Marking utility services electronically doesn’t just ensure you always know where your assets are located; it’s also the foundation of an accurate digital twin.
Professional locators do a fantastic job of accurately marking services using the standard AS5488 paint colours throughout a worksite. This helps clients and supervisors make safe decisions before excavation works start. But if works are delayed or weather conditions have caused the paint to fade or wash away then the risk of damage to vital assets increases.
Access Detection Director, Anthony Johnstone, said that by marking services electronically, locators can provide a safer environment for excavation works.
“This technology allows the user to take accurate RTK based GNSS points while using their Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) locator and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Dedicated locators, mapping software and the GNSS/GPS have become more affordable and easier to use for operators to effectively use these technologies,” he said.
Mr Johnstone said a great example is the Rycom Pathfinder Pro+ Map, an EMF locator that has made mapping affordable for operators including professional locate companies, councils, and utilities operators.
“The Pathfinder allows several popular GPS/GNSS manufactures for instance the Trimble DA2 and the EMLID RX to mount there antenna seamlessly onto the locator,” he said.
“This is a much more cost-effective as it allows you to disconnect the antenna and use it with your GPR or on a survey pole.”
To streamline locator tracing and marking services, the TerraFlow Mobile Mapping program integrates with the Rycom Pathfinder.
“TerraFlow have modified their mapping software to comply with our own Australia AS5488 colour and quality level standards,” Mr Johnstone said.
“Once connected you can select the service you are tracing and log points along the locate site. Quality level classifications can be selected based on your connection and locate accuracy. Photos can also be taken at the beginning and throughout the locate further enhancing safety.
“Then, once your service has been logged you can then continue with other utility assets. When you have completed the locate you can sync this with your PC/MAC and send the location out using different file versions for common GIS systems like ESRI, QGIS and AutoCAD programs this can be used to build an accurate digital twin for future reference.”
Mr Johnstone said a great benefit with this setup is a site operator or supervisor can also use the TerraFlow mapping program to navigate to any point on the locate site by simply walking to a selected point on the map.
“This of course relies on the operator or supervisor having a good understanding of the use and shortcomings of using this technology – for example you cannot rely on this technology to be used in congested high building areas or tree canopies when you cannot get an RTK fix – but this is a great way of confirming where services are even if the paint has faded or become unrecognisable,” he said.
“It also improves safety on the worksite and in some cases can eliminate the need to re hire the locator to again locate the site.”
For more information, visit accessdetection.com.au
