Utility Locating

It is imperative to know where underground utilities exist before excavating on private property or the public right of way. This is crucial to avoiding consequential damages to utilities, delays to the project schedule, and cost overruns that eat away at business profits.

While above-ground utilities have the advantage of exposure, underground utilities are harder to find for several reasons. This can include everything from inaccurate data records and incomplete as-built drawings to signal misinterpretation due to utility congestion or the geological conditions of a project site. That is why employing the expertise of a leading utility locate service provider like multiVIEW is essential.

We have been providing utility locate services throughout Ontario and western Quebec since 1989. Our goal is to protect underground infrastructure by accurately and efficiently locating, identifying, and marking utilities so that customers’ construction and infrastructure projects can be carried out efficiently and successfully.

Leading experts at locating buried utilities

As the largest supplier of private locates across Ontario, we also fulfil numerous multi-year public locate contracts. Our extensive expertise enables us to locate every type of buried utility, including:

• fibre optic, coaxial, and other communication lines
• high and low-voltage electricity
• high and low-pressure gas mains and service lines
• water, sanitary, and storm sewer pipes (mains and services)
• switches and pressure plates
• other complex infrastructure

Diverse techniques, today’s best technology

Unlike many utility locate service providers, (LSPs), we can go beyond using basic Electromagnetic (EM) Induction equipment and techniques at a customer’s request.  We can bring a wide range of equipment onsite to solve any challenge that might arise. Using non-destructive Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), we can locate traditionally “un-locatable” utilities such as those made of clay, plastic, and PVC materials. Even utilities that contain broken tracer wires, when dielectric contrasts are present.

Marking and mapping buried utilities

Once requested utilities have been located, our field technicians will identify the horizontal position of each utility on the project site by:

• Marking the surface area with temporary paint or chalk lines, stakes, and/or flags in the colour code associated with the utility infrastructure.
• Supplying a not-to-scale locate sheet that includes a loose sketch of field locates with report measurements and bearings of fixed utility features in the project area in relation to the building lines, property lines, and/or curb lines, if present.

We’re capable of supplying report upgrades upon request for clearer insight into a specific area of interest:

• Digital Drawings (in AutoCAD / MicroStation format)
• Photo Report of surface utility features
• Sewer Infrastructure Video Report (with the request of a Sewer Pipe Inspection Service)

Flexible services for your utility locating needs

Private Utility Locates

multiVIEW partners with excavators and landowners to precisely and promptly locate, mark and map buried utility lines on private property. We will identify the demarcation points of all utilities entering the property, then use a range of technologies and proven techniques to trace and locate privately owned services buried beneath the project site. We will even save you time and money by coordinating and verifying the public locates required for your project on your behalf and can customize deliverables to meet your needs. From a locate sheet to an annotated CAD or 3D image. Our process ensures that all required private utilities are accounted for so that excavation projects can be carried out with peace of mind.

Contract Utility Locates

As a longstanding member of the ORCGA (Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance) and LAC (Locate Alliance Consortium), multiVIEW provides contract utility locate services to a variety of clients. From small municipalities to large utility companies. There is no contract too big or small for us to handle. With a responsive customer service team backed by an onsite 24/7 full-ticket management system and a large experienced team of damage prevention technicians across Ontario, we can clear tickets where applicable to deliver our clients’ cost-savings and thorough, precise and prompt locates every time.

Dedicated Utility Locates

At multiVIEW, we understand that a project’s profitability can erode from late and inaccurate locates that inevitably hinder the overall progress of the project, inflating the project costs and the costs to stakeholders. As an approved dedicated locate service provider, we partner with project owners to provide dedicated utility locating for mid to large-scale projects with complex locate requirements to help reduce delays and bring projects in on time. Learn more about multiVIEW’s Dedicated Locator Services.

Vast highly trained Damage Prevention team

Our team is Damage Prevention Technician (DPT) certified and committed to the highest standards of Safety and Quality. Quick to mobilize, our technicians are always prepared to take on a locate job regardless of size or complexity.

Flexible resourcing, fast mobilization

While adhering to established Canadian Safety Standards, multiVIEW mobilizes field crews quickly, even for distant deployments. Strategically situated in multiple locations across Ontario, we guarantee that a Field Supervisor will be available 24/7 on your project.

Our unique approach to resourcing is based on productivity data that’s been collected and optimized for many years. We use this data to inform staff planning, cost estimating, risk management, quality, and audit activities. Aligning this data with auxiliary staffing standards and complex work volume forecasts allows multiVIEW to work more efficiently, resulting in cost savings that are transferred directly to our customers.

Utility locating services that include thorough damage investigations

If you experience damage to your utility infrastructure and need an independent investigation, we’re here to help.  Our documented Damage Investigation Procedure follows best practices and ensures that our customers receive efficient investigation reporting and unparalleled customer support.

Full locate ticket clearance services

Our utility locating team saves you time and money by coordinating all of the locates required for your project. In addition to field activities, we offer Locate Ticket Clearance services for a variety of customers through our in-house, 24/7 Ticket Management call centre located in Mississauga, ON.