Cable locator

A cable locator or cable avoidance tool (CAT) is an instrument used for detecting the presence and approximate location of buried services in advance of undertaking excavation works.

[1] A number of types of detecting technology can be employed by such instruments, including use of magnetic fields, radio frequencies, signal generation, metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar and RFID.

They are especially beneficial to densely populated areas, particularly those locations where overhead cable posts are unavailable or are not ideal.

In fact, utility strikes are a common occurrence on construction sites, resulting in compromised worker and public safety, repair costs, and work delay, among others.

[5] Based on the 2018 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), some of the most common root causes of utility strikes include failure to call 811 before digging, improper excavation practices, and inaccurate marking of underground facilities.