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How Do Ground-Penetrating Radars Work?

Ground-penetrating radars (GPRs) use high-frequency electromagnetic radiation to locate underground utilities in places that are too dangerous for humans to enter, like sewers, collapsed mines, and building foundations.

These radars can locate underground utilities quickly and accurately, making them very useful in potholing utilities or private utility locating services, as well as in utility locating services conducted by utility companies themselves. Whether you’re working with natural gas or water pipes, the following guide will help you understand how GPRs work and how to use them most effectively for private utility locating.

What Is A GPR?

Essentially, a GPR sends radio pulses into one end of an object of interest and measures how long it takes for them to bounce back out. If there’s something in between (such as a buried object), then some of those signals won’t make it back to their starting point.

Like other tools used for potholing utilities, GPRs come in various sizes depending on application needs. They can be handheld versions designed for easy use by technicians on foot looking for infrastructure along roadsides; larger ones used by heavy machinery operators clearing construction sites; and even miniaturized drone versions controlled via smartphone apps.

The Best Uses for GPRs

Two of the most common uses for ground penetrating radars are detecting buried utility lines, such as gas or electric lines, and locating lost items in hard to reach areas.

Private utility locating services are especially good at finding cables that have been deliberately buried. GPRs can also be used for probing soil conditions before construction.

From private utility locating to potholing utilities, GPR is often used for such purposes and can locate pipes up to 20 feet underground. While a traditional surveyor may take weeks or months to complete their task, with GPR it’s only hours or days at most.

The Advantages of GPRs

First and foremost, using a GPR is an incredibly fast way to conduct utility locating services. The high frequency radio waves pass through all sorts of materials — from asphalt to concrete to earth — giving you a view beneath that surface.

Unlike traditional utility locating services or potholing utilities, you don’t have to dig a trench or disturb anything above ground level, which makes it perfect for areas where excavation would be disruptive.

The Disadvantages of GPRs

That said, you should also be aware of the common disadvantages associated with GPRs. If a utility has been damaged, removed or destroyed then you could miss it with a GPR system. This is why it’s vital to use qualified professional utility locators that have been trained and experienced in private locating techniques.

While GPRs can lower the costs of your overall project by reducing the need to dig up an entire site, the equipment itself is not cheap.

Get the Job Done With Our Expert Utility Locating Services

When working with GPRs, it is imperative that you remain aware of local ordinances regarding excavation work near existing utility lines. This is where we come in.

A private utility locating service can provide you with all of these tools to pinpoint a leak in your water line, an underground pipe, or other important utilities. For those who do not have an underground network and are trying to find out what is below their land, potholing utilities is another way to pinpoint what lies beneath you.

To learn more about how our team can help with private utility locating, contact us at Util-Locate today.

How Vacuum Excavators Help Uncover Hidden Utilities

Utility locating services, such as vacuum excavators, help unearth utilities that have been buried beneath the streets and sidewalks of our cities. The most common of these services are used for private utility locating, but they can also be employed to identify electric power lines and telecommunications cables too.

These services can come in handy when you’re planning to lay new pipes or build new streets, but do you know how they work? And how will they help you? Check out this guide on how vacuum excavators help uncover hidden utilities to find out more!

Why Do You Need to Uncover Utility Lines?

When you plan to dig a hole in a public street, you need to be sure that your work won’t damage underground utility lines. One of the best ways to locate buried utilities is with ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Unfortunately, not everyone has access to sophisticated equipment like GPR. That’s where vacuum excavators come in.

When we are talking about hidden utility lines, we are usually referring to a private utility line. These kinds of utilities include electric power lines, telecommunication cables or water systems that could be underground but are not intended for public use. A vacuum excavator is often used to find and expose these types of utilities before construction projects can begin.

When Do You Need to Use a Vacuum Excavator?

