If you were in need of surgery for something such as an appendix removal, or a heart problem, how would you feel if the surgeon told you that he was going to do it with the lights in the operating theatre switched off?

Yes. Right!

Not likely. Yet this is exactly what it is like if a construction company begins to start digging and carrying out an excavation without first locating, identifying, and marking any underground utilities that are in the area. The scary thing is that this is exactly what happens in a number of cases.

It is estimated that there are some 4 million excavations that take place in Great Britain each year, and figures from five years ago, in 2017, show that in that year only 2.25 million of these involved a thorough search for underground utilities before the work began. Small wonder that there are around 60,000 cable strikes in the UK every year if 44% of excavations take place effectively “blind”.

Of those contractors who failed to carry out a site survey, among the reasons given were that “they didn’t think it was their job to do that” and “they didn’t think they would dig deep enough to hit anything”. As a certain Mr Johnson would say: “Crikey!”

There Are Plenty Of Tools

The fact is that we have plenty of tools to assist us in locating and identifying underground services, if only people would use them. These are the CAT and Genny and GPR – Ground Penetrating Radar. They are sophisticated pieces of equipment, but even so they have certain limitations. This is why you can’t just buy them and read the instructions because, among other things, they can show you that there is nothing where you need to dig when in fact, there is.

Like many other things, you need a thorough utility mapping training course in not just how to use them in all their different modes, but what to look out for and when they may give you a false reading, well perhaps not a false reading but a reading that you interpret falsely. All these tools rely to a certain extent on the interpretation that the user gives them. As a very simple example, you may have a negative reading simply because the utility is buried a little deeper than the tool can read. We show you how to deal with that in our course.

Readings can also vary according to the ground conditions. You may get a blurred set of readings because of the type of soil and stone mix that you are operating on.

Our utility mapping training at Sygma Solutions goes into great details about the use of these tools in our utility mapping course.

We cover absolutely everything that an operative needs to know and understand in our utility mapping training. Nothing is left to chance. Furthermore, operatives who pass the relevant tests and gain the appropriate qualifications will be able to apply for a much-valued CSCS card. 

Courses Availability

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

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