Pre-Excavation EM Utility Survey Across BC
A complete electromagnetic locate of every detectable service before your project breaks ground
About This Service
A pre-excavation EM utility survey is the systematic locate of all detectable buried services across a defined work zone — the essential first step of any safe dig in British Columbia. We sweep the site with electromagnetic locators in multiple frequencies and directions, trace and mark every conductive line, and combine the result with GPR to capture non-metallic services. The outcome is a marked site and a clear plan that protects your crew, your schedule and the buried infrastructure beneath your project.
How It Works
- 1
We review available records, BC One Call tickets and site drawings before arriving.
- 2
The work zone is swept systematically in active and passive EM modes to detect all energised and traceable lines.
- 3
Each line is traced to its extent, marked on the surface, and depth-checked at intervals.
- 4
GPR is run over the same grid to image non-metallic pipe, ducts and unexpected anomalies.
- 5
A combined locate plan and on-site marking is delivered with exclusion zones and dig advisories.
When It's Used
What You Receive
- Full-site surface marking of all detected utilities
- Combined EM + GPR locate plan
- Depth estimates and confidence levels
- Documented exclusion zones for mechanical excavation
- Sketch or CAD deliverable and written advisory
Pre-Excavation Survey — BC Locations
Available across all of British Columbia.
EM Scan & Line Locating by BC City
Other EM Locating Services
Metallic Pipe & Cable Locating
Pipe & Cable Locating
Live Power & HV Cable Detection
Power Cable Detection
Telecom & Fibre-Optic Conduit Locating
Telecom & Fibre Locating
Sonde Locating for Non-Metallic Pipe & Drains
Sonde & Drain Locating
Utility Depth Measurement & Cable Fault Location
Depth & Fault Location
Need non-metallic pipe, concrete or void imaging too? Explore GPR scanning →
Frequently asked questions
Does this replace a BC One Call ticket?
No — always place your BC One Call ticket first; it is required and free for public utilities to the property line. Our survey adds the private services BC One Call does not cover and provides depth, marking and a documented plan for your specific work zone.
How long does a pre-excavation survey take?
A typical residential or small commercial site takes a few hours; larger development sites take longer. We scope the time after understanding the site size and complexity.
What can't you detect?
Non-conductive pipe without tracer wire is invisible to EM (we cover it with GPR), and any service can be missed if it is deeper than equipment range or in highly distorted ground. We always recommend potholing to confirm before mechanical excavation in exclusion zones.
Pre-Excavation Survey Across British Columbia
LeakInspections.ca is a division of Anyleak.ca and part of the Leak.ca family — BC's subsurface locating and leak detection specialists since 1999.