Utility Locating Prior to Fence Install at Substation - Miami, FL

Our Central Florida office was called out to a job at a large electrical substation in central Florida prior to the installation of a perimeter fence. Due to new regulations, power stations of a certain size are now required to have fencing of a certain size (for security reasons), and this contractor was in the planning stages of installing the new fence. The contractor was replacing the existing fence with a new one, and even though the footprint of the new fence was identical to the last, the new footer needed to be several feet deeper than the existing structure. Although the exact dimensions of the new fence couldn’t be disclosed, our job was to locate any utilities passing under the old fence, regardless of depth, to ensure that the new fence footer could be poured unobstructed.

The site was literally humming with electricity, and the existing fence was tied to a ground wire system that weaved throughout the entire area. Utilizing both our RD8100, (which is a handheld precision radio detection antenna), and our larger 400MHz radar antenna, we scanned the several thousand-foot perimeter. In addition to determining and marking out the ground wire grid, we successfully located power lines, gas lines, and a storm line system that wrapped around the existing fence perimeter. After marking out and flagging the newly located near-surface features, we walked the site with the customer contact and explained the results of our scan. Of course, with this information in hand, they contractor could now plan the new post footer locations, and proceed safely with the job. Satisfied with the locating, the customer immediately scheduled to have us scan a second site, where they were planning to install a similar fence.

Whether your project requires us to investigate a single core spot on slab to avoid hitting cables, or locating several acres of existing utilities, we at GPRS are quick to mobilize and provide the needed information for our customers. We serve the entire lower 48 states, and when needed, we have served our customers outside of the states as well. Our expert Project Managers receive continual education throughout their careers, ensuring that no stone is left unturned when we conduct GPR scanning.

For more information about GPRS and the services that we provide, click here to contact your local GPRS Project Manager.