Underground Utility Survey Mapping Services

Technics has been delivering effective underground utility mapping services since 1999, providing accurate, reliable subsurface surveys for a wide range of clients across multiple industries and sectors.  

We understand the importance of determining the purpose of your survey right from the start of a project, and this knowledge enables our team of project managers to tailor the methodology in line with industry specifications, including PAS 128:2022, and provide cost-effective solutions within your budget. 

What is Underground Mapping and how is it Conducted?

Underground utility mapping is a survey that involves the use of advanced geophysical techniques to create a detailed digital representation of buried utilities and infrastructure. This survey and process uses the latest technology, including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electro-Magnetic Locators (EML), to detect and interpret reflected signals from structures, services, buried objects, and layers beneath the ground – ultimately providing vital detail required for project planning ahead of any prospective works.  

This can include the following:  

• Gas, water, and electricity lines  
• Telecommunications and fibre optic cables  
• Drainage and sewer systems  
• Structural elements beneath the surface  

By combining the latest technology with our expertise, we overcome limitations to ensure clients receive comprehensive and highly accurate utility survey data.  

Why Choose Technics for Underground Utility Mapping in the UK?  

• Precision & Accuracy – We create detailed 3D underground utility maps for better planning.  
• PAS 128:2022 Compliance – Our surveys meet the highest industry standards.  
• Vacuum Excavation Service – For QL-A accuracy, we can expose utilities safely and efficiently.  
• Experienced Surveyors – Our team ensures you receive thorough and reliable results. 

With knowledge and expertise, we know how to overcome any limitations to ensure clients receive thorough, detailed, and accurate results.

Underground utility mapping creates an accurate plan of the subsurface environment in multiple formats including 3D.

With our Vacuum Excavation service, Technics can also expose utilities safely and efficiently to fulfil the PAS 128:2022 specification quality level QL-A.

Benefits of Our Underground Utility Survey Mapping  

A utility mapping survey is essential before breaking ground. It provides critical information on buried utilities, helping to prevent digging into or damaging any utilises that may cause harm to the public or your workforce.   

Without it, excavation poses serious risks to safety, budgets, and project timelines.  

• Reduce project planning time  
• Minimise risk  
• Gain confidence before excavation works  
• Comply with the health and safety regulation  
• Avoid surprises  
• Comply with BSI standard – PAS 128:2022  

Our utility mapping surveys, and experienced team provide you with the confidence to progress with your project, helping to identify safe excavation areas and ensure that utilities were laid correctly and to specification, so there are ‘no surprises’ along the way.  

We adhere to all health and safety regulations, following best industry practices.  

PAS 128: The UK Standard for Utility Surveys  

At Technics, we work to the highest industry standards, ensuring our surveys are carried out by skilled and experienced operatives to deliver precision, reliability, and compliance in every utility survey we undertake. Our surveys adhere to PAS 128:2022, the UK’s leading specification for underground utility detection, verification, and location. 

What PAS 128:2022 Means for Your Project  

• Accurate Utility Mapping – Our surveys identify and verify underground utilities, including active, abandoned, redundant, or unknown ones.  
• Industry-Recognised Standards – PAS 128 outlines strict requirements for detecting and verifying underground infrastructure, providing consistent and high-quality data.  
• Advanced Detection Methods – The latest specification includes post-processing techniques, enhancing the accuracy of detection results.  
• Qualified and Experienced Professionals – PAS 128:2022 introduces updated guidelines on the training and qualifications of survey practitioners, ensuring skilled operatives carry out every survey.  
• Applicable Across All Environments – Urban or rural areas, street or private sites like hospitals or airfields.  

With Technics, you can be confident that your underground utility survey is delivered to the highest industry standard, reducing risk and ensuring seamless project planning.  

Need expert advice on PAS 128 utility surveys? Contact our team today to discuss your project. 

How Does Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Work?  

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) equipment transmits an Electromagnetic (EML), or radio wave, pulse into the ground at various frequencies, which are recorded on site. The signal is transmitted and then reflected back to the GPR unit, the quality of the signal in both directions can be dependent on the properties of the material it passes through.

The recorded sections of scanned data (pictured below) are post-processed in the office. Each scan is assessed and analysed for any possible targets (services, anomalies and voids), these are then selected using specialist software and a highly trained surveyor. The output from this software is then integrated into the utility survey model and presented in a concise and easy to understand way.

GPR, unlike more traditional EMLs, can pick up non-metallic objects and utilities in a completely non-intrusive way. This unique feature makes the use of GPR for Utility Surveys almost mandatory in an industry that is increasing its use of plastic piping on utilities.

GPR has more uses than just mapping utilities, with the right equipment and expertise it can be used for the following:

• pavement/bridge/roadway inspection
• void detection
• concrete slab analysis
• rebar mapping
• verifying as-built information of concrete walls and floors

How Technics overcomes GPR limitations

Even though Ground Penetrating Radar is an incredible tool for mapping underground features, it does have the drawback of not being able to accurately identify utility types.

Technics layered and modular approach to utility surveys combines GPR, EML, visual inspection and records to produce the best subsurface mapping information possible without digging. To help complement this further, Technics now employs a vacuum excavation service. This enables us to expose the utilities to provide an accurate visual of their type, depth, and position.

Additionally, we possess expertise and knowledge of GPR systems from the main industry manufacturers such as GSSI, and IDS who created the Stream UP, and Stream DP.

Market Insights & Resources

FAQs  

Q: What Can Go Wrong Without a Utility Mapping Survey?  

A: South Lanarkshire Council was fined after workers suffered severe flash burns from striking an electrical cable during excavation. One worker suffered burns to his arms and face, while another was blown off his feet.  

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that the incident resulted from inadequate risk assessment, lack of a safe system of work, and failure to provide adequate information, instruction, supervision, and training. 

This case underscores the critical importance of conducting thorough underground utility surveys before beginning any excavation or construction work. Such surveys help identify the presence and location of underground utilities, thereby preventing accidents, ensuring worker safety, and avoiding legal repercussions.