Utility Surveys

Vision has long been established as a leading company in the UK with offering utility surveys in accordance with PAS128.

A primary reason for requiring a utility survey is to identify the location and map buried services within an urban area that may well be undergoing construction works or subject to an update of records. This extends to a range of expected services from electricity, water, gas and telecoms to potentially unrecorded utilities like old drainage systems and concrete caps.

At Vision, we have always conducted utility surveys with the use of both Radio Detection or EML (Electromagnetic Locators) and GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar), coupled with obtained STATS records (records search). This allows us to complete a thorough subsurface investigation to PAS128 specification and to provide a full set of reports, tailored to a level meeting specific client needs in accordance with a defined industry standard.

Electromagnetic Location (EML)

EML is a non-intrusive surveying method used to map sub-surface utilities. Vision use the latest radio detection equipment to provide the most advanced and reliable picture of the underground services possible.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

GPR is a non-intrusive surveying method used to map sub-surface features. Common applications are in the identification of utilities, concrete thickness, rebar, concrete structural analysis, and voids.

Deliverables

Our highly skilled employees have a wealth of experience across projects large and small, from international airports to residential gardens. Our utility surveyors are qualified to level 3 or 5 ProQual Certificate in Utility Mapping and Surveying and our GPR operators specialise in the field of GPR data collection and processing so a client can rest assured that the results will be delivered to the highest standard.

Our surveys accurately locate and map their findings to a digital format for 2D or 3D drawing. The output provides the client with a comprehensive digital representation of the underground utilities in the specified area. We can tailor these results to requirements such as:

  • PAS128 compliant
  • BIM level 1 or 2 compliant
  • 2D/3D cylindrical models
  • CAD layer management standards (client/sector specific)

PAS128 Utility Surveys

Supported by the British Standards Institute (BSI), a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) document can be commissioned to create and maintain specific standards within a sector.

Vision Survey has followed the PAS 128 specification guidelines developed by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) since it came into effect in 2014. The PAS sets out the requirements and best practice relating to underground utility detection, verification and location. You can read more about the PAS128 guidelines HERE.

The standard covers all aspects of underground utility detection including:

  • Project planning and scoping process
  • A classification system for quality levels based on survey category type, location accuracy, the inclusion of post-processing and level of supporting data
  • Desktop utility records search
  • Detection
  • Verification
  • Location
  • Deliverables

The benefits of adhering to an industry-accepted specification are:

  • Enable those involved to make informed decisions using more complete, up-to-date and accurate data. This reduces conflicts, delays, utility service disruptions, redesigns, personal injuries and even loss of life
  • Accurate utility data could also lead to as yet unrealised benefits, such as the use of remote robotic techniques to maintain asset networks in busy highways in the future, reducing the need for intrusive road excavations
  • Accurate mapping of utility networks could improve asset modelling capabilities

To find out more about the different types of services we offer or ask about Utility Mapping, contact us: 01293 223435 or sales@vision.co.uk.