US360VIEW | Utility Locating Project

We utilize a combination of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Electromagnetic Locator (EML), Drone Magnetometer, and GPS Survey Equipment to accurately map underground utilities. Additionally, we collaborate with utility owners, obtain as-built records, and generate CAD files for comprehensive analysis.

Minimal Approach - is calling the State811 OneCall. State811 or Texas Railroad Commission will submit a ticket and conduct a field locate in which the Land Surveyors will GPS collect those paint, flags and stakes. 

Calling 811 is free however may only provide up to 70% (at most) of what buried utilities/pipelines actually exist. Private Utility Locating uses multiple technologies (such as GPR) to raise that level of certainty up to 99% and often corrects 811's locates and pinpoints abandoned lines, not recorded by State811, nor documented by the utility owner.

For most energy projects, we need:

1. A Google Earth KMZ map outlining the project boundary.
2. A Google Earth KMZ/CAD file detailing the preliminary design, including WTG locations, PV array layouts, pipeline ROW, corridor, or easement plans.

Our process involves taking your map, measuring the distances, dividing the total by our average daily progress, and multiplying that by our daily rate. This method quickly produces an accurate lump sum fee estimate within a +/-10% margin.

When your clients fill out the ALTA/NSPS Table A and select on Page 10, Section 11(b),

"markings coordinated by the surveyor pursuant to a private utility locate request," a private utility locating service using GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) and EML (Electromagnetic Locator) is required to be contracted.

This is when US360VIEW can be subconsulted to complete and conduct this service per the client's request.

We highly recommend calling or emailing us at US360VIEW to conduct the desktop search but if you need the public Texas RRC data, here is the link: https://gis.rrc.texas.gov/GISViewer/ 

For Energy project Developers, it is recommended to schedule private utility locates during the ALTA survey to obtain survey-grade GPS points of the existing infrastructure along proposed access roads, MV routes, and WTG pads. This allows for the importation of CSV Survey data by the EPC/Contractor for future staking and necessary potholing or daylighting during bore crossings.

US360VIEW has multiple Professional Survey firms that can complete the turn-key Survey need for all large Utility-Scale Energy Projects. It's called, "4-STEP Survey Diligence Program"

1. Provide Aerial imagery and LiDAR topography.
2. Provide Land Survey boundary and deed research for ALTA/Title Agencies.
3. Map legacy well heads and/or buried metallic objects from past land owner and Oil & Gas operations.
4. Provide subsurface utility mapping in GIS exports for a full and complete Geospatial intelligence.

There are no State or Federal certifications, qualifications or engineering licenses to conduct private utility locating. 

When SUE Quality Level A (Subsurface Utility Engineering) is performed, a Professional Licensed Surveyor (PLS) is required to sign and seal any elevations collected from the field survey team. In Addition, we do adhere to, but not limited to, the following National Standards:

• NESC - National Electric Safety Code
• IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
• ANSI - American National Standards Institute
• ICEA - Insulated Cable Engineering Association

There are many limitations to the technology. Type of pipe, size of pipe, depth of pipe, dense or wet soils, etc. limit the ability of the technology. 

However, the more experienced and qualified the field locator, the greater the chances of creating a solution from the limitation. Some examples that are difficult or nearly impossible to locate are:

1. Clay-like pipes that match the clay-like surrounding soils.
2. Plastic, Rubber, HDPE or Polybutylene (Poly) lines (without tracer wires in dense clay soils) are also very difficult to locate even with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). These lines have non-metallic properties nor non-electromagnetic fields that the GPR can obtain a reflection or EML receive a signal.

If NDT (non-destructive technologies) have been exhausted, vacuum excavation is required by either air or water.