Location, location, location

The trenchless world is an industry where the operator can get into trouble if care is not taken.

While most operators have all heard of the services of Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) and incorporate the DBYD advice into planning, operators should not become complacent in relying on this guidance alone.

It is equally important that prior to digging the operator makes every effort to locate all services that are in the area where they are planning to dig or tunnel.

Vivax-Metrotech is a manufacturer of pipe and cable locators and CCTV inspection cameras.

Both of these technologies can assist with identifying what is hidden under the ground.

Even when using these tools it is important to be vigilant when conducting your survey.

At the end of the day, no matter how good you are or your equipment is, you still need to pot hole to physically prove what you have found.

As a manufacturer of Trenchless Technology, Vivax-Metrotech understands all of these difficulties.

As such, the company has taken steps to assist operators in every aspect of their work in locating underground pipelines or services.

Vivax-Metrotech manufactures a range of locators, allowing operators to choose the right tool for each application.

This includes the entry level VM550, which is a very simple and compact safety tool that should be carried in every operator vehicle.

The VM550 can be used when crews go out pot holing or trenching, after they have obtained Dial Before You Dig files and have had the professional locator paint the area where they have found services.

Using the VM550 allows the work crew charged with digging to conduct a simple back-up check to accompany these initial reports.

The VM550 is a four-button locator that is easy to use for an operators who don’t get the locator out every day.

If you are an operator who wants to make sure that you pick up every metallic service in the area, the VM560 is for you.

The VM560 allows you to put out a signal that will be carried by all metallic services, making service avoidance quite easy.

The next level up is the vScan range of utility avoidance locators.

This is a user-friendly locator with multiple power frequencies and push-button depth.

There is also a vSan model with a metal detection mode for pit-lid locating.

Finally, for operators who are doing service locating day in and day out and want to make sure they have the right equipment, there is the vLoc Pro2 locator.

The vLoc Pro2 has a transmitter output and locator to suit all budgets and needs, including one version that allows service and marker locating at the same time.

This is very handy for the occasions where certain features of a cable run are marked by the transponder markers.

Vivax-Metrotech doesn’t just manufacture locating equipment.

The company also has systems in place to assist the operator using its tools. If you are using a vLoc Pro2 there is a program called MyLocator2 that is available on the Vivax-Metrotech website.

This is a configuration tool that allows you to make various changes to your locator.

Software updates for MyLocator2 are released regularly and can be accessed online and downloaded straight to your locator.

As a service to customers these software updates are free.

You can also personalise your locator software to suit your preferences, including setting up your own logo or name on the opening screen.

This is a handy tool for deterring would-be thieves.

For the vScan series, Vivax-Metrotech offers the program MyvScan.

This program operates similarly to MyLocator2, with the added features of being able to print out the results from the self-calibration routine that the vScan runs, managing the warning alarms and various other items.

The Vivax-Metrotech main website and the Australian Vivax-Metrotech website have training tips and advice for using these programs.

There is also a FAQ section and a section with PDF manuals available for download.

Vivax-Metrotech also has a full range of sondes that will assist you in being able to locate plastic pipes.

If you ensure the locator you are using has a sonde mode, it should enable you to pinpoint the pipe’s location.

For those in the trenchless world, Vivax-Metrotech offers a full range of CCTV inspection cameras.

The company invites you to contact its main office or one of its distributors for more information.

You can also visit Vivax-Metrotech at Stand 68 at No-Dig Down Under 2015, which is being held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre 8-11 September.