Underground Pipe & Cable Locating Across Geelong & Victoria

Know exactly what’s underground — before you dig.

Hitting an underground service is one of the most costly and dangerous mistakes on any excavation site. Geoscan’s underground pipe and cable locating service gives you precise, mapped locations of every utility beneath the surface — before a single machine moves.
Whether you’re a civil contractor, plumber, electrician, council, or developer, our team deploys across Geelong, Melbourne, and throughout Victoria to deliver fast, accurate results that keep your project on schedule and your crew safe.

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AS 5488:2022 Compliant

Fully Insured

GPS & Total Station Mapping

Trusted by Councils & Major Contractors

AUS CERTLOC Accredited

One Unmarked Service Can Stop a Project in Its Tracks

Service strikes are expensive, dangerous, and avoidable. When underground pipes and cables aren’t accurately located before excavation, the consequences include site shutdowns, costly repairs, project delays, safety incidents, and potential litigation.
In Victoria, all excavation work must comply with safe digging practices — and knowing what’s underground isn’t optional. It’s a legal and moral obligation for every contractor, plumber, and developer breaking ground.
At Geoscan, we’ve seen the aftermath of skipped or inaccurate locates. Our job is to make sure it never happens on your site.

$1.6 B+

Service strikes cost the Australian economy an estimated $1.6 billion per year.

Every Utility Type. Every Job Type.

Geoscan locates the full range of underground infrastructure — metallic and non-metallic — using a combination of electromagnetic pipe and cable locators, flexible tracer rods, and sonde technology.

We locate the following underground services:

Domestic water services

Precise detection and depth mapping of domestic water mains before excavation.

Fire services and hydrant mains

Accurate location of fire service mains and hydrant connections to protect critical infrastructure.

Gas distribution networks

Safe, accurate detection of gas distribution pipes — essential before any ground works near gas infrastructure.

High and low voltage electrical networks

Detection and route tracing of HV and LV electrical cables, reducing the risk of dangerous service strikes.

Telecommunications and data conduits

Accurate locating of telco and data conduits to prevent disruption to critical communications infrastructure.

Stormwater pipes and drainage systems

Location and mapping of stormwater drainage lines, including non-metallic pipes using tracer rod technology.

Sewer and wastewater conduits

Detection of sewer and wastewater conduits, including blocked or damaged lines identified during the locate.

Empty conduits and non-metallic pipes (using flexible tracer rods)

Specialist tracing of PVC, concrete, and empty conduits using flexible tracer rods and sonde transmitters.

We also support:

Forensic investigations

Subsurface scanning and detection to support forensic investigations of buried assets and site anomalies.

Archaeological and geophysical investigations

Non-invasive underground detection to identify subsurface features for archaeological and geophysical investigations.

Road and footpath condition assessments

Subsurface investigation to identify voids, buried assets, and anomalies beneath road and footpath surfaces.

Structural investigations

Underground detection to support structural investigations, identifying buried elements affecting integrity.

Metal detection surveys

Electromagnetic metal detection surveys to locate buried metallic objects, debris, and unmarked infrastructure.

How Our Underground Locating Service Works

Contact Us & Discuss Your Project

Tell us the site location, the type of work being planned, and any known utilities. We’ll advise on the most appropriate locating method and provide a fast, transparent quote.

On-Site Detection

Our trained technicians arrive on site with the latest electromagnetic pipe and cable locators, tracer rods, and sonde equipment. We systematically locate and mark all detectable underground services in the designated area, recording depths, materials, and any anomalies observed.

Mapped Results Delivered

All located services are documented and, where required, GPS and Total Station surveyed as a formal Utility Survey in compliance with Australian Standard AS 5488:2022. You receive a clear, accurate record you can trust for planning, approvals, and construction.
Book a Locate — Get a Quote Today

Advanced Locating Technology. Australian Standard Compliance.

Not all utility locators use the same equipment — or operate to the same standard. Geoscan uses industry-leading electromagnetic pipe and cable locators capable of detecting metallic services with pinpoint accuracy. For non-metallic pipes such as PVC, concrete drainage, sewer conduits, and empty ducts, we deploy flexible tracer rods with electromagnetic signal induction and sonde transmitters.

Where conventional methods fall short — due to depth, congestion, or pipe material — our team has the technical expertise to adapt the approach and still deliver reliable results.

Our locator team is fully trained in GPS and Total Station surveys, enabling us to produce complete, compliant Utility Surveys without the need to coordinate multiple contractors. All Utility Survey work is completed in strict accordance with AS 5488:2022 — the Australian Standard governing the classification accuracy, precision, and tolerances for underground utility surveys.

Learn more about our Utility Mapping and Survey services
For deeper subsurface investigation, explore our GPR Scanning services.

