To determine what’s beneath the surface, ground-penetrating radar and line locates are among the most common methods used.
During a construction project, prior to digging through the ground, you must know what utilities are hiding underneath the surface. Contacting Line Locates is what companies in this country do. If people start drilling without any understanding of what hazards exist and where they are, they could easily make contact with an underground utility and cause significant damage. This also puts people in the work area in great danger, not to mention the equipment could be damaged as well. To determine what’s beneath the surface, ground-penetrating radar and line locates are among the most common methods used.
What are Ground Penetrating Radar and Line Locates?
If you’ve had to do digging, it’s possible that you have reached out to a utility locating company to get utility lines marked. This is known as a line locate service. A staff member will use a detector with some utility maps to determine the location of the utility lines. Once utilities have been detected, spray paint is used to notify people of where they are.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) makes use of electromagnetic microwaves to find underground utilities. Microwaves pulse beneath the surface and will reflect their way back to the receiver of the radar once they connect with something abnormal underground. This will then provide workers with a snapshot of what’s beneath the surface.
Which Method is Better For Your Drilling Projects?
For a long time, it was considered standard to use line locates as the go-to for any drilling projects you had. The service is completely free in many situations, and the professionals who work with you schedule when they will get the job done, meaning no special gear is needed on the worksite. It’s for this reason that it’s a simple and convenient option for many people.
With that said, line locates aren’t always the best choice. There are many worksites that have had people on the premises for years. People might not know if there are artificial structures hiding underground, and a line locate service wouldn’t be able to mark these structures.
With ground penetrating radar, you’ll get a thorough overview of whatever is hidden underground. People can pinpoint the location of utilities so that nothing gets damaged. It’s well worth the time and money to invest in these services because you can avoid much more serious consequences down the road.
Concrete Visions Will Get The Job Done Right
Concrete Visions has been working with clients for over 25 years. Our G&M Services installers are certified with the industry’s major firestop product manufacturers. As part of our firestop service, we can assess abnormal field conditions and, with the manufacturer’s technical support assistance, provide engineering judgments in a timely fashion to comply with contract specifications. Our Field Mechanics undergo ongoing training, including mandatory monthly safety meetings, weekly Toolbox Talks where safety and equipment information is shred, and trainings on safe work standards and safety best practices.