When you need to undertake a survey in order to find underground services in a site where you need to excavate, for whatever reason, before doing anything else you really need to be able locate and identify every or any utility that is present.
There are some very useful tools that will help you with this, one of which is GPR.
GPR?
Ground Penetrating Radar. And one of the best tools for doing this is the Mala Easy Locator. This tool has several benefits over and above other utility locators, one of which is that it can detect non-metallic buried utilities as well as metallic.
That means that instead of just finding electricity cables or other metal pipes it can also detect plastic pipes running underground. The fact is that over the last few years there has been much more use of non-metallic materials in underground utilities, which makes them impossible to locate with some of the older pieces of equipment such as the CAT.
Ground penetrating radar is the only technology available that doesn’t need electromagnetic radiation from the utility and doesn’t need a physical connection to it either, as in the case of the Genny – signal generator. This means that it is easily capable of locating polyethylene water and gas pipes and other things such as fuel tanks which may be buried below ground.
The Mala Easy Locator is fitted with a hinged shaft which enables the handles to be folded down so that it can easily fit into the back of something such as an estate car for transport between different sites.
One of the issues with GPR is the type of ground over which the Easy Locator has to be used. In most instances, the antenna must be close to the ground over which it is being used. This can be difficult if the ground is rough or stepped. For this reason, the Mala Easy Locator comes in three different versions – the Shallow, Mid, and Rough Terrain versions.
The Shallow model can be used to detect utilities and other objects down to a depth of 2.5 metres and can locate items as small as 3cm in the right type of soils. The Mid version can detect down to 4 metres and objects as small as 5cm. The Rough Terrain model makes it easier to locate utilities underneath non-paved surfaces and therefore has larger wheels. It also allows for a larger gap between the antenna and the ground surface.
Unfortunately, in common with other equipment, GPR also has certain limitations such as heavy, wet, or clay soils and those with rubble or backfilled.
At Sygma Solutions we provide GPR training courses that will cover the abilities of the Mala Easy Locator along with its’ limitations. This is important for operatives who need to be able to locate underground utilities, because it is essential that they understand the limitations, so our GPR training is designed so that it covers every aspect of the use of the Mala Easy Locator.
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