Underground Utility Locating & Utility Mapping

LiveLocates underground utility locating combined with our utility mapping provides valuable information about the positioning and classification of located buried pipes and cables. Underground utility locating and utility mapping is used to locate and record the accurate position of prominent submerged features like sewers, electrical conduits, telecommunications cables, and gas and water mains across industrial, commercial, and residential construction sites.

When you combine the results of our detailed underground utility locating with a utility mapping survey, you will have an extensive and accurate report of what lies beneath your feet, as well as how it relates to above-ground features.

Underground utility locating is the locating of underground utilities within a defined work area. This is done using both Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and EMI radio frequency technology depending on the composite of the utility being mapped.

LiveLocates offers both pictorial utility mapping reports which come standard with all our utility locating services and are suitable for smaller site areas, as well as our GPS utility mapping surveys for when more detailed information is required or across a larger site area.

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, and it uses signals from satellites to pinpoint a location on the earth’s surface. When used correctly, GPS utility mapping for underground utility locating offers the highest level of accuracy and is often far quicker than more conventional reporting techniques.

Our GPS utility mapping allows customisable feature code lists which allows us to work with our customers to pick up, collate and report all required utility asset information such as type of asset, material, diameter and depth. This level of reporting gives you accurate information on the location of detected utilities which you can view from the plans prepared by us or by incorporating the data provided to you from our survey.

Other than often being an essential requirement for most jobs, some of the other benefits of underground utility locating combined with utility mapping include:

• Saves your business time and money by locating utilities and helping workers avoid damaging them by utilising appropriate excavation techniques.
• Underground utility locating and utility mapping helps keep projects on a tighter schedule by reducing the chances of delays occurring from repair works to damaged cables or pipes.
• High-quality GPS-reported data on underground utilities allows project managers to create accurate models, which infrastructure professionals can then use to place and develop concise bids, plan projects, and efficiently organise their company’s resources to maximise profitability.

Underground utility locating is the first step in locating underground utilities before creating a detailed utility mapping report of critical infrastructure beneath the ground. Not only is this valuable information to have immediately on hand before excavating, but it is critical information for project planning well prior to work crews arriving on site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who will benefit from Underground Utility Locating & Utility Mapping?

Underground utility locating and utility mapping technology is utilised across a variety of commercial, civil, and residential worksites in both urban and rural areas. It is an essential service in the design and planning of projects and before excavation on worksites can begin.

What will Underground Utility Locating & Utility Mapping detect and report?

LiveLocates technicians utilise a combination of GPR and EMI radio frequency technology to firstly detect the location of underground utilities and then capture that information with highly accurate GPS utility mapping or when that level of detail is not required, through our standard pictorial utility mapping reports. Our reporting consistently details the type and depth of the following utilities and features:

• Gas and water utilities
• Sewage pipes
• Steel reinforcement
• Fibre optic and communication cables
• All forms of power conduits, both metal and plastic
• Above ground utility features such as sewer/power/communication lids, substations, poles, etc.

We can also use our utility mapping capabilities to capture and report:

• Block or worksite boundaries
• Any other above surface features which are customisable to the customer’s requirements.

What are the benefits of GPS Utility Mapping for reporting the results of Located Underground Utilities?

Accuracy
The quality of any underground utility locating service comes down to how accurately the results are captured and communicated to stakeholders. LiveLocates experienced operators use state-of-the-art GIS technology ensuring you are guaranteed accuracy every time.

Flexibility
Unlike traditional surveying techniques, LiveLocates GPS utility mapping can map out and report clearly on utilities regardless of weather of conditions. Whether in local urban areas or expansive regional areas, LiveLocates can still measure positions outside the sight of survey stations and give accurate results.

Fast
GPS utility mapping is much faster than its predecessors, providing accurate reporting almost instantaneously on its surroundings. LiveLocates can get data to your teams faster to boost your productivity. With these fast response and report times, our customers are in the strongest position to win bids on jobs and complete them on time and on budget.

Portable
With almost everything needed fitting in the palm of the technician’s hand, LiveLocates GPS utility mapping can help extend to worksites of any nature. The handheld devices allow us to complete work over a wide area with ease and across all terrains.

Turning Site Surveying into Effective Reports
However, these equipment benefits are meaningless without quality reporting back to the customer of the captured information. LiveLocates can extrapolate this GPS data to produce a range of reports and detailed information depending on the customer’s requirements, as well as providing the raw data directly to our customers for integration into their GIS systems or CAD design programmes. Our customers use this actionable data to plan projects as well as manage their construction teams on site. Whether you are collecting new asset data or updating existing data, LiveLocates makes it easy.

How is GPS Utility Mapping so accurate?

LiveLocates uses GPS devices with HxGN SmartNet enabled, a global GNSS positioning system that gives precision between 1-10cm depending on conditions. Gone are the days of hauling around two bulky GPS receivers, several batteries, and cables, two radios, a tripod and a pole, and then needing to set up their own base for each project.

Now, HxGN network users simply carry a paired GPS or GNSS receiver with either a modem or a mobile phone and use that to quickly access a network of permanent reference stations to begin mapping accurately.

How much do these services cost?

Our GPS Utility Mapping service is our gold standard level of reporting and is available to all customers regardless of the size of their project. There are additional charges for this level of reporting over our standard pictorial reports which are included at no additional charge, however those customers who have engaged our services to produce this level of report have quickly seen the benefit in the availability of data that they can incorporate into their own plans as well as the larger scale view provided in the format of these plans. For more information on how GPS reporting can assist you with your projects or to get your quote, give us a call on 1300 517 062 or via an online enquiry through the Contact Us page on this website.

Where do LiveLocates service?

Our utility locating and utility mapping services extend right across the South Coast of NSW and into the Canberra region. More specifically:

NSW South Coast – Nowra, Huskisson, Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Bega, Tathra, Merimbula, Eden

Snowy Mountains – Jindabyne, Thredbo, Perisher, Crackenback, Cabramurra

Snowy Monaro – Berridale, Cooma, Bombala, Bredbo, Dalgety, Delegate, Michelago

Snowy Valley – Tumut, Talbingo, Khancoban, Adaminaby, Tumbarumba

Canberra suburbs and surrounding regions