SECONDARY UTILITY LOCATES
Maverick covers the entire spectrum of secondary utility locates from facility-wide industrial site subsurface mapping, to pipeline right-of-way locates, environmental borehole sweeps, commercial construction, and residential applications.
Geomatics Mapping & Modeling
Enhance your project with realtime maps and models of your project
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Identify buried utilities in real time
Push Reels & Sondes
Used to locate non-conductive facilities
Drone & RPAS Imagery
Enhance your project with real time imagery or maps
Private Underground Facilities
WE GO BEYOND TRADITIONAL LOCATING WITH EXPERTISE
Maverick has more than two decades of specialized inspection services in the utility locating industry. We go beyond traditional locating with expertise in industrial remote camera inspections for above and underground systems, subsurface investigations using technologies such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), infrared thermography, conductivity, acoustics, and other methods.
Maverick Inspection Ltd. offers safety, compliance, quality, hazard training, and other pre-qualifications to work on all types of sites in Western Canada. There are a range of reporting and mapping options available including CAD and GIS rendering based on accurate real time kinematics and robotic total station positioning. Regardless of the budget or job scope, all work performed by Maverick adheres to our core principles of Safety, Diligence & Innovation.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT MAVERICK’S UTILITY LOCATES?
Maverick offers a combination of technologies, methods, and reporting options beyond basic utility locating for simple applications. Although we do traditional utility locates, we are not afraid to tackle the tough jobs.
There are scenarios where non-conductive lines are not traceable with traditional utility locating methods, and the only indication may be a radar signature of the trench originally made when the utility was installed.
Sometimes a utility locate is not the primary focus of a job scope, but is performed as part of a subsurface investigation when a fire water line has been leaking or voiding has formed around a drainage line. It is not unusual for a client to require private utilities mapped out where there are no surface indications, no tracer wires available to clip onto, and no records to reference.
Call for Information:
780-467-1606
EXPECT YOUR UTILITY LOCATING CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE MORE
HOW DOES MAVERICK COMPLEMENT ALBERTA ONE CALL?
By combining GPR with EM detection, push cameras, robotic crawlers, and other technologies, Maverick Inspection Ltd. is capable of performing the following services:
- Targeted private utility locates – for lines you can see extending into the ground from the surface. This could include natural gas, power, telephone, process or control lines
- Blind sweeps with EM detection systems – used for locating known metallic lines, or lines with tracers which are not accessible from your location. This type of work is also done surrounding borehole locations or other ground disturbances to prevent injuries or damages caused by contacting unknown utilities
- Specifically targeted power signature sweeps at 60Hz, and Cathodic protection (CPS) frequencies, to further reduce the risk of striking underground power and process lines
- Maverick will look for private utilities such as electrical and gas lines that belong to the property owner
- We have a range of inspection technologies and methods to use for locating subsurface features
- The data collected can form part of a larger study of subsurface conditions, depending on client requirements
- While on site, Maverick typically confirms the AB One Call results to maximize diligence and safety
Utility locates often go beyond mapping out structures. Maverick can combine utility locating services with those of our remote video inspection department. By placing intrinsically safe, or CSA rated explosion-proof camera systems into a line, we can visually inspect the interior condition of the line in question, including damage or failure, and use the pipe camera as a locate point, pinpointing both the line and the point of failure.
PLEASE NOTE
Maverick does not perform or replace Alberta One Call services, and where applicable it is still necessary to contact this free service first for the location of relevant utilities and the notification of utility owners prior to a ground disturbance.
F.A.Q.
We want to answer any questions you may have about utility locating. Drop us a line.
What is EM (Electromagnetic Locating)?
EM locating utilizes a transmitter to induce a wide range of alternating electrical currents into a conductive utility. A receiver is then used to process the signal being transmitted and localizes the position of the utility. In some cases, a transmitter is not needed and the receiver can search for specific frequencies (which is known as passive locating).
Can I dig without an Alberta One Call?
No. You must place and wait for all Alberta One Call responses prior to performing any ground disturbance. A private locate is not a replacement for an Alberta One Call.
Doesn’t Alberta One Call mark all the buried facilities in my work area?
No. Alberta One Call will only mark primary power and gas from the main lines up to the site meter location. Only main storm and sanitary lines will be marked by Alberta One Call. Service lines into the site are all considered private. Water lines will be marked from the water mains to the water CC. From the water CC to the site is considered private. Alberta One Call does not mark private facilities.
What can EM line locating equipment locate?
EM locating equipment can only trace conductive linear facilities.
Can EM locators give depths on buried facilities?
There is no specific plus or minus accuracy measurement. A number of factors could play into the accuracy of the line locates. EM distortion caused by other buried facilities or above ground conductive structures can manipulate the signal and cause inaccurate ground markings. For this reason, all buried facilities within the work area should always be daylighted.
How accurate is EM locating?
There is no specific plus or minus accuracy measurement. A number of factors could play into the accuracy of the line locates. EM distortion caused by other buried facilities or above ground conductive structures can manipulate the signal and cause inaccurate ground markings. For this reason, all buried facilities within the work area should always be daylighted.
If the majority of storm, sanitary and water lines are made of non-conductive materials, how are they traced using EM technology?
There are two methods for locating non-conductive buried facilities. The first is tracer wire. When the facility was installed, the contractor installing the facility may have also installed a tracer wire which runs alongside the buried facility. This tracer wire must be visible and accessible. Technicians will use direct connect methods to induce a signal into the wire. This is commonly seen on polyethylene gas lines. The second method is to use an inductive push reel. An inductive push reel will be pushed inside the drain, empty conduit, or depressurized water line and direct connect methods will be used to trace a signal on the inductive push reel. If a water line can not be depressurized, Maverick offers another type of locating service called acoustic locating. For more information about acoustic line locating, please contact Maverick.
Related Services
Drone, RPAS and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Utility Locating
