Understanding exactly what is going on below the surface of your project site is a critical step in the planning/design process and vital to ensuring safety to personnel, damage avoidance and costly project delays. If you don’t know what’s underneath your property or where cables and pipes are before you start digging around, you risk potential harm to personal and financially costly damages and project delays being caused. In this article, we’ll explain further why it’s so essential to use Utility Location Services before starting your next project.
Utility Location is the process of using EMI and GPR equipment to locate buried power lines, cables, gas pipes, and other underground services. Utility Location operators use this specialized equipment to find these utilities and mark their location on the ground. This way, you’ll know where not to dig when starting your project, saving your team both time and money.
Utility Location is an essential step in the design and construction process. Here’s why..
Improved Safety:
One of the most significant benefits of using Utility Locating Services is that it increases safety for everyone involved in the project. Of course, there’s always a risk when working with power lines and other utilities, but you can significantly reduce that risk by using utility location services. When you know where all the utilities are buried, you can plan your project around them safely and avoid any potential ‘strikes’.
Reduced Risk Of Service Interruption:
Utility Location Services help to reduce the risk of service interruption. Damage to power lines and other major transmission cables can result in a severe outage that affects not only your project site but other residents in the area – a costly and lets face it embarrassing error for any contractor. However, by using utility location services, you can avoid these types of outages from happening in the first place. This will save you money as your team won’t have to stop working or put a pause on their progress.
Clear Roadmap To Your Property:
Utility Location Services like Ground Scan NZ provide you a clear roadmap to your property. This way, you’ll be able to see not just where the utilities are buried but also other vital features on your land, such as septic tanks and wells. This can be extremely helpful when planning a project, as you’ll know exactly where you can and cannot dig. You’ll also be able to avoid any potential damage to these important features on your property.
Easier And Faster Project Completion:
Utilizing Utility Location Services during the planning and design phase, prior to breaking ground, makes the entire project run smoother. This is because you won’t have to spend time trying to figure out where the buried utilities are located on your property. Instead, you’ll already know exactly where they’re located and can plan your project around them accordingly. While you can try to figure out the location of buried utilities manually, it’s not always a guarantee that you’ll be successful. However, by using Utility Locating Services, you can avoid any potential issues and have a more efficient project completion process.
Compliance With Regulations:
By using Utility Locating Services, you’ll be able to comply with building regulations. For most building and construction works Councils require that you locate and map your utility lines before breaking ground. This is because they want to know where these lines are located and ensure that you don’t accidentally damage them during your project.
Avoid Fines and Penalties:
If you damage a utility line while excavating, you can be fined by the council or the utility company itself. While the amount you’ll have to pay will vary depending on your specific location and circumstance, it’s usually a pretty hefty sum. So don’t allow your organization to incur these types of fines and penalties – use Utility Locating Services instead!
Improved Efficiency:
Whatever project you’re planning, you likely don’t want to have to spend unnecessary time and money on it. When you use utility locating services, it can help improve the efficiency of your project. This is because you’ll be able to plan around the buried utilities instead of having to try and figure out where they are after you’ve started excavating.
Quick Turn Around Time:
When you hire a professional team like Ground Scan NZ to locate utilities on your project, we’ll provide you with a quick turnaround time. This is because we understand how important it is for you to get the information about where these lines are located as soon as possible.Once you’ve reached out to our team, we’ll work quickly to get the information you need so that you can continue planning your project without any delays. Unless otherwise agreed, deliverables are made available, via a dedicated and secure shared drive, by 9 am the morning after the job was undertaken. Whether you’re a property owner, contractor, geotechnical engineer or an architect drafting plans for property development, there are many beneficial uses of hiring a Utility Location Service Provider. By knowing the location of your utility lines, you can avoid costly damages and fines and work more safely and efficiently towards your goals. If you’re ready to get started, contact the team at Ground Scan NZ to get started with your next project today.