In general, you’ll want to use a vac head when you’re trying to locate utilities below street level. Underground utility lines are often hidden beneath public streets, so they can be extremely difficult to find. This is where vac heads can come in handy: by using a vacuum mechanism, these tools can locate buried cables and pipes with ease.

The machine forces groundwater out of an area in order to expose any lines underground, while a GPS device attached to it can make sure it stays in one spot while crews drill holes. By clearing away topsoil and keeping suction applied beneath a specific point, these machines uncover utilities at the street

In short, this equipment can help eliminate unnecessary digging by sucking out dirt, rocks and other debris instead of pushing it back up to the surface with a traditional mechanical scoop.

Not only does a vacuum excavator save time, but it also helps locate both shallow and deep lines without causing damage or inconvenience to the surrounding homes or businesses.

Is It Safe?

There are three major dangers to watch out for when conducting utility locating services: electric shock; damage to underground lines; and harmful gasses such as methane and hydrogen sulfide.

Once excavation starts, workers need to maintain vertical alignment in order to find all utilities with no ruptures whatsoever. A small ground crew should remain above-ground whenever possible; if employees aren’t within eye contact of each other, communication will fail and things can get dangerous pretty quickly.

Utility Locating Services You Can Trust

The purpose of potholing utilities with a vacuum excavator is to help identify what you’re going to run into below ground before it gets expensive. Certain things like pipes and cables need to be relocated, while other things may not be as important.

It’s easy for some contractors to underestimate how much time it will take them to excavate something when they can’t see where they are digging. Our expert team at Util-Locate will walk you through the process of vacuum excavation to help you understand the importance of this procedure.

If you have reason to believe that your project is going to have any type of underground obstruction that needs removing or relocation, then it might be worth getting a contractor or utility company out there before you start breaking ground so that everyone involved knows what they are dealing with.

To learn more about how our team can help with private utility locating, contact us at Util-Locate today.

When is the Best Time to Contact a Utility Locating Service?

Digging into the ground without verifying the location of utility lines in the area, may damage or cut off electrical, gas, water, communications, or drainage connections. Therefore, a private utility locating service is of utmost importance in such a scenario

Such a service is essential to prevent service interruptions to the infrastructures they serve and expensive repairs. But when and where should you call for one?

Call Before You Dig

For Public Utility Line Inspection

Calling 811 from any state is a protocol before excavating on any piece of residential or commercial land—regardless of whether it’s a personal property or not.

This will prompt technicians to come to the site and locate public utility lines using electromagnetic equipment.

However, this is only half of the call you need to make.

For Private Utility Line Mapping

Professionals who are experts in spotting private utility lines also need to inspect the area to protect hidden underground lines.

Calling them will also help you determine how deep the utility lines are buried. Util-Locate offers a 97% accuracy rate in locating potholing utilities as deep as 13 feet.

Such capability ensures confidence that the digging project will not interfere with underground lines and will protect you and workers from accidents.

When Should You Call for Utility Locating Services?

Before You Dig

The best time to call a utility locating service is before digging to start a construction project.

As stated before, it is necessary to know the exact locations of utility lines to allow for proper placement of foundations, posts, other building structures, and trees.

When Lines Run Beyond the Serve Meter

Private utility lines can also run beyond the service meter. Take electrical cables, for example, they can go from the meter to a house or private building.

For safety and liability reasons, it is essential to have them accurately marked.

During the Building Planning Period

Utility location services can also be called during the planning period for construction.

During this time, some lines need to be relocated so they don’t cause problems to machines and workers later on.

How Do Private Locator Workers Map Out Underground Lines?

Gone are the days when utility locating companies used utility maps. In modern times, they are considered outdated and have a higher chance of generating inaccurate and incomplete data.

These days, technological tools are used to obtain a thorough assessment of the area. These include:

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
Electromagnetic equipment
Electronic or radio frequency (RF) pipe and cable locating tools
CCTV-guided mapping tools

Contact Util-Locate Today

Identifying the actual placement and depth of utility lines beneath the ground ensures the safety of workers and prevents service interruption to infrastructures to which the lines are connected.

