The Role of Utility Locating in Protecting the Environment and Natural Resources

Utility Locating is a process that allows construction professionals to map out underground infrastructure prior to excavation. This prevents damage to underground utilities and allows contractors to work safely. The technology used to locate buried utilities depends on environmental conditions and the type of equipment used. In general, locating equipment is designed to detect both conductive and non-conductive utilities.

GPR

GPR, or ground-penetrating radar, is a noninvasive and cost-effective utility locating technique that provides a comprehensive picture of the soil and subsurface. Whether you need to locate telecommunication lines or archaeological artifacts, it’s a reliable and time-saving way to get your job done right.

Ground-penetrating radar works by sending a pulse of electromagnetic energy into the ground. It then reflects back to the transmitting antenna, which measures changes in the reflected signal based on the dielectric and conductive properties of the objects within.

When GPR is used to locate utilities, it enables engineers and construction companies to identify pipes, conduits, cables, underground storage tanks (UST), and septic systems without digging or drilling. The technology’s ability to find conductive and nonconductive materials is a major advantage over traditional methods, which often only find metallic objects.

However, GPR does have limitations. Its effectiveness is site-specific and depends on the soil type, including its conductivity, which can be inhibited by reinforcing, clayey, or salt contaminated soils.

EMI

EMI is a form of interference that can affect electronic devices. It can occur in a variety of ways and come from both environmental sources such as lightning or electrical storms and human-made ones.

Unlike conducted EMI which requires physical contact, radiated EMI is transmitted through the air. This can be problematic for electronic devices that are located in areas where power transmission lines, radio sources and other high-powered equipment are present.

A utility locating device transmits a radio signal at a specific frequency. The electromagnetic field created by this signal is then detected on the ground by a receiver.

This procedure can be used to locate metal pipes as well as nonmetallic sewer and storm drain lines. It can be performed in either an inductive or passive mode depending on the utility.

X-Ray

The urban underground is full of utility lines including electricity, gas, water mains, stormwater and fiber optics. Having the ability to locate these utilities prior to digging can significantly reduce costs and ensure safety.

X-rays are electromagnetic radiation of very short wavelengths (approximately 10-8 to 10- 12 metre), which varies with atomic number and energy, ranging from 100 eV (electron volts) to 1 MeV (million electron volts). They can penetrate optically opaque materials, such as bones or plastic, but must be focused by a special X-ray tube.

X-rays are used to spot fractures in bone, but are also an effective diagnostic tool for many other medical purposes, including mammograms, which can detect breast cancer, and chest X-rays that can help spot pneumonia. When deciding whether or not to get an X-ray, talk to your healthcare provider or dentist about the benefits and risks of this test. They will be able to recommend when the benefit to your health outweighs this small risk.

Passive

When building or extending any construction project, it is essential to accurately locate underground utilities, such as water, gas, and electrical lines. This allows contractors to avoid damaging these important services, which can lead to outages and safety hazards.

Passive utility locating is a non-invasive and cost-effective way to detect energised assets such as cables and pipes. It can also be used to locate buried cables that have been damaged or removed.

Unlike active utility locating, which requires a transmitter or signal to be applied to a pipe, passive locating uses a receiver that detects the electromagnetic signals in the ground from nearby utilities.

However, passive locating is limited by the proximity of other utilities, which may interfere with the accuracy of the results. It can also be affected by external electromagnetic interference, such as radio signals or power lines.