Utility Locating
Infrastructure protection starts here with underground utility locating services including:- Vacuum Excavation
- Electronic Detection
- Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
It’s not the utilities located on the USA marks that counts, it’s the utilities that are not located near the USA marks or are not marked at all that require expertise and strategy in the approach to locate efficiently and effectively – that’s what sets EXARO apart.
Our expert team locates every type of utility including:
- Communication Lines
- Fuel Lines
- Sanitary Sewer Lines
- Electric Lines
- Gas Lines
- Storm Drains
- Fiber Optics (where tracer wire is available)
- Oil Lines
- Telephone Lines
- Force Mains
- Reclaimed water lines
- Water Lines
How it works:
Electronic Detection
- Direct Connection – Transmits an electrical signal directly through the utility that is located by a hand held receiver
- Inductive Coupling – Induces a signal around a utility that is located by a hand held receiver
- Pros – Most reliable geophysical locating technique
- Cons – Does not work on non-conductive utilities
Transmitter / Connection
Receiver
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Transmits microwave pulse signals through the soil that bounce back to the antenna and are processed into a real time image. Changes in soil composition when crossing an underground object result in a displayed screen image of location and depth.
- Pros – Locates both conductive and non-conductive utilities
- Cons – Highly influenced by soil composition, does not work well in wet clay type soils, requires high skill level
Vacuum Excavation
High pressure air is injected into the soil making its way through the crevices resulting in loosened soil that is simultaneously high power vacuumed resulting in a pothole.
- Pros – Air is a gas allowing it to compress thereby providing utilities maximum protection from damage
- Pros – High pressure water can be used in place of air speeding up the process but can more easily damage utilities
- Cons – Air cannot easily penetrate clay due to the density and adhesive properties
- Cons – If water is used native soil becomes mud requiring special handling and potential water run-off is an issue
Clients that trust us with Vacuum Excavation, Utility Locating, Ground Penetrating Radar, and Concrete and Rebar Scanning include:
- CalTrans
- Coastland
- County of Santa Clara
- City of Fremont
- Central Contra Costa Water District
- East Bay Municipal Utility District
- Hathaway Dinwiddie
- Kimley-Horn
- Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Webcor
- Wood Rogers
