When a homeowner or a contractor wants to carry out construction works that involve digging into the ground, there is a risk that they will run into utility wires and pipes. This can be costly if you accidentally damage or cut the lines on top of being extremely dangerous. Electrical power lines may electrocute you or cause a fire while gas lines can explode. Damaging water pipes could lead to the collapse of trenches when water is released suddenly; workers can be trapped underground.
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For this reason, it is advisable to hire the services of a utility locating company to establish where each utility is placed in the property. Thus, a utility locating company determines the location of underground utilities, such as gas, power lines, water pipes, and and internet cables. They also establish the exit point of the utilities. A utility location company works in close collaboration with utility locators, construction, and consulting companies. Utility location technicians study blueprints and maps to determine the location of the utilities and mark the areas for future reference. The marking is useful to construction workers, utility workers, and electricians as they use them when repairing, modifying, or expanding the facilities in the future.
Hiring a professional underground utility locator speeds up a construction project. This is because you dig without interruptions or caution since you know where a specific utility is located. Locating utilities ensures the safety and saves money and time as nothing is damaged. Therefore, you need to find the best utility location professional to ensure you get the job done as expected.
The utility locating company you choose should have relevant knowledge and experience spanning several years. Ask them about some of the projects they have undertaken in the past. They should be able to locate, identify and mark all underground structures and utilities within a short time.
A company with a good reputation will provides references on some of the big projects they had done. You can also investigate through the internet by looking at customer reviews in their website. Through this, you will know about if there have been complaints against the company and if they have relevant licenses to operate.
Your ideal company should is one that uses advanced locating methods and technology to guarantee accuracy, quality, and reliability. With the never-ending technological advances, companies are adopting locating equipment that relies on technology and acquiring complicated electronic equipment. The equipment eases the interpretation of signals and provides thorough underground mapping solutions that help in the quicker location of the utility. The scope of such a project can range from a swimming pool installation at home to a building construction site where utility lines below buildings and highways are identified. Thus, ensure that the company you choose has advanced techniques and tools that will help your project.
How reliable is your chosen company? Does it have a broad reach to deliver services where you want? If possible, pick a company that has offices within your locality. Having a local presence means that they are familiar with the utility networks of utility companies and have developed a working relationship with them. It is also easier to get references and reviews from their former clients within your location rather than going out of town looking for the same.
Utility location companies work with electronic detection equipment. The equipment uses different technologies to operate as stated below.
Electromagnetic utility locating equipment works by conveying an electromagnetic frequency via an underground utility's conductive material. When dealing with water pipes, the signal is directly applied to the pipe by a connection at a hydrant, riser, or valve. For an underground wire locator like or electric cables, the connection is made at the underground utility's grounding structure. Power lines are located by connecting an underground wire locator with ground wire, meter box, or transformer. Cable TV and systems are traced by joining the signal using an interface box, manhole, or pedestal.
This is a popular equipment that applies electromagnetic technology with 100% success. Different manufacturers have this equipment because of its popularity. This device induces or broadcasts an electromagnetic radiofrequency inside the ground using a transmitter device connected to a pole. When the frequency locates a utility underground, the receiver unit produces a reading. This equipment is most helpful during the clearance of all underground utilities. You do not require an active connection to operate this device, however, it does not indicate the type of utility it locates; just a metallic object below the ground.
The main aspect of a successful utility location is to locate utilities through a direct connection. Application of controlled and known signals is done to a utility; a process referred to as active locating. Active locating permits the locator to try and isolate the marked utility from the others. However, this is not always possible although active locating is mostly preferred as a reliable method of locating utilities.
The application of the signal is done on the target utility through a transmitter where the technician detects the transmission on a receiving device. The receiver is a part of the equipment but you can customize it to detect extra frequencies that the manufacturer is unfamiliar with.
Quinn Equipment is a distributor of Leica underground utility locators. The locators use automatic gain features that enable faster, accurate, and deeper identification of assets. These equipment are designed using Bluetooth technology, this means that the connection to mobile devices and technicians is wireless. The DD Smart locators have an internal memory that also has GPS positioning that you can transfer to your desktop or laptop. USB connectivity works in conjunction with DX Office Shield software to enable data download and analysis. Therefore, the two provide a single solution for all your utility locating needs. The DD Smart Locators are available in several series with a minimum price of $1,700.
The locator is fitted with video support, diagnostics, and safe usage alerts for protection of your workers and assets. The locator and shield software enable organizations review and report on usage of assets allowing them to improve product usage and process. The software focuses on safety at the site and ensures usage integrity to allow organizations have a better understanding of site complexities and task performance.