Private utility locating companies like Util-Locate combine the expertise of its personnel and state-of-the-art GPR and CCTV-guided inspection to generate accurate data.

We also offer hydro-jetting and concrete surface scanning services. Our projects locations and buildings include universities, schools, military bases, theme parks, correctional facilities, stadiums, shopping centers, hospitals, hotels, telecoms, and water companies.

Schedule an appointment with us to learn more about cost-effective and safe, utility locating and mapping work in Southern California.

Factors to Look for in Underground Utility Locating Companies

So you’re ready to get digging to install a sewer or to build a basement on your property. The last thing you want is accidentally hitting a utility line which can lead to floods, electric outages, or fire. Even worse, you can get seriously injured and wind up in the hospital.

Before starting any excavation project, be it in a residential or commercial property, you want to hire utility locators to help you locate utility lines in the area. This prevents accidentally hitting or interfering with existing pipelines, which can cause damages and also derail your project.

There are many companies offering utility locating services today. But accidents happen all the time. According to the 2020 DIRT published by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), utility damages cost the U.S. a whopping $30 billion annually.

Neglect and lack of experience have no room when it comes to utility locating. That’s why you want to know which companies to trust. Check out the factors outlined below to help you look for companies whose utility locating services you can trust.

Trained & Experienced Technicians

Utility locating requires the use of specialized equipment. A utility locating company should have trained technicians and staff who must have experience handling different projects with varying scopes. This helps give them a comprehensive understanding of your project when you bring it to them.

To know how well trained a utility company’s technicians are, you can check for their certifications or active involvement in relevant industry associations. For example, Util-Locate is part of the Common Ground Alliance and the National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NULCA).

Another option is to go online and examine their website. They should mention previous projects or clients they worked with before. Having a huge portfolio is not always necessary, but having a varied portfolio is certainly an advantage.

Track Record for Excellent Service

When it comes to utility locating, you should not rely on just credentials on paper. Look for companies with an excellent track record. You can look up reviews online.

Yelp has various recommendations based on customer reviews and you can sort the utility companies by location to match your project site.

You can also ask other residential owners or businesses in your area. Inquire about private utility locating companies they’ve worked within the past and learn more about their experiences. Hearing feedback from actual customers often provides the additional insight you won’t glean from simply reading the company website.

Up-To-Date Technology

Utility locating has improved drastically in the last decade. Rather than relying on maps and other historical data, utility locators now have ground-penetrating radar (GPR), hydro vacuum excavators, and other equipment that allow them to accurately locate utilities and determine their depth.

GPR is a utility locating tool that detects metal and non-metal objects, as well as voids, using electromagnetic waves. This method is non-intrusive and cuts utility locating time short.

Not to mention, it has within 90% accuracy, and when used by trained technicians, is incredibly reliable.

Meanwhile, hydro vacuum excavation is a tool that digs holes at strategic locations on your project site. The holes enable the utility locator to visually confirm the location of utility lines. This is a great method utility locators use as an alternative, and sometimes, in conjunction with ground-penetrating radar, as it is the most accurate form of utility locating to date.

Wide Variety of Services

You don’t want a company that only uses one method of utility locating. This means they are not versatile and cannot recommend which utility locating method is best for your project.

You should ask utility locating companies what techniques they use when offering their services.

Working with a private utility locating company that offers various types of utility locating services ensures they have the knowledge and experience to advise you on how to best locate utilities on your site.

Professional

Whether you are hiring utility locating services for a residential or commercial property, you always want to work with professionals. This means that they are insured, hold themselves to a higher standard of service, and guarantee to fix the job should it be needed.

Professionalism equates to quality of service. In a market with many utility locators offering services at varying rates, you want to trust those who present themselves well.

