A few of the Plant Assessor team had the privilege of heading out of the office last month to take a look at some very cool, new technology in utility detection, developed by RodRadar. We were even lucky enough to give the technology a test drive on an excavator. Find out all about the RodRadar technology and my thoughts on this new technology.
What is RodRadar and how does the technology work?
RodRadar is an Israel-based company which has developed a radar imaging technology that detects underground utilities. The Live Dig Radar (LDR Excavate) is embedded into the bucket of a machine, which can then scan the earth beneath it. It’s pretty easy to use; you simply drag the bucket over the area you plan to excavate to begin the scan. The radar detects utilities under the surface, such as powerlines, internet cables, gas lines, or pipes, and will provide the user with a real-time, on-site alert that identifies the location and depth of the utility. The data collected by the bucket is sent to the LDR Visualize display unit (tablet computer) which can be placed inside the cab of the machine.
What are the benefits of using RodRadar?
The potential for damaging services, whether they be data, power, water, or gas, is a very real possibility for anyone conducting excavation. Damaging utilities not only represents a safety hazard, but also can lead to very substantial costs to be incurred by anyone who digs them up. Using ground penetrating radar, such as RodRadar, can help to solve that problem.
The difference with RodRadar is that you don’t need to have expertise in interpreting ground penetrating radar images. Having the device fitted to an excavator, and being able to scan immediately prior to digging, puts the operator in much better control when it comes to the identification of, and avoidance of damage to services.
It’s important to note that RodRadar, or other ground penetrating radar technologies, do not displace other methods of risk management that assist in the avoidance of contact with services. This technology does, however, provide a very accurate tool which results in considerably better information than other methods of service identification.
How do I get the RodRadar technology for my machine?
The RodRadar technology is currently being distributed by RodRadar Australia. If you do want to embed RodRadar onto your machines, get in touch with the team, who will be only too happy to help you out.
Disclaimer: This information is intended to provide general information on the subject matter. This is not intended as legal or expert advice for your specific situation. You should seek professional advice before acting or relying on the content of this information.