Peter Barker, our managing director, has been working with The Survey Association on developing guidance notes on Utility Surveys. TSA have recently made a video about the document which can be viewed at http://youtu.be/tAUwcTL3y6c

The guidance note itself is downloadable free from TSA website at http://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/

Overview

Background

The Association for Geographic Information recently declared that: 

The locations of many pipes and cables under our streets are currently unknown. This causes many problems when repairs need to be carried out, including a massive impact on the UK's economy. The cost of locating 'lost' assets has been estimated at more than £1 billion per annum with additional indirect costs, such as traffic congestion, adding several more billion pounds to this total. Reducing the overall number of roadworks by just 0.1% would save millions of pounds and go some way towards preventing the current drain on the UK's economy.

This may state the economic reasons for carrying utility surveys but the safety of operatives and the public together with disruption of service are arguably even more important.

What is a utility survey?

A utility survey is the detection and mapping of utility pipes, ducts and cables. These are normally underground but can include overhead utilities. Two principle techniques of electro-magnetic location (EML) and ground probing radar (GPR) are used in conjunction and the results synthesised down to one combined plot.

Some of the benefits of carrying out utility surveys

• Safety of the workforce and the public.
• Disruption to the public and industry 
• Minimise damage to buried plant.
• Reduce project delays and costs.
• Optimise designs of foundations and utility diversions.

The basics of specifying a survey

It is important to understand your objectives for the survey. This will allow an appropriate cost effective survey to be commissioned targeting the area of interest and the types of utility expected.  A schedule showing different levels of survey is included below to help with selecting the right mix of technique and methodology.  For a comprehensive guide to specifying a utility survey please follow this link to The Survey Association website. Our Managing Director, Peter Barker, was the primary editor in the production of this document.

What one should look for in a utility survey contractor.

Establish the track record of the preferred contractor to ensure they have the capability to carry out the scale of the survey involved. The survey should be well planned ideally taking advice from an established and trusted contractor. The methodology should be clearly stated, should satisfy the scope of the work and be agreed prior to commencement.  A satisfactory time scale for the lead-in time, fieldwork and reporting should also be agreed before commissioning the work.