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Knowing what is underneath

Knowing what is underneath

Knowing what is underneath

(OP)
Is there any technology which can be used to survey an open land to ascertain if there are any cable underneath it? If there is any, is it cheap and easily available?

These cables may be live or dead.

RE: Knowing what is underneath

The quick answer is 'yes'. There are quite a few techniques available - how big an area do you want to scan?
 

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  Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...

RE: Knowing what is underneath

I recommend my contractor. His excavator "found" the MV local loop cable 4 times. As a rule, the more times he finds the cable, the cheaper is his service :)

RE: Knowing what is underneath

Yes.  This is common practice especially before demolition or renovation.  I have no clue about the cost.

RE: Knowing what is underneath

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG.....it's free.  Look it up in the yellow pages..In Kentucky it's done by a company called Kentucky Underground Inc.....800-752-6007.  They could maybe point you in the right direction for your area.

 

RE: Knowing what is underneath

I believe in most states it's a law? that you 'call before you dig'.  Around here it's called USA which you see painted all over the streets.  USA I believe stands for Underground Service Announcement.   You paint the area to be drilled or dug and then call the 800 number.  They contact all the companies who are in the area of your USA and have them all confirm via records and tracing with modern equipment that they are trained to use on their specific utilities.  This is all free and goes a long way towards protecting you, the neighborhood, and your bank account.

I would never check for myself, which legally means little, or nothing, but would utilize this free service.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com

RE: Knowing what is underneath

The various 'call before you dig' programs only require that utilities locate THEIR buried infrastructure. In many cases, this means only cables that are on public ROWs (such as along roadways).  

Cables installed by private property owners are NOT usually documented or located by the utilties.  In fact, the locates in my region SPECIFICALLY state that the POCO is not responsible for non-utility stuff, including private cables and even city-owned street light cables.

RE: Knowing what is underneath

As a first step you should obtain the mains cable records from all the local utilities. If there are cables which cross the area of land the utility should be able to locate and mark their own cables. There may also be privately owned cables on the site, for example if there was an old factory there. Records of private cables are usually poor or non existent. Locating and marking dead cables can be difficult, unless you can find the ends, and in my experience, unless they are in your way you should just leave them where they are. There is technology available that can locate underground buried structures and cables. Have a look on Google for Ground Probing Radar.
Regards
Marmite

RE: Knowing what is underneath

Here in Louisiana, backward as we may be, we have  "one-call" system to call before you dig.

You call it, they come out, mark stuff to look out for, and you dig.  If you mess up and cut something, then it's THEIR fault.

You don't call, you mess something up, you're liable for all the losses including outages and direct damage, PLUS the added ignominy of a state fine.

Now once you get inside the fence of a private facility like a plant or a factory, that's another problem, but most that I've worked with are VERY careful, not wanting to see what happens with a puncture of a high-pressure gas line or a major HV feeder.

old field guy

RE: Knowing what is underneath

USA= Underground Service Alert aka "DigAlert" here in Southern California, a very critical service wether in open areas or on city streets.  Almost all municipalities require their name and number on street improvement plans, utility plans, etc....

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