It provides reports that outline product use which enables the business to establish skills gaps and training needs that result in fewer utility strikes.
The equipment traces utility lines accurately through the use of easy workflows thus increase the capability of analyzing asset performance quickly. When using the equipment, you will locate more utilities as you do not need to conduct multiple sweeps because of the technology used by the DD Smart Locators.
If you are a utility locating company or a homeowner who wishes to undertake simple construction work, contact us for an underground utility locator. We have a variety of utility locators to suit different jobs. Our equipment is reliable making them cost-effective as they save you money and time.
Global expansion necessitates the expansion of existing and the development of new utility networks, which inevitably requires companies to undertake excavations to verify utility positions. Any operation to break ground will inevitably bring site operatives in the proximity of live underground utilities and services, the most common being water, gas, power, telecommunications and increasingly fibre networks. As a result, consideration should always be given to knowing the exact location of all buried utilities before and during the excavation process.
Damage to utilities through excavation work creates disruption, not only for the operating network but for the excavating contractor, the end-user and stakeholders as well. The resulting repair costs, loss of service, project delays and bad publicity will impact all parties involved.
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Over half of all utility strikes occur to electrical cables, the majority attributed to mini diggers or excavators, airpowered tools and hand tools. A trend that shows a dangerous combination providing the highest risk to all operatives involved in breaking ground.
To safeguard against utility strikes, a cable locator is used for detecting the presence and proximity of buried utilities.
When an alternating current (AC) travels along a cable, an electromagnetic field is generated. The alternating current not only creates a magnetic field but also the oscillation of the current between positive and negative creates a frequency known as Hertz (Hz). The electromagnetic field generated by an AC current can be detected by a cable locator, such as the Leica DD100 Series.
There are two main detection principles:
Some detectable signals may already be present on a buried utility, either through signals radiating from a powercable or the reradiation of very low-frequency radio signals from radio transmitters, which can 'attach' themselves to conductive utilities.
When an AC current travels along the utility it generates an electromagnetic signal. Using a cable locator (Leica DD100 Series), a surveyor can detect the buried cables' position by searching for the electromagnetic field.
Locating electrical cables using a cable locator on its own will only allow the operator to detect utilities with a live current, like a street light cable during the night. However, when lights are turned off, no current flows and the buried electrical cable is not detectable using a cable locator.
Low frequency long wave radio signals transmitted from a radio mast can pass into the ground, inducing a signal onto metallic utilities. The utilities re-emit these signals and they can be located and traced using a cable locator in RADIO mode.
Leica DD100 Series feature Auto mode, combining the benefit of simultaneous detection in Power and Radio modes. Auto mode helps confirm the presence of utilities on first site visits.
Up to 60% of buried utilities could be missed when detecting in passive modes alone. Just because they are not detected in a simple sweep, does not mean they are not there and it is safe to excavate.
A signal cable locator and signal transmitter (Leica DD100 Series) will significantly improve the detection process. This small portable unit induces a signal to a cable or pipe, which can be traced by the cable locator. This is called active locating.
A majority of buried utilities may not be detected by searching for passive signals using the locator on its own. These hidden utilities may not carry a live current or radiate radio signals, requiring a signal to be induced directly onto the utility to locate them. To detect these additional utilities, an electrical current or signal will need to be applied onto the buried metallic utility, which enables the utility to be traced and identified by the locator.
Induction is a quick and simple way to apply a signal to a utility without the need to make any physical connection. An internal aerial generates a magnetic field into the ground. Any buried metallic utilities routed within close proximity to the signal transmitter will be induced with the signal, allowing the utility to be located and traced with a cable locator.
This is the most efficient way of applying a signal to a utility and should be used whenever possible (especially when taking a depth reading). The output from the signal transmitter can be directly connected to a cable or pipe. A circuit is completed by a connection to an earth stake or ground connection point.
Applying a signal directly to the utility allows the operator to positively identify and trace its path.
To detect the magnetic fields emitted from a buried utility, the locator uses aerials built up of wire wrapped around ferrite rods. The aerials are used to amplify the small electromagnetic signals emitted by the utility and to provide an input to the locators' circuitry.
Leica DD100 Series features an enhanced Signal Strength Indicator (SSI), a graphical display detailing the signal strength as a bar graph and a numerical SSI reading. The highest signal reading (peak response) is obtained when the utility is directly below the locator.
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