasing a home. If a home needs to be repaired before it can be deemed habitable, the survey can help to identify those repairs.

The pipe inspection should always be conducted by homebuyers when buying residential properties so that they have a full understanding of what they are getting into.

Hire Professionals For Your CCTV Drainage Survey

A CCTV drainage survey can be helpful and cost-effective to homeowners and tenants when they encounter issues such as leaks and blockages on a regular basis.

Using the latest CCTV survey equipment, our engineers at Util-Locate are able to inspect pipes of all sizes and shapes, identifying any problems in one pass. Get in touch with us today to arrange a CCTV drain survey!

Category: Blog