Geophysical Surveys

From buried utilities to hidden features—GEOTEC’s surveys uncover what others miss.

Most clients prioritise buried services & utilities – GEOTEC goes much deeper than this with thorough Geophysical Surveys.

Geotec uses ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetics (EM), and electrical imaging/resistivity (ERT), to map the sub-surface environment, for a range of other features.

The typical Geophysical Surveys features which can be located are:

  • Mine shafts, coal shafts, and buried wells
  • Old foundations/ building lines, footings, and pile caps Basements & cellars
  • Tunnels, cavities, sink holes and underground voids, Dissolution features
  • Buried tanks & other structures
  • Bedrock and groundwater

Want to know more about Geophysical Surveys?

Underground
Mapping

An example of a survey where several unidentified ground penetrating radar targets are present, along with confirmed buried services and utilities.

This tool also enables confirmation of the presence of metallic and conductive services that have already been detected through radio frequency detection/electromagnetic locating (RFD/EML).

GPR Surveys

Electromagnetic Surveys

ERT / Resistivity

GEOTEC Surveys evaluates the objective of each survey in line with site characteristics to assign the most suitable tools for meeting the client’s needs.

The company utilises multiple methodologies in conjunction to deliver the best possible results.

  • The main tools used are:
  • Ground penetrating radar (GPR)
  • EM31 / CMD electromagnetic conductivity
  • Electrical imaging/resistivity (ERT)

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Geotec Surveys works with energy distribution providers and their contract partners to carry out full underground mapping and topographical surveys, as well as marking our surveys within substation environments, as well as in public roadways and footpaths.

In addition, the teams also have relevant water safety passports and EUSR water hygiene cards to allow Geotec to work at a range of water treatment sites.

Geotec hold the necessary Achilles UVDB & Verify accreditation to allow them to work in this sector.

As an accredited RISQS-certified supplier, Geotech PTS certified survey teams assist railway contractor clients in providing underground mapping surveys within trackside and non-trackside environments.

This includes surveying station platforms, subways, car parks and other areas around and within station buildings, primarily providing PAS 128 & utility mapping GPR Surveys.

Much of the work within this sector takes place outside traditional working hours - at weekends and at night.

Geotec have vast experience in completing surveys within roads and footpaths for city centres, urban and rural environments. The teams hold NRSWA Streetworks certification and also work with traffic management partners to gain permissions and approvals to work safely within active highway environments using Geotec's own or external traffic management measures.

Much of this work takes place out of hours, usually during the night, so not to disrupt local residents, commuters, retail and other stakeholders.

Geotec also have the option to use a vehicle mounted GPR system, where appropriate.

GEOTEC Surveys also support local authorities & councils in providing PAS 128, utility mapping & topographical surveys for a range of projects in varying locations, including housing estates, care homes, recreation grounds & parks, city centres, council offices and highways environments.

Hospitals, schools and universities can often comprise older sites, which have been built up over the years, making these complex to survey.

Geotec have familiarity in completing full surveys over entire campuses as well as surveying smaller piecemeal areas on and as and when basis.

Geotec need to work closely with the estates departments to identify the best times to survey these sites (especially when working near A&E departments), whilst they can also have additional services, not usually found in other environments, such as steam, oxygen and large service trenches.

Geotec assist housing developer clients, usually in scenarios where they need to know where utilities and services are located adjacent to their site, to aid in designing their connections to them.

A full utility survey is usually required when developing a brownfield site, such as previous industrial estates, petrol station sites and other such locations.

Geotec carry out numerous smaller surveys for telecommunications clients wishing to make use of existing infrastructure, such as phone mast sites, around existing telecoms cabinets and where new buried infrastructure is required.

Geotec can complete several sites a day, depending on the localities of each one.

Geotec work both landside and airside at several airports, carrying out full underground mapping surveys for buried services and utilities, most notably at London City and Luton Airports. Geotec have also completed Vehicle-Mounted GPR Surveys to detect voiding and unconsolidated ground beneath runways and other areas of hard standing.

Geotec have assisted several clients at Heathrow within hangar and fire station locations, where and when required, providing PAS 128 surveys in line with their specific CAD standards and survey protocols.

Geotec support clients installing new buried services infrastructure across former and existing barracks sites and has surveyed the whole former MOD sites before their release for housing.

Geotec have undertaken a large survey at a local MOD site, detecting & mapping buried services and utilities, as well as old building lines to assist the demolition contractor.

These sites have a variety of high-value infrastructure running through them and prior to breaking ground, it is imperative to understand the location, depths and types of buried services within the survey area.

A client, Geotec, supported as part of a large survey, informed them that they helped them avoid a data cable responsible for the transfer of millions of pounds per minute.

These are complex sites with a higher density of buried services and utilities than usual, where a high specification survey is required.

Geotec Industries

  • Energy & Utility Sector
  • Railway
  • Highways
  • Public Sector, NHS & Education
  • Housing
  • Telecommunications
  • Airports
  • M.O.D
  • Data Centres, Business Park and Industrial Estates

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