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Private Utility locating in West Chester

A large engineering firm recently contacted the GPRS SE Pennsylvania office. Their goal was to locate all locatable utilities within a region of West Chester ahead of a planned installation of new duct banks. Additionally, the client requested that all data be collected with a Geode GPS probe and turned into a non-survey grade CAD report. The width of the scope was on average about 60 feet. An overall length of road of approximately 0.75 miles was scanned.

Upon arrival, GPRS technician Olek Kerod walked the entirety of the scope. In order to have a safe and efficient work environment, traffic control needed to be implemented. Before any paint could be put down, a detailed day by day plan was created and shared with the city of West Chester. This plan detailed which roads would have lane restrictions on which days, allowing the city to contact local businesses to ensure proper steps are taken in advance. A part of our client’s’ scope took place on a state road, therefore we also needed to receive approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). In order to comply with PennDOT regulations, any work required that needed to be performed on these roads needed to take place at night, due to the high volume of traffic on those roads during the day. Once a plan had been developed and approved, GPRS could begin to work.

Traffic control would closeshut off small sections of road at a time, therefore work each day would be restricted to the area designated on the plan. GPRS would begin by walking each section and identifying all above-ground surface features. Areas differed in the exact surface features that were present, so a unique plan had to be created for each new work area. Overall, the approach to each area was generally the same. GPRS began by using a Radiodetection EM scanner. With this we were able to identify the gas, electric, and water lines that existed within the road. Any metallic lines that did not have above ground surface features could be located with the A6 Tracer, which functions as a metal detector and is particularly effective at locating metallic underground lines and storage tanks. To ensure no locatable lines were missed, GPRS concluded the locate by performing a grid scan with a GPR unit. The GPR imaging can display anomalies that could not be traced with an EM locator, because it does not require the anomaly to be metallic. All findings were marked in accordance with the painted color code established by 811.

Once the utility locate in each section was complete, the utility markings were recorded with a Geode GPS probe. This data was then used to create a non-survey grade CAD report that was ultimately sent to the client.

All GPRS Project Managers are highly skilled and trained in the field of concrete scanning and utility locating. However, it does not stop there, as we have helped numerous clients identify underground storage tanks (USTs), footings, and identify voids on site.

As a nationwide company, we cover all 50 states. Our 24 hours rapid response program guarantees that your project will get covered within a 24-hour window of your call, text, or email.

If you need a concrete slab scanned, utility locate, UST identification, or void locate, please contact our office at 1-800-495-4248 or visit our contact page. https://www.gp-radar.com/contact

GPRS does not provide geophysical, geological, land surveying or engineering services. If you need such services, please contact an appropriate professional.