Principles of Buried Utility Detection

Undertaking any excavation will inevitably bring site workers into close proximity to underground utilities (electricity, gas, telecommunications, water). Consideration should always be given to knowing the exact location of all buried utilities before and during the excavation process. To safeguard against utility strikes, a cable locator is used for detecting the presence and proximity of buried utilities.

When an alternating current (AC) travels along a cable, an electromagnetic field is generated. The alternating current not only creates a magnetic field but also the oscillation of the current between positive and negative creates a frequency known as Hertz (Hz). The electromagnetic field generated by an AC current, can be detected by a cable locator.