Utility Locating

Underground Utility Locating in British Columbia and Western Canada

Professional, Precise, and Compliant Utility Detection Services

Digging without knowing what lies beneath isn't just a risk—it’s a liability. Whether you're working on a commercial redevelopment, infrastructure expansion, or a small-scale residential project, TerraProbe’s non-invasive utility locating services help protect your project, your crew, and your bottom line.

Since 2001, we’ve provided comprehensive subsurface utility detection services across British Columbia, using industry-leading technology and field-proven methodology. Our job is to help you avoid costly damage, construction delays, and potential injuries—all before breaking ground.

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CALL FOR FASTER SERVICE 604-553-4778

The True Cost of a Missed Utility

Hitting a buried utility line can bring an entire project to a halt. In British Columbia, utility strikes can lead to:

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  • Tens of thousands of dollars in repair costs

  • Project shutdowns for investigation and remediation

  • Fines from regulatory agencies

  • Injuries to personnel and the public

  • Delays in permits, inspections, or insurance approvals

Hiring a professional utility locator like TerraP\probe helps you move forward with confidence—ensuring your excavation plans are informed, compliant, and efficient.

Why BC 1 Call Isn’t Enough

Contacting BC 1 Call is a legal requirement, but it has limitations. BC 1 Call only locates public utilities belonging to registered utility companies. That means private service lines—such as those running between buildings, on commercial properties, or installed by contractors—will not be marked. BC 1 Call documents are also not alway acccurate - the only way to know for sure is to locate utilities.

Examples of private utilities include:

Power lines installed post-construction

Private water mains or storm drains

Fiber optic and communication lines

Gas lines running within industrial sites

Electrical conduits on strata or institutional land

This is where Terraprobe comes in. Our advanced utility locating services fill the critical information gaps left by BC 1 Call, giving you complete awareness of what’s under your site.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for Utility Locating

GPR is one of the most effective methods of detecting buried utilities, especially when dealing with non-metallic pipes that traditional electromagnetic locators can't identify.

At Terraprobe, we use dual-frequency, multi-channel GPR systems such as:

  • GSSI SIR 4000 with 2GHz antenna for high-resolution concrete and shallow subsurface detection

  • IDS Stream-C and Stream DP for wide-area utility scans, capable of detecting both longitudinal and transverse features in a single pass

These systems are ideal for locating:

PVC water lines

Plastic gas mains

Conduits and ducts

Fiber optic cables

Abandoned infrastructure

Combined with advanced data processing and GIS/CAD integration, our GPR data enables highly accurate mapping and utility depth profiling.

See What’s Below Before You Break Ground — Avoid Delays, Damage, and Danger with Terraprobe.

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Electromagnetic (EM) Utility Detection

EM detection is still highly effective—especially for metallic pipes, cables, and energized lines. We use EM locators in conjunction with GPR to enhance detection reliability and cross-verify findings.

By integrating multiple detection methods, we reduce false positives, increase detection certainty, and provide a more complete picture of the subsurface environment.

Standards & Verification: Going Beyond Guesswork

Terraprobe adheres to the ASCE 38-02 Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) standard, which defines Quality Levels (QL) for utility data reliability:

  • QL-B (Utility Detection): Uses geophysical methods like GPR and EM to detect, identify, and map utilities

  • QL-A (Verification): Confirms utility location and depth through vacuum excavation (potholing)

We recommend QL-A for high-risk projects or where verification is mandated by insurers or local authorities. Our hydro-vac team performs this safely and efficiently, exposing utilities without damaging them.

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Project Types We Serve

We work with a wide range of professionals and sectors, including:

  • Engineering firms conducting feasibility and design work

  • Construction companies performing trenching, grading, or pile driving

  • Municipalities and utilities upgrading infrastructure or roadways

  • Telecommunications providers installing fiber networks

  • Developers preparing sites for new builds or renovations

  • Environmental consultants performing site assessments

Every site has different conditions and risks. Our team tailors the detection strategy to your project's scope, soil type, access points, and accuracy requirements.

