What Is an Underground Pipe Locator?
An underground pipe locator is a device used to non-destructively examine the location, depth, and installation direction of buried utilities such as water pipes, gas pipes, and electrical cables.
By utilizing underground pipe inspection equipment, one can confirm the presence and location of underground pipelines and structures without causing damage before construction projects on roads or buildings. This capability helps prevent excavation accidents and damage to pipelines.
There are two main types of underground pipe inspection equipment: those based on the electromagnetic wave radar method and those based on the electromagnetic induction method. The choice between them depends on the type of buried utility you want to explore.
Applications of Underground Pipe Locators
Underground pipe inspection equipment is primarily used for the following applications:
Surveying the location, depth, and direction of buried items such as water pipes, gas pipes, electrical cables, hume pipes, and PVC pipes.Confirming the presence, absence, and location of underground pipelines and structures before construction to prevent accidents and damage.
Assessing the need for repair or reinforcement of deteriorated bridge decks, tunnel walls, or other structures.Investigating changes in underground voids and strata for evaluating ground stability and seismic impact.
Excavation surveys for the discovery and assessment of the position and shape of underground relics and buried cultural properties.
Principles of Underground Pipe Locators
Underground pipe inspection equipment includes methods based on electromagnetic wave radar and electromagnetic induction.
1. Electromagnetic Wave Radar Method
This method involves emitting electromagnetic waves towards buried utilities and detecting reflected waves to explore underground objects.
Microwaves are commonly used in this radar system. When these microwaves are directed towards the ground, they travel through the medium at a constant speed and reflect upon encountering boundaries between different media.
By directing electromagnetic waves towards the location where a utility is buried, reflections occur, and the detection of these reflections allows the determination of the distance and position. This method is non-destructive, similar to X-ray inspections, without the associated risks of harmful radiation.
2. Electromagnetic Induction Method
In this method, a magnetic field is generated from the surface towards buried utilities, inducing a weak eddy current in conductive materials.
The induced eddy current is then detected to explore underground pipes. By generating a magnetic field from a coil carrying alternating current, the conductive surface of buried pipes produces overcurrent, creating an induced magnetic field.
Detecting this induced magnetic field confirms the presence of buried pipes. The strength of the induced magnetic field varies with the distance from the buried pipe, allowing measurement of the position and depth of the buried utility.
Other Information on Underground Pipe Locators
Selecting the Appropriate Equipment
The choice between electromagnetic wave radar and electromagnetic induction methods depends on the type of buried utility being explored. Electromagnetic induction is suitable for conductive buried pipes, while electromagnetic wave radar is versatile, exploring buried utilities regardless of material.
Buried utilities that can be explored using underground pipe inspection equipment include water pipes, gas pipes, electrical cable protection pipes, hume pipes, and others.