Depending upon whose figures you believe, there are anywhere between 1.5 million and 2.5 million kilometres of underground services in the UK. These can be water pipes, gas, electricity cables, sewage pipes, telecoms, fibreoptic, and many other types. Naturally, we do not want our landscape covered in such things, so burying them underground makes complete sense.

However, what that means is that, obviously, they cannot be seen. But that doesn’t mean that they are not there. Your own home has four of the above mentioned as a minimum – electricity, water, telecoms, and sewage. But because they cannot be seen, it means that before you start any serious digging on any sort of project whatsoever, there needs to be a thorough survey of the site so that you can find out what is there and where all of these services run.

How do you find things that you cannot see? Well, there are several things that one can undertake to locate and identify what runs where, and this requires the use of certain tools that can help to do that.

Chief of these are the CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) and Genny (Signal Generator). They both need to be used in combination in order to be certain, although theoretically you could use the CAT on its’ own if you know for sure that there are only electrical cables and that they have power running through them. For instance, if you search for cables powering streetlights at night you would find them, but not during the day when the lights are not on.

When you use the two tools together you can find many services that you could not do otherwise, because the signal generator generates a signal (surprise, surprise) that runs down a service – water pipe, gas, sewer, etc., – that can then be located by the CAT. 

If all this sounds simple, it isn’t. And this is why operatives who need to locate underground services need the CAT and Genny course that we provide at Sygma Solutions. Our course teaches everything that you need to know about the CAT and Genny, and, most importantly, teaches you their limitations – and they do have some limitations – and what to do when such situations occur. If you are unaware of them, then you could commence digging and strike a cable that you believed was not there.

Our CAT and Genny course covers everything in the classroom and is then followed by practical work onsite so that operatives can be fully confident when they have completed the course and passed the exam.

Courses Availability

If the course you are looking for has no dates or you would like a course built for your company please contact

enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form

Open Days

Please contact us about open days

PAS128 Utility Mapping Training Modules mapped to CICES competencies

–  2 days

Module 1 – Pas 128 Level D &C training to include level 3 assessment – CICES GEUS01 A-D

–  3 Days

Module 2 – PAS128 Level B Training – can include Level 4 assessment – CICES GUES01 E-I

Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form

2 Day Advanced EM Course (RD8100/8200 & VIVAX)

In depth course covering electromagnetic locators, theory and intensive practical on our real world training site.

Cost: £295 per person
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan

30th – 31st May 2024

23rd – 24th July 2024

5th – 6th September 2024

Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan

Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

1 Day Mala GPR Module 1 – Theory & Practical

Cost: FOC
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

1 Day Mala GPR Module 2 – Post processing

Cost: FOC
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

2 Day GPR – All Manufacturers

Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us

Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

5 Day TSA & ICES Approved 5 Day Utility Mapping Course

Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us

Location: Worcester

Dates: Contact Us

Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

1 Day Public Genny & CAT Course – Can include ProQual Level 2 Qualification as an option

Cost: £175 plus VAT
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates:
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

Level 3 Utility Mapping Qualification – All Online

Cost: £275 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Online
Dates: To suit

Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – Online Workbooks – followed by assessment

Cost £1100 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre or your site
Dates: To suit

Open level 5 assessment dates at Sygma Solutions, Wigan

Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – in 5 days

Cost – contact us
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates:

3rd – 7th June 2024

1st – 5th July 2024

Sygma PAS 128 Utility Surveyor Training Including Proqual Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan

15th – 19th April 2024 Limited spaces available

20th – 24th May 2024

10th – 14th June 2024

8th – 12th July 2024

Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying Public Course

24th – 25th June 2024

1st – 2nd July 2024

24th – 25th September 2024

Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan

GPS Course & Total Station Introduction

This is a 2 day dedicated GPS course with an introduction to Total Station

Please contact us for future dates and a booking form

Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form

Please contact:

enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form

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