PAS128 Utility Mapping
PAS128 Utility Mapping Experts
PAS128 Utility Mapping is a standardised method for locating and mapping underground utilities. This specification, developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI), provides guidelines to ensure consistent, accurate, and reliable data collection and representation of subsurface utilities.
What is PAS128 Utility Mapping?
PAS128 Surveys cover various detection techniques, including electromagnetic location (EML) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and sets out the quality levels required for different survey types. By adhering to PAS128 standards, utility surveys minimise the risks of striking underground utilities during excavation, leading to safer and more efficient construction projects.
It also enhances data sharing and integration across projects, contributing to improved project planning and execution. The standard applies to a range of sectors including construction, engineering, and infrastructure development, promoting a unified approach to underground utility mapping and ensuring that all stakeholders can rely on the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the utility data provided.
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PAS128 Utility Mapping – Types
Type D: PAS128 Utility Mapping – Desktop Utility Records Search
Type D surveys involve the collection and review of existing utility records from various sources, including utility companies, public records, and historical data. This initial phase aims to gather as much information as possible about the existing utilities in a given area. The accuracy of Type D surveys is limited by the quality and completeness of the records available. Although this survey type provides a foundational understanding, it is considered the least accurate among the PAS128 types due to its reliance on potentially outdated or incomplete data.
Type C: PAS128 Utility Mapping – Site Reconnaissance
Type C surveys build upon the information obtained from Type D surveys by adding visual inspections of the site. This involves identifying visible signs of utilities, such as manholes, utility markers, and access points. Surveyors conduct a thorough walkover of the area to verify and supplement the desktop records. Type C surveys improve the confidence level of the data by correlating physical site evidence with recorded information, but they still do not involve any subsurface detection techniques.
Type B: PAS128 Utility Mapping – Detection
Type B surveys employ non-invasive geophysical methods to detect and map underground utilities. This type of survey utilises technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), electromagnetic location, and other geophysical techniques to identify the presence and approximate location of buried utilities. Type B surveys are further classified into four sub-types based on the density and confidence of the data collected:
- B1: High-confidence data with detailed mapping.
- B2: Moderate confidence with less dense mapping.
- B3: Lower confidence and density.
- B4: Basic detection with the least density. Type B surveys provide a higher level of accuracy compared to Type C and D surveys, offering detailed information about the location and depth of utilities without physical excavation.
Type A: PAS128 Utility Mapping – Verification
Type A surveys are the most accurate and involve physically exposing the utilities to confirm their location, size, and condition. This verification process is usually done through vacuum excavation, hand digging, or other safe excavation methods. Type A surveys provide the highest confidence level and are used to validate the findings from Type B detection surveys. By directly exposing the utilities, surveyors can accurately document their exact position and characteristics, making this the most reliable survey type under PAS128.
PAS128 Utility Mapping – Summary
Each PAS128 survey type serves a distinct purpose in the process of underground utility detection and mapping. Starting from the broad and less accurate Type D desktop records search, progressing through Type C site reconnaissance and Type B geophysical detection, and culminating in the highly accurate Type A verification, these survey types collectively ensure a comprehensive and systematic approach to understanding and documenting subsurface utilities.