Rather than save a couple of bucks, ensuring you get a highly crucial part of your project done ensures that you and your people are safe, your project follows the intended timeline, and you avoid any potential costs incurred by injuries and damages.

Easy to Reach

Last but not least, you want to work with a private utility company that is easy to reach. Even if a utility locator has the best staff and equipment, there’s no point hiring them if you can’t reach them.

Look for a private utility locating company within your area and choose one with a website that clearly outlines how you can reach them. They should be reachable via email or phone, so you can contact them conveniently at a time that fits your schedule.

Book Utility Locating Services in California

Don’t take risks with your project. Ensure safe excavation by trusting Util-Locate, the number one utility locating company in California.

Util-Locate has over 10 years of experience offering top-notch utility locating services to clients. We’ve built long-lasting relationships all over the state and take pride in the efficiency with which we do our tasks as well as the courtesy and value we deliver to all our customers.

At Util-Locate, we have testimonials from real clients and we’ve worked with various companies from different industries to help ensure their unique projects go smoothly.

We also offer a wide variety of utility locating services from GPR and CCTV pipe inspection all the way to hydro-jetting and potholing utilities.

We meet the highest technical standards in the industry, making sure that we’re the number one choice in utility locating.

To inquire about our services or schedule a service online, contact us at Util-Locate today!

Reasons to Hire an Underground Utility Locating Equipment Company

In new construction, underground utility mapping is required by code, but there are situations where this is not the case. In some cases, property owners and developers perform their digging for buried utility lines.

This may be a strategy to save money on construction. However, the long-term cost of a failed dig may ultimately increase expenses by failing to identify underground utility lines. Although most of us take them for granted, underground utility lines are often unmarked.

They can be just feet below the surface or buried beneath structural footings. Knowing where these lines are is critical to protecting your family, crew, home, and investment.

Property owners and developers should understand the purpose and process of a project’s utility locating program.

What is Utility Lines

Underground utility lines are all the buried facilities that deliver or carry utilities to homes and businesses. This includes:

Water lines
Gas lines
Primary electrical lines
Secondary electrical lines
Telephone lines
Fiber optic lines
Septic pipes
Storm drains

Underground utility lines are typically encased in large steel or plastic pipes.

When to Call a Private Utility Locator

A certified utility location professional is also known as a locator should be called before you begin digging or building. The professional utility locator will examine the topographic maps to determine the best locations for locating all utility lines.

Inspect roads, street curbs and sidewalks, driveways, and trails for buried utility lines. The private utility locator will also dig at specific points to locate utility lines and mark their location on your maps.

By knowing the depth of the utilities you will be able to place footings or foundations in deep enough locations so that they do not contact them.

Here is a list of situations when you should call a professional:

You Need to Demarcate Underground Utility Lines

An Underground Utility Locating Equipment Company is a proactive resource when locating, mapping, and marking underground utilities before excavation.

When confronted with a utility project, companies often dig into their archives to provide a detailed examination of previously marked underground utilities in a given area.

Therefore, reducing the duration and complexity of the project and avoiding costly re-routing. Utility locating is a critical phase of any construction project that ensures that construction materials, labor, and effort are not wasted.

You Want to Avoid Damaging Existing Lines

The right utility company should provide services to mark any buried utilities, tanks, or private lines if they own them. Still, it’s hard to miss all the utility-marking flags and spray-painted markings in your yard.

Digging into an unmarked service can cause severe damage and cost you a lot of money to repair. Utilities can be expensive to repair and replacing them isn’t always the right choice.

That’s why it’s helpful to pay for a professional and save yourself time and money in the long run.

You Want to Prevent Accidents and Injuries

To prevent accidents from happening below the surface, you should dig with a private utility locating company. This way, your crew will dig without any worries about hitting underground wires or any other kinds of buried lines.

After being marked out and fully understood, you can move forward to the latter stages of the project.

You Need Dependable Information

The most cost-effective and dependable way to locate underground utilities is to let a utility locating service provider do the work for you.