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"Reliable business partners and an experienced team of professionals. They answered our locating needs quickly and they were able to schedule the technicians with a short notice. Will definitely use their services again for future projects."

-Mert Gezgin

Deliverables You Can Build On

Our work doesn’t stop at detection. We deliver accurate, accessible documentation you can use throughout the construction lifecycle:

Spray-painted or flagged surface markings

Utility location maps with GPS-referenced data

CAD or GIS file exports compatible with your design workflows

Detailed reporting outlining all findings, methodologies, and recommendations

This documentation improves communication among stakeholders and helps prevent misunderstandings during excavation or inspections.

CASE STUDY//

CONSTRUCTION CRANE LOCATION

Roadway Analysis Surveys

Client Objective/Goal: Client needed to determine the best spot to place a construction crane.

Project Application: A GPR sub-surface survey of the area was able to show which location was safe to place the crane.

Problem

  • Client had a large area of land that they wanted to place a crane one
  • Client did not know where underground utilities or concrete footings were located
  • Crane could not be placed until these sub-surface anomalies were located to ensure safety

Solution

  • The Use of the Stream-DP system allowed us to collect data in one direction only as opposed to a grid pattern. This made the data collection much faster and easily done with one technician.

Benefit

  • Integrated GPS data provides accurate location information for anomalies for the client.

  • Integrated GPS facilitates accurate coverage of the survey area without using grids.

  • The Stream-DP provides near 100% coverage which is superior for locating smaller targets.

  • The client was able to receive valuable data in a short time and low cost relative to other methods and types of GPR systems.

Detection Challenges—and How We Solve Them

Locating buried utilities is never a one-size-fits-all task. Numerous factors affect detection reliability:

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  • Dense or conductive soils may reduce GPR penetration

  • Non-metallic pipes require high-frequency radar and careful interpretation

  • Urban congestion can create signal interference

  • Shallow utilities may be difficult to isolate from surface clutter

  • Obstructed areas may limit equipment maneuverability

Our technicians are trained to assess each site’s unique conditions and adjust the detection approach accordingly. In particularly complex areas, we recommend supplemental scanning or targeted hydro-vac verification.

Integrated Subsurface Solutions

Terraprobe provides more than just utility locating. We offer a suite of subsurface scanning and investigation services, including:

  • Concrete scanning for rebar, conduits, and post-tension cables

  • Void detection to identify sinkholes or subsurface erosion

  • Structural health monitoring for aging infrastructure

  • Geotechnical and environmental scans

  • Archaeological & heritage site investigations

By working with a provider that can do it all, you benefit from faster timelines, cohesive data, and fewer coordination headaches.

Get It Right Before You Dig

With over 20 years of experience and a deep understanding of BC’s terrain, TerraProbe is your trusted partner in subsurface utility detection. Our team ensures you have all the information needed to dig smart, avoid costly surprises, and meet your project goals.

Get a Quote

📞 Call us at (604) 555-0312

📍 Serving Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, and beyond

Don't risk what's underground. Get clarity, get Terraprobe.

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    American Society of Civil Engineers CVASCE 38-02

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    CSA Group S250:20 Standard

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Quality Levels

Terraprobe conducts its utility locating and mapping according to the standards outlined in American Society of Civil Engineers 38-02 and the CSA Group CSA S250:20

QL-A UL Survey using Geophysical methods (GPR & EM) with confirmation using Soft Excavation (Hydro-vac) as necessary. Report in AutoCad showing plan and profile of utilities.

QL-B UL Survey using Geophysical methods (GPR & EM). Report in AutoCad showing utility locations on map.

QL-C UL Survey using Visual Observation of facilities only, eg. Manhole covers, valve chambers etc. Report in AutoCad showing observed utilities on Plan Map.

QL-D BC One Call ticket and GIS information from cities/municipalities only. This includes One Call ticket information as well as other data provided by the utility owners.

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