Subsurface Utility Locating & Mapping

Subsurface utility locating and mapping services are responsible for eliminating and reducing damages to underground utilities during any kind of excavation. These services are also critical to a project’s initial design and civil engineering phases.

National Underground Group locates underground utilities, including gas, water, sewer, electric and fiber optic lines, for municipalities and utility owners and their engineers. In addition, we offer our utility locating services to homeowners and contractors.

Locating and mapping of utilities are accomplished through a variety of methods, including identification of and contact with utility owners within the project limits; detailed investigations of available records, plans and maps; thorough electronic searches of the site for buried facilities; and accurate mapping of all locatable subsurface utilities.

Utilizing the latest in surveying technology combined with utility records research results in identifying the precise horizontal and vertical coordinates of all structures. We accurately map the locations of buried pipes, utility lines and cables. Pinpointing the exact horizontal and vertical coordinates of each structure allows the rerouting of new utilities at the project planning stage and helps prevent damage and explosions.

Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) — This cost-effective, non-invasive, geophysical technology locates buried utilities by using radar pulses to image the subsurface. GPR is also useful to locate drain fields, underground storage tanks and non-metallic utilities.

Subsurface Utility Locating — This non-destructive process uses vacuum excavation to dig up test holes that are used to establish the vertical and horizontal location of existing utilities. The exact location is field-staked to indicate areas of potential utility conflicts.

Vacuum or Hydro — This safe method for uncovering buried utilities does not cause the damage associated with traditional digging. Pressurized water breaks up and penetrates the soil while a high-flow vacuum lifts the soil out, exposing the pipe.

Subsurface Utility Mapping — Accurate mapping of subsurface utility locations is crucial prior to design and engineering. An electronic site search, a records probe and good surveying technology are required to plot the precise coordinates of buried utilities.

811 Locating — U.S. law requires that 811 be called before any type of excavation takes place. A state representative determines the location of the project and within days, utility company agents arrive at the site to mark the location of buried utilities so they can be avoided.

Private Utility Locating — Utility companies locate only the portion of the pipeline they own. They are responsible for locating a utility from main to the meter, while the property owner is responsible for having the utility marked from the meter to the building.