Georadar and utility mapping: seeing underground before you dig
We locate and map buried pipes, ducts and underground utilities without digging, delivering georeferenced output ready for design.
CONSAC: 50+ municipalities · ~80% accuracy · Operating across Italy
Digging without knowing what lies beneath is one of the most expensive sources of risk on a construction site: a severed medium-voltage duct, a damaged pipeline, stalled work and liability. Underground utility mapping with georadar removes this uncertainty: it makes the invisible visible before you put a spade in the ground.
At Digital-Enterprise we combine georadar, electromagnetic cable/pipe locators and precision georeferencing to deliver a reliable reconstruction of the subsurface, ready to integrate into your design workflows.
How we work: an integrated method
We never rely on a single instrument, because the subsurface is deceptive. We integrate:
- Electromagnetic cable/pipe locator / metal detector (e.g. Geomax EZiCAT) to detect metallic networks and live cables.
- 3D multi-antenna georadar (GPR) (up to many channels) and multi-frequency (roughly 80 MHz–1500 MHz) for 2D/3D mapping and stratigraphic reconstruction of the ground.
- LiDAR aerial photogrammetry survey with drone (e.g. Matrice 350 RTK) for high-precision surface context.
- GNSS/RTK georeferencing (RTK receivers and robotic total station) to position every anomaly with centimetre-level accuracy.
What you receive
- Georeferenced plans of the detected utilities.
- 2D sections and 3D georadar tomography (processed and interpreted radargrams).
- Manhole survey sheets: sample openings to calibrate the depth, size and type of the utilities, with a photographic report and 3D scan.
- CAD/GIS/BIM export to integrate the data into your design process.
For whom and for what
Mapping along ducts (including MV), water and gas networks, urban utilities, ahead of excavation and drilling, during infrastructure design, or to verify the current state in sensitive areas (near photovoltaic and wind plants, aqueducts).
Technical honesty: limits and how we manage them
Georadar is an indirect technique: investigation depth drops with clayey/silty soils and with water, and fill material or surface structures can generate spurious hyperbolas (false positives). Our method takes this into account: we densify the sections in complex areas, confirm with cable/pipe locators and calibrate the results with targeted manhole openings. The result is data you can trust, with its margins clearly stated — not a promise of absolute certainty.
Frequently asked questions
What is georadar (GPR) and how does it find buried utilities?+
Georadar (Ground Penetrating Radar) emits electromagnetic waves into the ground and records their reflections: anomalies correspond to pipes, ducts, manholes and other buried utilities. Combined with an electromagnetic cable/pipe locator, it lets us map the subsurface without digging.
How deep can georadar reach?+
It depends on the antenna frequency and, above all, on the nature of the soil: clayey/silty soils and the presence of water sharply reduce penetration. That is why we use multi-frequency antennas and calibrate depths against survey sheets from sample manhole openings.
What do I receive as a deliverable?+
A GNSS/RTK georeferenced deliverable: utility plans, 2D sections, 3D georadar tomography (interpreted radargrams), manhole survey sheets with a photographic report and 3D scan, and export to CAD/GIS/BIM formats.
Is it always a 100% certain measurement?+
No, and being honest about that is part of the method. Georadar is an indirect exploration technique: cohesive soils, water, fill material or surface structures can generate false positives or mask the signal. That is why we confirm critical points with cable/pipe locators and targeted manhole openings.
Request a free quote
We reply within 24 working hours with an honest first assessment of your project.