When you are planning a construction project, there are, of course, many things to consider. However, the status of the utilities is one important aspect that needs to be clarified before going ahead with anything. Failure to do so could see your costs spiraling, and that will eat away at your margin, so it makes complete sense to commission an underground utility survey at the earliest opportunity.
Desktop Based Assessment
This would be carried out by the surveyor before the commencement of the underground survey, which involves acquiring plans from the relevant agencies. This might reveal specific utilities that cannot be located. You might not want a full utility survey, but do wish to know if any other pipelines or disused services are buried under the ground. With plans that can be overlaid into your topographical land survey, you will have a clear picture of what lies under your development. This data can also be printed out as a single document, should you wish.
Utility Mapping
In simple terms, utility mapping will tell you exactly what is underneath your proposed construction site, which could prove invaluable. There are, for example, reliable surveyors in Leicester who undertake underground utility surveys anywhere in the UK, and they can easily be located by searching with an online business directory.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
This technology enables the surveyor to locate metallic and non-metallic pipes and any other unknown objects concealed beneath the site. This ensures there are no nasty surprises further down the line, which could prove very costly, and for peace of mind, commissioning a GPR survey is well worth it.
CCTV Pipe Surveys
Once you have located the various pipes, it makes sense to find out what condition they are in, and the only way to do that is to have a CCTV pipe survey carried out. Not only will the survey tell you the condition of the pipes, if any issues might result in a blockage, but you can also fix them before you start your build. Pipes can easily be compromised by ground subsidence, especially if you have heavy machinery working on the site. With state-of-the-art pipe relining, you can carry out effective repairs without having to excavate, which is usually a costly exercise. In addition, any utilities that you plan to use should be surveyed to ensure the pipework is in good working order. Again, with CCTV, this can be accomplished at a minimal cost.
To have a clear picture of what exactly is under your proposed development site, it makes sense to use a surveyor that employs state-of-the-art technology, which will result in a confidential report that details every utility location. Plus, you will receive valuable data on the condition of all utility services that you plan to use.
Don’t take any chances regarding what is under your proposed development. Commissioning an underground utility survey is by far the best way to locate all utilities and anything else that might be lurking under the ground.
