From natural gas and water lines to telephone and internet connections, there are many utilities buried underground. For commercial developers, knowing the locations of these installations is critical before starting construction. If you're in a rural area, hiring a utility locating service is often the best way to ensure you don't damage any of the lines. Here is more information about why you should know the exact location and how professionals can help.

Why Do You Need to Locate Utilities?

If you don't know where utility lines are located, excavating and building on the property can damage them, requiring expensive replacements and potentially creating hazardous conditions. For example, damaging a gas line allows flammable, dangerous fumes to fill the area, while hitting a sewer pipe causes raw sewage to flood out. This also leads to service interruptions for residents and businesses that are nearby.

When these issues occur, your development company could be responsible for paying to repair and restore the utilities. Depending on the extent of the damage, the costs could be significant, slowing down or halting construction for a long period. Workers may also be injured or develop illnesses due to the damage, which results in workers' compensation claims and lost productivity. If you have fewer employees on the site, you cannot complete the project efficiently.

What Is The Utility Locating Process?

Professional utility locating firms start by reviewing an underground map of the land that you plan to build on. This lets them outline the area so that commercial developers, engineers, and architects can tailor their design plans around the exact locations of pipes and cables.

Thorough, on-site inspections are another key tool for identifying and marking sub-surface utilities. These technicians often use specialized equipment to detect the locations, especially if the map is old or out of date. For example, they may use electromagnetic detection to identify pipes that are deep underground. They may also have cameras and concrete scanners to locate underground channels that contain telephone and internet lines. This ensures the construction project will remain on track without damaging the utilities.

If you need a utility locating service to help you plan a construction project, contact GeoTek Alaska in Anchorage. The licensed, insured, and bonded company uses the latest equipment to pinpoint buried lines accurately. They utilize specialized, small rigs that give them access to remote locations throughout the state. Call (907) 569-5900 to speak with a team member, and visit the website for more information about their services.