A professional utility locating service provider employs one of the most effective methods for determining where your lines may be located. First, information regarding the lot’s construction and ownership is obtained.

This information must coincide with the ownership records on file with the appropriate governing authorities. With access to these records, any unknown utility lines or service connections can easily be determined.

Thus, plans can then be made for the locating service provider to complete the actual fieldwork and locate and mark underground utility lines. Helping to alleviate and take the guesswork out of the process, therefore, lending peace of mind and accuracy when excavation projects begin!

What Equipment is Used for Potholing Utilities?

State-of-the-art equipment such as electronic or radio frequency (RF) pipes, electromagnetic devices, cable locating tools, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is used for potholing utilities in order to perform a thorough investigation of the area.

In the end, this procedure can produce complete, high-quality utility maps of where current and abandoned lines run.

Levels of Utility Location

Since the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) guidelines were developed in 2003, many agencies have adopted these standards for obtaining utility information.

The four levels of utility information are D, C, B, and A. Level D is the least accurate and represents unknowing or unsubstantiated attribute data that is not suitable for use in design or construction activities.

Level A provides a complete and efficient collection of multiple attribute data points using the highest accuracy-producing attribute probing equipment available.

Level D

A level D site plan is the most basic level of information for utility locations. It includes information obtained from on-site observation inclusive of templates and layout of existing utilities.

Level C

The Level C report is intended for utility asset owners who require a thorough examination of the site to identify utilities. It incorporates the Level D research and adds field examinations, typically at a much-reduced distance from the existing facilities.

Thus, capture any exposure that remains hidden from a distance.

Level B

The Level B survey depicts the utility layout in the vicinity of a facility and is used in conjunction with geographic information system (GIS) mapping and utility information to assist in assessments and readiness.

Level B represents a basic horizontal and vertical picture of utility coverage in a vicinity, based on available public records and site-specific knowledge obtained from hiring a private utility company with level C and D information.

Level A

In Level A, conclusions are drawn from Level D, C, and B investigations, where the locations were deemed suitable for a utility company to install a service.

Then a letter of notification from a professional land surveyor is sent to a landowner indicating the utility company’s intent to apply for a permit to have access to their property.

Get the Help You Need Today

At Util-Locate, we specialize in underground utility locating utilizing the latest equipment and technology to make sure you know the location of every utility before any excavation work.

Whether it be a water service line, fiber optics, natural gas line, or other utilities on your property, we have the experience and expertise to locate them with GPS precision.

All of our locating technicians are motivated and knowledgeable with years of experience using multiple technologies. We have a diverse fleet of modern equipment that allows us to perform efficient locations over a vast area. For any utility location services, call us at Util-Locate today.

Potholing Machines for Utilities 101

Digging on the ground without knowing the exact location of underground utility lines is undeniably dangerous for work crews. Sure, there are utility locators such as electromagnetic location and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) that can identify and locate utility infrastructure underground, but there are instances where these are not enough to get the job done and you’ll need the help of private utility locating services.

In these cases, there’s a need to do potholing and excavating, which are the surest ways to know the exact location, size, and depth of some utilities. Utility locating services use several techniques like potholing, hydro excavation, and vacuum excavation—in order to find utilities underground, such as water lines, and see their features.

Why these Techniques are Needed to Expose Utilities

The first reason is to follow local or state regulations which prohibit mechanical excavating within 18-36 inches of a marked utility line. This is necessary for the safety of the workers and other people on the job sites and the surrounding area.

There’s an incredibly high risk involved with working around utilities even when the excavators themselves have information on the location of the line.

Drawings and maps can become inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated and this is why safety regulations are kept in place. Workers’ safety is compromised when removing dirt and rock debris manually if they are using metal tools. They also have to deal with the possibility of unstable ground material that can collapse overhead.

The increased use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is also a factor. HDD reduces the number of road closures for utility installation projects and thus it’s being used increasingly to lay cables and pipes.

