Reliable underground Utility Locating with GPR Scanning in BC

Accidentally hitting a public utility, such as cable lines, natural gas, or a water main, is not only dangerous but costly to repair. As lighter plastics are being used to support utilities and it is becoming more difficult to detect underground utilities with standard locating equipment, GPR is now the preferred technology to help with this.

If the nature or ground composition of your worksite makes it a challenge to locate hidden utilities in Salmon Arm, BC and the surrounding region, call Ironman Directional Drilling for state-of-the-art ground-penetrating radar (GPR) utility locating services. We can assist you with dependable underground utility locating and GPR scanning services in BC.

For help in locating utility and non-utility structures that are undetectable using standard techniques, reach out to Ironman Directional Drilling. Our advanced ground-penetrating radar services are available to all areas of the Okanagan Valley, Fraser Valley, and BC Interior.

What Are Utility Locating Services in BC?

Every time you need to dig into the ground, there is a chance that you might hit underground utility pipes and wires. Damaging them can be very dangerous, as gas lines can burst and electrical power lines can cause electrocution or fire.

Utility locating service is a specialized industry used as a safe way to locate utility lines before excavation begins. Underground utility locators are often most commonly associated with locating water and sewer lines, but they encompass other services as well.

The process often uses electric currents to locate underground utilities, which allows for a much quicker and more cost-effective process than traditional methods.

How Does GPR Scanning Work?

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) works by sending out radio waves that can penetrate the ground. They bounce off objects and return to the antennae, where they are processed electronically into a visual image. The results can be saved onto a computer that displays shapes and lines and shows what is under the ground. This process is known as GPR scanning and it helps locate the utilities without disturbing the ground.

Benefits of GPR Scanning for Utility Locating

Before starting any construction project, it is essential to locate any possible utilities hidden underneath the ground. GPR scanning is one of the safest ways to do so as it comes with the following benefits:

It is a non-destructive way of locating utilities underground.
The method is both fast and cost-effective.
It offers less risk to businesses and protects them against the damage of underground conduits.

If you are looking for safe and efficient utility locating and GPR scanning services and underground utility locators in BC, please reach out to our team at Ironman Directional Drilling.

Advanced Ground-Scanning Capabilities

We use the premier ground-penetrating radar on the market today — the LMX200™ from Sensors & Software Inc. This advanced GPR can detect non-metallic pipes, such as PVC, asbestos cement, and the latest lightweight polymers. The LMX200™ can detect and map:

Concrete storm and sewer systems
Utilities with failed tracers
Subsurface storage tanks and drainage tiles
Septic system components

The LMX200™ can even locate non-utility subsurface structures, including vaults, foundation walls, and concrete pads, all of which can damage excavation equipment and slow the pace of your work if uncovered by accident.

3D Depth Slices

For complex sites, the LMX200™ can create 3D depth slice images that reveal the orientation of pipes and cables at various depths. These depth slices will also outline the extent of vaults, foundations, and buried tanks.

On-Site and Remote Reporting

The LMX200™ uses an internal GPS system compatible with internal GPS reports and Google Earth™. We can produce on-site reports that include screen captures, lines, grids, and map view information. Fast reporting means your team can quickly assess your work site's needs and make a fast yet confident decision. We can also transmit data and reports remotely to your off-site location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions:

How Deep Can GPR Scanning Locate Target Utilities?

The depth of penetration of GPR locators depends on the material being scanned and the type of antenna. A low-frequency antenna can locate deeper targets, but outputs result in a lower resolution. Drier materials, such as sandy soils, provide great survey resolution at depths up to 30 feet, while heavy clay-based soils and materials are difficult to read and penetrate and may be limited to a few feet.
When You Locate Underground Utilities, Can You Determine What Type of Utility It Is?

In most cases, we are able to do this by tracing the utility and reading any identifying features present on the surface, like valves, meters, control boxes and others, to determine the nature and type of underground utility. If we are unable to directly connect to the utility, or if it doesn't have any surface features, we can identify its presence and orientation but it is difficult for us to determine whether the piping is gas, water, storm etc at the time of locating.
Can We Help Locate and Mark All Buried Utilities at Your Work Site?

We can locate the public or private utility infrastructure as part of our underground utility locator process.

Contact us

We have been serving our customers throughout BC for many years. For underground utility locating services in BC, contact the experts at Ironman Directional Drilling.

Visit our blogs for more information.