GIS

Geographic Information Systems allow utility operators, municipalities, and engineering firms to maintain digital maps that link spatial data (where a utility is located) with attribute data (what type of utility it is, when it was installed, what material it is made of, and its current condition). GIS platforms such as Esri ArcGIS and QGIS are the industry standard for managing utility infrastructure data.

In the context of hydrovac work, GIS serves as both a source of pre-excavation information and a destination for verified field data. Before mobilizing to a job site, project planners can query GIS databases to identify known utilities in the work area, review historical excavation records, and plan pothole locations. After hydrovac potholing is completed, the verified utility positions, depths, and characteristics are entered back into the GIS database, improving the accuracy of the record for future use.

The integration of GPS technology with GIS has transformed utility data collection. Hydrovac field crews equipped with GPS receivers can capture precise coordinates of exposed utilities and transmit that data directly to GIS databases. This creates a continuous improvement cycle where each potholing project adds verified data points to the utility mapping system, gradually building a more accurate and complete picture of the subsurface environment.