Standards & Credentials

AS 5488:2022

GPS & Total Station surveys

Electromagnetic EMF locating

Tracer rod + sonde technology

Fully insured operations

Trusted by Contractors, Councils & Developers Across Victoria

Geoscan works alongside a broad range of clients who share one thing in common: they can’t afford to get it wrong underground.

Civil Contractors

Pre-excavation locates for infrastructure, road works, and civil construction projects.

Plumbers & Electricians

Confirm service locations before making connections or trenching near existing infrastructure.

Developers & Builders

Utility surveys and mapping for planning approvals, design, and construction documentation.

Councils & Government

Compliant utility surveys for public infrastructure projects, road upgrades, and asset registers.

Infrastructure Contractors

Large-scale underground network surveys across Melbourne, Geelong, and regional Victoria.

Project Managers

A single, reliable point of contact who delivers accurate results on time, every time.

Why Industry Professionals Choose Geoscan

End-to-End Service

Locating, surveying, and mapping delivered by a single, fully trained team — no coordination headaches.

AS 5488:2022 Compliant

Every utility survey is completed to Australian Standards — giving you documentation that stands up for planners, engineers, and regulators.

Experienced Local Team

Based in Geelong, our team has deep knowledge of local infrastructure across Victoria, from CBD excavations in Melbourne to regional infrastructure projects.

Advanced Technology

We deploy the latest electromagnetic locators, flexible tracer rods, and sonde equipment — including solutions for non-metallic and empty conduits.

Fast Turnaround

We understand construction schedules don’t wait. Our team responds quickly and can mobilise across Victoria with minimal lead time.

Detailed, Accurate Records

We record pipe material, diameter, depth, and site observations — including broken pit lids, blocked pipes, and directly buried cables — so nothing gets missed.

Projects Completed

Years Experience

Services Located
DBYD Certified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is underground pipe and cable locating?
Underground pipe and cable locating is the process of identifying and mapping the exact position, depth, and type of buried utilities — including water mains, gas pipes, electrical cables, and telecommunications conduits — before any excavation or digging work begins. It prevents service strikes, protects workers, and keeps projects compliant with Australian safe digging regulations.
How does electromagnetic utility locating work?
Electromagnetic (EM) locators work by transmitting a signal along a conductive underground pipe or cable. A handheld receiver above ground detects the signal, allowing the operator to trace the service route and measure its depth. For non-metallic services such as PVC drainage or empty conduits, a flexible tracer rod is inserted into the pipe and the signal is induced along the rod instead.
Can you locate non-metallic pipes like PVC and concrete?
Yes. Non-metallic services including PVC sewer pipes, concrete stormwater drains, and empty conduits can be located using flexible tracer rods and sonde transmitters. The tracer rod is fed into the duct and an electromagnetic signal is induced along it, allowing our technicians to trace its path and depth from the surface.
What is AS 5488 and why does it matter?
AS 5488:2022 is the Australian Standard for the classification of subsurface utility information. It sets out the accuracy, precision, and tolerances required for underground utility surveys. Compliance means the survey data you receive is categorised to a recognised national standard — essential for design, planning approvals, engineering assessments, and risk management on construction projects.
What areas do you service?
Geoscan is based in Geelong and services projects across Victoria, including Melbourne metro, the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula, Otways region, and regional Victoria. Contact us to discuss your project location.
How long does a utility locate take?
The time required depends on the size of the site, the number of services present, and whether a formal GPS survey is required. A straightforward residential or small commercial locate can typically be completed within a few hours. Larger infrastructure sites or full AS 5488-compliant utility surveys may require a full day or more. We provide a clear timeframe and quote before mobilising.
Do I need to 'Dial Before You Dig' before using Geoscan?

Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) is a free service that provides known records of underground infrastructure from registered asset owners. We strongly recommend submitting a DBYD request before any excavation. However, DBYD records are not always complete or accurate — particularly for privately owned services, older infrastructure, or unlicensed works. Geoscan’s on-site detection provides a ground-truth locate that DBYD records alone cannot replicate.

What information do you record during a locate?
Our technicians record pipe or cable material, diameter (where determinable), depth at located points, and any site observations relevant to the project — including broken pit lids, blocked pipes, damaged conduits, and directly buried cables. For formal utility surveys, all data is GPS or Total Station surveyed and compiled into a compliant report.

Get an Accurate Underground Locate — Fast.

Don’t leave your site exposed to the risk of an unmarked service. Geoscan’s team is ready to mobilise across Geelong, Melbourne, and Victoria. Get in touch today for a fast, no-obligation quote.
Contact Us
Monday – Friday | 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

info@geoscan.com.au

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