The GPR/Line Locating and GPS service line from Sturgeon Services Intl. is offered to provide the most comprehensive and technological line locates available to date. The tools included in the GPR/Line Locating service line are radio detection line locators, passive line locators, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and if all else fails a shovel. SSI uses 4 different line locating tools to minimize the possibility of a line strike. The GPS service line uses a survey grade unit to map above and underground lines found by the line locating equipment and transfer the data to a geo-referenced image of the area. The data collected by the GPS equipment is inserted on the geo-referenced image to serve as a map for field crews performing any subsurface work.

The GPR/Line Locating service line uses all the tools at their disposal to locate all lines close to an area with planned excavation. Lines close to an excavation are marked to remove the doubt that lines were not located. The radio detection line locators are used to identify lines in the area that can be seen. This is done by connecting the transmitter to the line in order to send a designated signal. This designated signal is picked up by the receiver and displays the high point (peak) in the signal and the low point (null) to provide a more accurate depth and locate. The passive line locator is used to pick up signals that are absorbed by lines that are produced by outside sources such as electrical power lines, TV signals, cell towers, Etc. The lines located by the GPR/Line Locating portion are tagged with paint and survey pins (60D Nails with feathers). This allows the line to be visible for extended lengths of time even in the event of rain. These pins also allow the GPS to tag the line to produce the information needed for mapping. Pictures of the area are taken to provide a reference to the area scanned and lines present. If a line cannot be located to another end that appears above ground then a shovel will be used if depth is attainable. The GPR is used to detect lines in the area that may not be present above ground. The lines identified by the GPR Unit are then induced with a signal by placing the radio detection line locator over the identified line to get a more accurate trace.

Survey grade GPS is used to mark lines located by the line locating equipment. This is to provide a map of the lines in the area to scale. The lines are then placed on an aerial image of the location with the lines to supply an enhanced reference of the area where the lines are located. There is a digital copy kept on the host computer and a hard copy is made for distribution. If there is a need for any excavation in the area scanned then copies can be made off of the original and distributed to parties of interest. If the original document is lost then it can be reprinted from the host computer. The GPS service also provides additional services such as dimensions of areas needed for new structures, facilities, parking areas, GPS coordinates of soil samples and relocation of new wells, etc.