The Ultimate Guide to Utility Locators

Line strikes can endanger work crews and trigger costly repairs. They also cause project delays that can cost thousands of dollars. While 811 services will provide initial utility location services, savvy contractors know the importance of independently verifying these marks before breaking ground.

For utility and construction professionals who stake their reputation on precision, having reliable utility detection equipment is essential to protecting workers and preserving profit margins.

Today’s Underground Utility Locators are Quick and Easy to Use

Gone are the days when utility location required specialized expertise and lengthy training periods. Modern detection equipment has evolved to prioritize user-friendly operation without sacrificing accuracy.

The intuitive design of these systems means that new team members can quickly master the basics and achieve professional-level results with minimal instruction. This efficiency translates directly to improved project timelines – less time spent on utility detection means more hours dedicated to core project work. When crews can move through sites faster without compromising safety, it creates a roll-on effect: accelerated project completion, enhanced profitability, and ultimately, more satisfied clients.

Understanding that different projects demand different capabilities, utility locator manufacturers have innovated to address the full spectrum of industry needs. Some models excel in straightforward detection with simplified controls, while others offer enhanced depth range for challenging urban environments. For tech-forward operations, there are models featuring Bluetooth connectivity for direct mapping to mobile devices. The variety in model selection ensures that whether you handle basic residential work or complex industrial projects, you'll have precisely the right tool for the location task at hand.

Common Utility Locator Applications

• Pipeline location
• Cable Location
• Phone line location
• Fiberoptic line location
• Sewer line location
• Water Line Location
• Gas Line Location
• Sewer Camera Tracing
• Sewer Camera Pinpointing

How Utility Detection Systems Work

At the heart of modern utility location technology lies a sophisticated two-part system. Each locator consists of a transmitter and receiver working in tandem to create and read an electromagnetic field.

The transmitter serves as the system's power source, generating an electromagnetic current that flows along the target utility line. This current turns the buried utility into a beacon that can be tracked from above ground with a receiver.

As a receiver is moved across the search area, it reads the electromagnetic field produced by the transmitter. Using the receiver, operators can identify the exact path of buried utilities and can determine the depth and position of buried lines with remarkable accuracy.

Utility Locator Transmitters

Transmitters produce an electromagnetic signal along a line that is being traced. For a utility line to be traceable, it must be able to conduct electricity. Metal pipelines, cables, and wires are excellent candidates for utility locators. Plastic, ceramic, and asbestos pipelines as well as fiber optic cables are generally non-conductive but can still be traced if a trace wire has been installed along the line.

Another solution for locating non-conductive lines is to insert a (metal) sewer snake into the line prior to a location attempt. A sonde can also be used in place of a transmitter. Threaded onto the end of a trace rod or push rod, a sonde emits an electromagnetic signal as it is pushed along a pipeline. The sonde’s signal can then be read by a receiver.

The distance of transmission is partially determined by the wattage output of the transmitter. In general, the higher the wattage output, the deeper and further down the line a receiver can read the signal. The signal is transmitted along the line by one of two methods: conduction or induction.

Conduction: The conduction transmission method provides the most reliable and powerful signal on most utility lines. With this method, a direct connection is created between the transmitter and target utility line using connector clips. Advantages of direct connection include a stronger signal strength and greater detection range. A disadvantage is that direct connection is not always possible, especially if the line is buried or incased in a non-conductive conduit.

Induction: When direct connection isn't possible, line locators can employ the induction method. This technique involves placing the transmitter above the suspected utility line which creates or “induces” a signal along the buried line. While more versatile than conduction, the induction method typically offers reduced performance because of significant signal strength loss due to having to penetrate soil or pavement.

Utility Locator Receivers

The utility locator receiver is an electromagnetic antenna that detects signals sent by the transmitter along a utility line. These receivers are often engineered with multiple frequency options that allow operators to optimize their detection capabilities based on the environment in which they work.

This multi-frequency capability is useful when working in dense urban areas with high electromagnetic interference. Additionally, locations near high-voltage power lines or electrical transformers may require careful frequency selection to achieve accurate readings.

Advanced locator models feature simultaneous multi-frequency detection systems. This technology enables operators to track multiple signal frequencies at the same time, providing verification that they are following the intended target line rather than picking up signals from adjacent utilities.

Popular brands of Underground Utility Locators

Different utility location jobs require different detection capabilities. A variety of manufacturers are in the utility locator industry and products from each manufacturer have different strengths. Some products are designed for ease of use, others are designed for increased depth detection, while still others are built to map utility locations directly to a Bluetooth enabled device. The list below, while not exhaustive, covers several of the industry’s leading utility locator manufacturers and the devices that they produce.

Subsurface Instruments’ Utility Locators

Subsurface Instruments produces a line of utility location devices that are designed to be powerful and easy to use. The training required to use these locators is minimal and variable frequency options are available in both their transmitters and receivers. Simple, powerful, and straightforward, Subsurface instruments are tough enough to handle any jobsite.

Pipehorn Utility Locators

Pipehorn Utility Locators are produced in two models: the 800-H and the 800-HL. Rugged construction and user friendliness are core elements of Pipehorn utility locator design. Pipehorn products are intuitive to use and are proudly Made in the USA.

Leica Geosystems Locators

Leica Geosystems specializes in utility locators that are integrated with software mapping systems and are Bluetooth capable. These features allow a wireless connection to smartphones and computers systems and enable the user to not only map the systems that they are tracing, but also to share those maps to other workers onsite as well as back to company headquarters and clients. Swiss engineering and design features are evident throughout the Leica Utility Locator collection.

Utility Locators: Quickly and Accurately Identify Underground Utilities

Line strikes can be dangerous to ground crews and expensive to repair. Today’s modern locators are designed for ease-of-use, accurate location, and are built tough enough to endure the rigors of the jobsite. Crews should always call 811 before excavating, however it can be useful double check markings before breaking ground.

Choosing the right utility locator for your projects

Every project is different and proper utility locator choice depends on project-specific requirements. Modern locators offer a variety of features including: enhanced depth detection capabilities, user-friendly interfaces, Bluetooth connectivity for digital mapping, and robust construction for job site durability. Finding the balance between these features is key to choosing the proper utility locator.

Do you have utility locator questions?

At Precision Outdoor Tech, we want to make sure that you find the utility locator that meets the needs of your project. If we don’t’ know the answer, we will find it for you. Give us a call with your question, and we will be happy to help you out. If it is after hours, please use the contact form listed in our municipal contact section and we will respond shortly.