When undertaking any sort of work that requires digging, before you even pick up a spade, the first thing that is necessary is to check for underground services.
Despite what many people think, underground services – electricity cables, gas pipes, telecoms, fibre optics, water pipes, sewage, and many more – can be absolutely anywhere. That includes in your own back or front garden. If you stop to think about it, your home has electricity, water, and sewage pipes as an absolute minimum.
Fair enough, most of us are not going to dig anything very deep – perhaps plant a few shrubs or a small tree or grow some veg. But if you are going to build an outbuilding, garage, or something else on your land, you will need to dig foundations, so in that case it is no different from a building contractor constructing a 20-storey building.
All of which means that it is necessary to check for underground services, what they are, where they are, and how deep – or not – they are. In turn, that means checking with the local authority and energy suppliers for plans just to begin with.
However, although these people may have plans, you have to consider that they may not be accurate. This is for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that they may have been recorded inaccurately to begin with. Alterations may have taken place over time, and the plans not updated. They can have been changed from physical drawings to computerised versions and errors may have crept in. And any one of a number of other things.
So, it is essential to carry out an on-site survey of the ground before commencing any work, and for that it is necessary to use the latest tools – namely the Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and Signal Generator (Genny).
The latest versions of these tools are very sophisticated, which is the good news. The bad news is that you cannot just pick them up and press a few buttons. You need cable avoidance training first in order to fully understand all their functions and – most importantly – their limitations. They do have certain limitations under some circumstances.
Cable avoidance training is what we provide at Sygma Solutions. Our courses will teach you what you need to know, and they can run for up to five days on our Utility Surveyor Course. That alone tells you just how much there is to learn about the location and identification of underground services.
If the course you are looking for has no dates or you would like a course built for your company please contact
enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form
Open Days
Please contact us about open days
PAS128 Utility Mapping Training Modules mapped to CICES competencies
– 2 days
Module 1 – Pas 128 Level D &C training to include level 3 assessment – CICES GEUS01 A-D
– 3 Days
Module 2 – PAS128 Level B Training – can include Level 4 assessment – CICES GUES01 E-I
Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form
2 Day Advanced EM Course (RD8100/8200 & VIVAX)
In depth course covering electromagnetic locators, theory and intensive practical on our real world training site.
Cost: £295 per person
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
5th – 6th September 2024
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Mala GPR Module 1 – Theory & Practical
Cost: Contact us for price (2 spaces F.O.C. with Mala GPR Purchase)
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Mala GPR Module 2 – Post processing
Cost: Contact us for price (2 spaces F.O.C. with Mala GPR Purchase)
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
2 Day GPR – All Manufacturers
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
5 Day TSA & ICES Approved 5 Day Utility Mapping Course
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Location: Worcester
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Public Genny & CAT Course
Cost: £175 plus VAT
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates:
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Level 3 Utility Mapping Qualification – All Online
Cost: £275 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Online
Dates: To suit
Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – Online Workbooks – followed by assessment
Cost £1100 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre or your site
Dates: To suit
Open level 5 assessment dates at Sygma Solutions, Wigan
Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – in 5 days
Cost – contact us
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
2nd – 6th September 2024
Sygma PAS 128 Utility Surveyor Training Including Proqual Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
12th – 16th August 2024 Limited Availability
14th – 18th October 2024
25th – 29th November 2024
16th – 20th December 2024
Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying Public Course
12th – 13th August Limited Availability
14th – 15th October 2024
25th – 26th November 2024
16th – 17th December 2024
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
GPS Course & Total Station Introduction
This is a 2 day dedicated GPS course with an introduction to Total Station
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form
Please contact:
enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form