Underground Services Location

Modena Durban service

Highly trained staff and specialised equipment

Different methods are applied when it comes to locating underground utilities.

The overall benefits to the clients are:

  • High level of safety measures.
  • Minimise utility damage; and
  • Risk management.
  • Precise planning before construction and design.
Underground Services Locations (USL) is a function that requires highly trained staff and specialised equipment. Our technicians use a combination of Electromagnetic Locators (EML) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to locate all types of buried utilities. Electromagnetic signals are induced to target conductive lines such as steel water pipes and electrical cables etc. The target signal can then be traced using a receiver. Exact depth and positions are determined. GPR is used to locate non-conductive service such a PVC water mains and fibre optic cables etc.

We can locate the following:

  • Telecommunication lines
  • Fibre Optic lines
  • Electricity Cables
  • Water pipes
  • Oil & Gas pipes
  • Storm water drainpipes
  • Sewer drains / Wastewater pipes
Change in density and conductivity in soil conditions are displayed as hyperbola on the radar display unit. Our Underground service location team service various industries across South Africa and internationally.  Amongst our clients are consulting engineers, municipalities, industrial plants, construction and small civils, environmental consultants, and parastatals. When required, USL survey results are mapped by engineering surveyors. The survey results can be presented in different formats, depending on our client’s needs:

Survey results:

  • Colour-coded markings on the ground: This suits client such as small civils contracts whose main requirement is to avoid damage to buried utilities during excavations.
  • Picture indicative reports to indicate drill positions and nearby utilities before soil sampling during a Geo Technical survey.
  • 2D AutoCAD layouts: Suited to municipalities that require utility networks mapped.
  • 3D AutoCAD layouts: Preferred by the consulting engineering sector. Utility plans with attributes on the correct datum on 3D models assist in the design of new bulk water infrastructure.
  • Utility Data Sheets: Often a pre-requirement for engineering design purposes.

If you require the above services, please get in touch.