Terra Scan – Be Safe when you Excavate

Be Safe when you Excavate.

Terra Scan^TM specialises in the accurate location of utilities and other objects that are buried underground or that are embedded within structures and thus not easily identifiable by conventional means. The precise location of such objects is essential when planning invasive operations in the presence of existing infrastructure. Terra Scan^TM is passionate about delivering quality services and ensuring customer satisfaction. We use the most advanced electromagnetic (EM) and radio frequency (RF) cable and pipe locating equipment as well as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems. Our equipment, processes and locating techniques enable us to accurately locate, identify, mark-out and determine the depth of conductive and non conductive underground objects on site. These technologies together with our processes are the most accurate non-intrusive and non-destructive methods currently available.

Be Safe when you Excavate.

During excavation and drilling activities the presence of existing utilities and other embedded assets presents numerous hazards to both man and the environment. It is therefore highly advisable to accurately identify and mark-out all such objects as part of the planning, risk assessment and permitting process prior to the commencement of any invasive activities.

Terra Scan^TM is passionate about delivering quality services and ensuring customer satisfaction. We use the most advanced electromagnetic (EM) and radio frequency (RF) cable and pipe locating equipment as well as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems. Our equipment, processes and locating techniques enable us to accurately locate, identify, mark-out and determine the depth of conductive and non conductive underground objects on site. These technologies together with our processes are the most accurate non-intrusive and non-destructive methods currently available.

Many benefits arise from having quality information on the exact location and depth of buried utilities including but not limited to:

Ensuring safety of both the public and the workforce during construction work.
Minimising cost and disruption arising from damage to existing utilities.
Minimising project delays while increasing productivity.
Optimising designs of new works by knowing the underground constraints of the site.
Reducing the risk of contaminating the environment.
Reducing your carbon footprint as the survey process is non intrusive and non destructive.
Minimising future liabilities on divestment projects by ensuring all underground assets are located and removed.
Minimising over expenditure and overall project cost with accurate information at the pre-tender phase. Feedback from our clients suggests that a survey typically pays for itself.

Be Safe when you Excavate.

Accuracy of information is an absolute necessity when planning any work on or near buried utilities and services.

Locating and marking out of underground services are normally carried out prior to commencement of excavation or drilling activities on site. Terra Scan^TM mark-out surveys pinpoint the depth and route of both conductive and non conductive underground services quickly and accurately in order to reproduce an accurate layout of buried services or utilities at visible level.

This service is tailored to customer specific needs and can typically comprise of:

For anyone planning to undertake excavation work, the location of and establishing the nature of underground utilities is a step towards statutory compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, in particular the Construction Regulations.

(Construction regulations, 2014. 13 (2) (g) and 14 (4) (e))

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys:

Terra Scan^TM successfully uses GPR technology to locate and determine the depth and position of metallic and non metallic underground services, location of underground storage tanks (USTS) and associated piping, voids, sub surface concrete structures, utility duct banks, ground variations and location of burial sites.

Our GPR system enables us to confirm the depth of underground utilities which were previously located by means of Electromagnetic (EM) or Radio Frequency (RF) cable locating equipment.

GPR technology can also detect non conductive objects that cannot be detected by EM and RF technology.

Depending on site conditions and the project scope a GPR survey sometimes necessitates the offsite processing of GPR data by making use of advanced GPR data processing software.

Underground utility locating and mapping surveys:

Where a permanent up to date scaled record of utility positioning on a site is required, Terra Scan^TM will conduct a full scale underground utility survey and then makes use of land surveyors in order to provide colour coded survey drawings of the detected utilities combined with key topographical features. The survey data is referenced to an agreed Datum or an arbitrary Datum assigned to a particular project.

Existing information on underground services or assets are inherently inaccurate. This often relates to sketched information taken when the asset was installed or even worse – taken from design drawings when no accurate “as build drawings” are available.

Cell: 083 475 2096