UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
What We DoFor most projects that will involve ground excavation, a Desktop Review is a good starting point. A review of any plans from the utility providers, local authority plans, and any other site plans that a client can supply, will give an overall understanding of which utilities and services might be present and indicate those that might be affected or at risk by the proposed work.
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ULS can offer a service that will undertake to obtain these records on behalf of our client. We provide data that can then be used on-site to verify the actual position of services by carrying out a full locate and mark-out of the underground utilities. This locating work may also indicate previously unrecorded or new utility services and provide information on incorrectly recorded utility locations. Following locating, identifying, and tracing the underground services found on-site, ULS can collect the mark-out information. Using GNSS survey equipment, we can provide this information as a composite AutoCAD plan demonstrating the position of all recorded services. A complete utility survey means that the client can make sound investment and planning decisions earlier in the project, which will likely result in time and cost savings later in the development. |
Electromagnetic Locating (EML)Electromagnetic locating works by energising underground utilities with electromagnetic (EM) pulses. By using a handheld EM receiver, underground pipes and cables that are conductive can be accurately located. This technology has developed over many years, with ULS Locate Technicians utilising sophisticated multi-frequency EML equipment.
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This specialised EML equipment is only as good as its operator. ULS have highly trained and experienced technicians with detailed knowledge of underground locating techniques, underground infrastructure, and the best methods to locate them. Using EML, ULS technicians can detect metallic pipes, electric and telecommunication cables, and conductive trace wires for gas and water (when available). Drainage pipes and non-metallic ducts can also be traced using EML when there is access to insert a conductive tracer rod or transmitter (sonde). In addition, non-invasive EML detection results are enhanced when combined with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). This provides the most complete and thorough survey of underground services and infrastructure available. |
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)ULS also utilises Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for underground utility locating for builders, civil contractors, engineers, and consultants. Using GPR, non-metallic utilities such as PVC water pipes, gas pipes, conduits, asbestos pipes, and fibre-optic cables can be detected. These utilities may not be detectable using other locating methods. GPR can also be used to significant effect when combined with a complete survey by electromagnetic principles. Thus, it provides the most complete and thorough survey of underground services and infrastructure possible.
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Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-destructive scanning tool for subsurface imaging. GPR works by sending electromagnetic (EM) waves into the soil or ground from the antenna and observing the EM waves bounce back. Any subsurface target that may be present reflects these EM pulses. The radar system provides information to the software that calculates the position and depth of any objects found and thus enables an image of the underground infrastructure to develop. Generally, the data will provide accurate horizontal positioning of the underground targets, and an estimated depth can be determined. GPR scanning is conducted over various surfaces such as soils, lawn, sports fields, synthetic turf, concrete, asphalt, and other pavement surfaces. The performance of GPR scanning can vary depending on the ground condition and material. Examples of such variation include:
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