Knowing the Roles of Private Utility Locators
Knowing the Roles of Private Utility Locators
During construction projects, there are many things to consider before breaking ground. One of them is hiring private utility locators to identify and mark the spots of underground utilities. Relying solely on 811 to mark underground utilities is inadequate since public locators only mark public utilities.
Locating private utilities before any excavation and construction activities take place prevents them from getting damaged and causing any dangerous accidents. When utilities are marked correctly the risk of damages are significantly reduced.
Reasons to Hire Private Locators for Construction Projects
People generally consider hiring locators after they start working on projects, which isn’t right. The roles of private locators begin from the planning stage to the execution stage. Water, gas and electrical lines present underground cause significant disruptions and financial losses if not identified before excavation.
Private utility locates specialists are an important part of the process as they help in preventing associated risks. Using their expertise, private locators find the hidden network of utilities and ensure the project is completed seamlessly.
Private locators protect the integrity of the existing underground structure as well as take a proactive approach to planning and management of construction.
What Tools do Private Locators Use for Identifying Utilities?
Private locators use various tools for identifying and marking underground utilities accurately. The most common tools are ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) transmitters and receivers. GPR sends EM pulses into the subsurface to identify differences in dielectric properties. The differences in dielectric properties are reflected and analyzed helping identify underground utilities and more. Electromagnetic transmitters and receivers utilize electromagnetic radio frequencies for locating. The specific target of this method is metallic pipes. EM locates precisely locate the position of pipes and cables.
The process doesn’t end with GPR and EM locates, our technicians also utilize aerial drone imagery, concrete and structural scanning, electrical ground fault detection, leak detection, magnetic detection, non-metallic pipe detection, acoustic pipe detection, utility mapping, video camera pipe inspections, and more.
Collective use of tools by private utility locators provides critical information, ensuring safety before, during, and after the construction project.
What Process do Private Utility Locators Follow for Underground Utility Marking?
The process begins with a thorough review of the area and available utility records. This initial step is important for a preliminary or basic understanding of the job. Problems occur when there are outdated or inaccurate records.
Based on the initial assessment, locators plan for the project. They incorporate different sophisticated but effective tools. Sometimes, they combine multiple locating methods to find utilities.
After detecting utilities, locators clearly mark the ground using specific colors of paint or flags. Different colors represent different types of utilities. These colors act as the visual guide, helping everyone to identify utilities.
The final step of the process is to provide you with valuable information in detail. Our primary objective is for your team to safely perform subsurface work and execute the project without any damages or injuries.
Closing Lines
Completing a construction project without seeking help from professional private locators is somewhat impossible. If you want the process to be completed quickly and accurately but without any damage, contact C-N-I Locates for private locators in Oregon and Washington State.
