Utility Mapping & GPR Surveys

What is a utility mapping survey?

An underground utility survey locates and records the buried services on a site, such as water mains, gas pipes, electricity and telecoms cables and drainage. It shows what is there, where it runs and roughly how deep it sits. Having that picture before excavation is the most reliable way to avoid service strikes, which put people at risk and cause delays and repair costs on any project.

We combine two detection methods. Electromagnetic utility detection traces metallic services and cables that carry a signal. A GPR utility survey uses ground penetrating radar to pick up what electromagnetic tools miss, including plastic pipes, ceramic drains and ducts. Using both gives far more complete buried cable detection and buried pipe detection than either method alone. We’re also working towards PAS 128, the UK specification for underground utility surveys.

Built for construction, highways, rail and civil engineering

We provide utility mapping for construction, utility surveys for developers and highway schemes, and utility mapping for civil engineering, drainage works and rail projects. Typical uses include pre-construction utility surveys, site investigations and mapping buried services early in design and planning, before a layout is fixed.

CAD utility drawings and BIM-ready deliverables

Every survey is tied into survey control, so utility mapping lines up with your topographic data and site grid. Results come as CAD utility drawings, with BIM-ready utility survey deliverables available for design teams working in a federated model. OR3D GEO also delivers drone, LiDAR and mobile mapping surveys, above-ground and below-ground data can come from one team on one coordinate system.