If you are involved in construction work of any sort, then using the CAT and Genny to locate underground services is a given. These tools can help to find exactly where services run, what type of service they are, how deep down they are, and more. They most certainly are clever pieces of technology, but you need training in order to ensure that you use them in the right way. In addition, you also need to be aware of the fact that they have some limitations, and you need to know what to do if you run up against a problem.
For instance, one limitation can be depth. You might use the CAT and Genny together (we always recommend using them in combination) and the result shows that there is nothing at the point at which you need to dig. Before you rush off and start merrily digging with your JCB, safe in that knowledge, it is also possible that you could be wrong.
What Do You Do?
For example, the result may have been because of the depth of the service. Some tools can only read to a certain depth, and so anything below that will not show. What do you do?
It’s actually very simple. You start digging, preferably by hand, and when you have got down about a foot you run another survey. This time you may find that the utility that is there shows up. These are the sorts of situations that we teach you how to handle safely when you use the training courses that we provide at Sygma Solutions.
You may also be able to dig down if, for instance, you only need to go to a depth of two feet, while another service is at a depth of four. This is rather a question of “horses for courses”, but unless you have the knowledge you can still make mistakes.
Our team has over 100 years of experience in the manufacture and use of the various tools that are needed to locate underground services. We also provide Mala GPR locators and have several available for hire should you need to use them.
Our job in the somewhat mystical world of underground services is to ensure that you and your team have the knowledge and expertise that we ourselves possess by the time you have finished your course. Then you can proceed with confidence.
