What lies beneath

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Martin Parsons takes a look at the latest developments in location techniques for underground utility services.

While there may be records of where underground services such as power, water, gas and so on are located, these may not always be entirely accurate.

This means that when faults occur, or when extension work needs to be carried out, time and money can be wasted trying to find a specific cable, pipe or joint.

However, developments in new underground location technology are bringing extremely accurate underground location within the reach and budgets of today's utilities, contractors and construction companies.

Inaccurate mapping

Most utility companies and other organisations that manage or own underground services, do keep underground records, but it is hard to ensure their accuracy, partly because many of these services were installed decades ago, when accurate records were not always kept.

Today's utilities may have an approximate idea of a service's location, but not the precise spot.

Furthermore, it is not hard for records to become out of date. Changes in the above-ground layout, such as a housing estate or business park being built, can mean that the relation between the underground service and above-ground landmarks change.

Although above-ground markers may exist for these utilities, they may be moved or even removed during construction work.

Digging holes in the wrong place is an expensive business: a hole can cost upwards of £500 (US$987) to excavate. In addition, utilities and their contractors are under pressure to minimise the amount of time carrying out streetworks and face penalties if they exceed the granted time limits.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the ground beneath our feet is becoming increasingly congested, with many services crammed into the same space.

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