This drilling method also has less impact on the environment. But the downside is that HDD makes it harder for the GPR to locate utilities because of the process’s decrease in soil disturbance and the absence of traceable ditch lines, which are two features that GPR depend on.

So for areas where HDD was used, utility locators will have to resort to potholing and daylighting to locate underground lines.

What is Potholing?

Also called daylighting, potholing is the process of digging a test hole in order to locate and expose existing underground utilities while keeping the surrounding soil undisturbed.

This involves the potholing machine making a series of holes through soil, concrete, or asphalt. The workers will then use a vacuum or hydro excavation to remove the soil.

Potholing utilities can expose the positions and orientations—both vertical and horizontal—of the utilities and enable workers to check for damages such as cracks and punctures. Excavation potholing is also effective as a digging method for installing signs, utility poles, fences, and other jobs that would require setting posts in the ground.

Kinds of Excavation Process

As mentioned above, contractors use excavation to remove the dirt between the hole and the utility. Traditionally, workers would use hydraulic excavators on construction sites.

Nowadays, workers prefer daylighting excavation where utility lines are exposed through soft excavation techniques such as vacuum excavation or hydro excavation.

Hydro Excavation

This excavation technique uses pressurized water to move soil debris as well as rock debris out of the way. This entails the use of a long hose for suctioning the displaced dirt, water, and debris to a holding tank attached to a truck.

The workers will then haul the wet spoils away for disposal. This use of hydro excavators adds to the time and expense needed to complete the job.

Vacuum Excavation

This involves the use of pressurized air to break up compressed soil around the utility. The workers will then vacuum the dry spoils and reused them as backfill. The vacuum mechanism may be able to utilize high-speed suction in light soils to remove the soil straight down until the utility is exposed partially.

Workers usually prefer using vacuum excavators, but they have to use hydro excavation machines in dealing with heavily compacted soils. The suction hose cleaner, with the help of water, can prevent the soil and excavated debris from gathering.

Equipment Used for Hydro and Vacuum Excavation

These two excavation types are usually worked on by a vacuum excavator or hydrovac truck. This one truck has high-pressure water and air excavation system, plus a water supply tank and a large tank that is designated to hold spoils vacuumed up from the site, as well as the drilling fluids. Some of the excavators are mounted on a trailer.

The hydrovac truck or trailer injects water under pressure into the soil using a wand or hose. The water pressure is strong enough to break up the soil but not strong enough to cause damage to the utility lines.

The soil is liquefied by the water and produces slurry. This slurry is carried by the vacuum to a tank attached to the truck. It’s the truck’s job to remove the slurry from the work site in order to keep it clean and orderly.

Benefits of Potholing and Daylighting Using Hydro or Vacuum Extraction

There are multiple benefits involved with using hydro or vacuum extraction for potholing and daylighting utility locations. First, they allow utility locators to ‘daylight’ utilities without the risk of damaging them because compared to mechanical excavating, they are less disruptive, less destructive, and less invasive. Also, these techniques have a less environmental impact and the site is easier to restore or repair after the job.

Since these two leave a smaller footprint compared to mechanical excavating, they reduce the time needed to complete a job. They can also be used in locations that cannot be accessed by traditional excavation machinery, plus the compact truck or trailer can operate easily in urban areas.

Hydro or vacuum extraction also eliminates life-threatening accidents and keeps projects progressing by minimizing delays. And most importantly, these two techniques won’t cut a utility line or other underground feature accidentally.

Choose the Right Utility Locating Services for Your Needs

If you’re looking for the best private utility locating services and mapping services in Southern California, you can’t go wrong with Util-Locate.

We are the No. 1 utility locating service and underground utility locator in Los Angeles, San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Kern, Riverside, Orange, Ventura County, and all major Southern California cities.

To schedule a service with us, contact us at Util-Locate at (866)638-1075 today.

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