Services: Utility Location Methods
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Determine Surface Trace & Depths of:
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- water
- electric
- cable TV
- natural gas
- storm sewer
- sanitary sewer
- oil transmission
- telecommunications
- abandoned conduits
- UST-associated piping
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Electromagnetic utility-location methods are the most frequently employed techniques to detect underground utilities constructed of electrically-conductive materials. Examples of these utilities include water, natural gas, telephone, electric, and fuel lines.
Typically, a radio frequency (RF) signal is induced into the electrically-conductive conduit. This signal is propagated along its length and is detected above ground with a matched-frequency receiver. Often, underground water, electrical, oil-transmission, and telephone utilities radiate their own electromagnetic field and this field can be detected using an RF receiver alone. By detecting the signal maxima at several locations, the surface trace and burial depths of the underground utility can be determined.
Non-electrically conductive conduits, such as storm drains and sewers, are generally more difficult to detect. One technique to determine their surface trace is to insert a small RF transmitter. An RF receiver is then used at the surface to detect an area of maximum signal strength. A series of these areas or points yields the surface trace of the conduit.
As no single utility-locating instrument can detect all types of buried utilities it is important to utilize a variety of utility-locating instruments which are properly suited to the task. Spectrum uses five different electromagnetic utility locating instruments to determine the surface trace of utilities.
Locating buried utilities is an art as well as a science. Experience, tenacity, and equipment selection are the most important factors for successful utility location. Each Spectrum project manager has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience gained at hundreds of sites including service stations, manufacturing facilities, military installations, industrial parks, refineries, and public roadways.
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