Mark Thomas Uses Cutting-Edge EM Technology to Overcome Sewer Force Main Challenge for SJAFCA Flood Protection Project
The San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA) tasked Mark Thomas with locating underground utilities for the preliminary design for flood protection levee improvements and mitigate impacts to the community’s sewage system.
Locating a 12-foot-deep sewer force main presented a significant challenge for the design team. Our Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) team at Mark Thomas provided Electromagnetic (EM) locator technology to help locate the line and aid in project development.
Traditional methods to pinpoint the location of the sewer force main had failed until our skilled technicians, along with cutting-edge EM equipment, allowed us to detect the underground force main accurately, even at 12 feet deep. The EM locator works by emitting a signal that is picked up by and travels through the force main and is then collected by the EM locator, allowing our team to trace its path beneath the ground. Once located, our experienced SUE team conducted a comprehensive survey of the site and provided SJAFCA with detailed mapping data to help them make informed decisions for future planning efforts. Through innovative technologies, our experienced technicians helped SJAFCA overcome a major obstacle to achieve lasting benefits for San Joaquin community members.
