Utility scanning is the process of identifying and labelling public utility mains that are underground. These mains may include lines for telecommunication, electricity distribution, natural gas, cable television, fibre optics, traffic lights, street lights, storm drains, water mains, and wastewater pipes.
It is a non-destructive method of seeing what lies beneath the surface and it is important that it should be used before excavation begins. Before digging, contractors or local municipalities often require that the underground services be located and mapped in order to protect and prevent damage to the services and the surrounding environment.
Because of the many different types of materials that go into manufacturing each of the different types of underground services, different detection and location methods must be used. For metal pipes and cables, this is often done with electromagnetic equipment consisting of a transmitter and a receiver. For other types of pipe, such as plastic or concrete, other types of radiolocation or modern ground-penetrating radar must be used.
Utility Detection is a non-destructive method of seeing what lies beneath the surface and it is important that it should be used before excavation begins.
