What you can book.

Electromagnetic locating traces conductive services: power and communications cables, metallic pipes, and non-metallic pipes that carry a tracer wire.

The locator picks up signals already present on a service, or a signal applied to it with a transmitter, and the service is followed across the site. Positions are then marked on the surface in the colour for that service type.

• Suits trenching, pits, footings and bore paths
• Instrument: Radiodetection RD8200 with a current calibration certificate

Best for

Trenching, pits, footings and bore paths where conductive services may be present.

What happens on site

BYDA plans are reviewed, the site is walked, and conductive services are traced with the RD8200. Marks go on the surface in the service colours.

What you receive

Surface marks for each traced service, with the AS 5488 quality level noted per mark.

Limits

Traces conductive services only. Non-metallic pipes without a tracer wire cannot be traced this way, and depth is confirmed only by potholing.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) sends pulses into the ground and records reflections from buried objects, including non-metallic services that electromagnetic locating cannot trace.

A GuidelineGeo MALA GPR system is held. The service is offered subject to operational confirmation: ask when you enquire whether GPR is available for your job and dates.

Best for

Areas where non-metallic services or unrecorded buried objects are suspected.

What happens on site

The ground is scanned with the GPR system and reflections are interpreted and marked on the surface.

What you receive

Surface marks for what is detected, if GPR is confirmed for your job.

Limits

Offered subject to operational confirmation. Results depend on ground conditions, and depth is confirmed only by potholing. To confirm

During horizontal directional drilling, a transmitter in the drill head is followed from the surface with a walkover receiver.

The tracker reads the head's position and depth so the bore holds its planned path and stays clear of located services. It is used on Spot On drilling projects. If you need tracking on your own bore, tell us about the job.

Best for

Horizontal directional drilling where the bore path must stay clear of located services.

What happens on site

A transmitter in the drill head is followed from the surface with a DigiTrak Falcon F5 walkover receiver. Two units are held.

What you receive

Head position and depth read from the surface during the bore.

Limits

Used on Spot On drilling projects. Tracking on another contractor's bore is discussed job by job.

Potholing exposes a service so its position and depth are confirmed by sight.

It is done by vacuum excavation, which loosens soil with water or air and removes it by suction rather than with a digging bucket. Vacuum excavation trucks run under sister company Spot On Excavations, and potholing is arranged with them as part of your locate.

Spot On Excavations

Best for

Confirming the position and depth of a service by sight before excavation or drilling.

What happens on site

Spot On Excavations exposes the service by vacuum excavation. Gas detectors are used where the pit needs atmosphere checks.

What you receive

A service exposed and seen, so its position and depth can be measured (AS 5488 quality level A).

Limits

Arranged with Spot On Excavations, not run by Locate and Detect.

Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) is the national referral service for information on underground assets.

BYDA plans show what asset owners have on record. They are a starting point, not a location. We review the plans for your site before locating, then compare what is recorded with what is found. Send the plans with your enquiry if you already have them.

Best for

Any job, as the first step before a site visit.

What happens on site

The BYDA plans are reviewed against the site and the work, and the site is walked to compare records with what is visible.

What you receive

A note of what the plans show and where they leave gaps. A photo and sketch record of the mark-out is available on request. To confirm

Limits

Plans show what asset owners have on record. They are not a location, and they can be incomplete.