Underground utilities are assets that need to be protected.  It is essential to obtain precise and reliable information about the location and depth of buried infrastructure before digging.

 

CCS utilizes several tools and methods for detecting, tracing and marking underground utilities prior to excavating. ​These tools include:

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• Direct / Induction Utility Locators - These use electromagnetic fields to detect metal utilities like gas & water pipes. They can also pick up the metal core or shielding of communication lines and the tracer wire that is bundled with fiberoptics.

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• Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) - This uses radio waves to detect both the location & depth of buried utilities, whether they are metallic or non-metallic.

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• CCTV Cameras with Beacons - If we can not trace a pipe but its entrance is accessible and large enough, we can use our CCTV cameras to follow the pipe's path.

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​After utilities have been located and marked, CCS can intermittently expose them to confirm their locations & depths by "potholing" with either Air or Hydro Excavation.

 

We also use Air or Hydro Excavation to expose the full length of utility run(s) since both methods are notably safer for preserving buried infrastructure than traditional excavation options are.