Infrastructure

Private and Public Locating

Private and Public Locating2026-11-03T01:46:16+00:00

PRIVATE & PUBLIC
UTILITY LOCATING

VIDEO PIPE
INSPECTION

PRE-EXCAVATION
PLANNING

Know What Is Below
Before Work Begins

UPA helps contractors, property owners, facility managers, and project teams identify underground utilities before excavation begins. Private Locating leads our services, combining electromagnetic locating and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) with careful field investigation to help reduce utility damage and delays. Calling 811 is the required first step, and UPA locates the customer-owned utilities an 811 ticket may not mark. Our Locating Division also provides Public Locating, Video Pipe Inspections, and SUE Lite Services.

Private and Public Locating

CORE SERVICES

UPA locates customer-owned underground utilities that fall outside the 811 process, including electric, communications, water, sewer, gas, fuel, irrigation, and stormwater systems. Technicians use electromagnetic locating and GPR, selecting methods based on utility type, access, records, and site conditions.

UPA supports utility owners and operators with locating services within established 811 one-call processes. Technicians identify and mark the facilities covered by our utility customers’ agreements and support ticket management, quality assurance, damage prevention, and field reporting.

UPA’s Video Pipe Inspections use camera equipment to examine accessible sewer, stormwater, and drainage pipes. Inspections can reveal cracks, root intrusion, blockages, joint separation, and other conditions that affect pipe performance, helping owners and maintenance teams plan repairs.

UPA’s SUE Lite Services combine customer-provided records, visible utility features, electromagnetic locating, and GPR to document underground infrastructure within a defined area. Findings help project teams identify conflicts and gaps in existing records during early planning.

How UPA’s Utility
Locating Process Works

Every locate starts with a review of the work area and available records alongside the project team. Technicians locate with the methods best suited to the site and mark findings in the field. Before excavation moves forward, UPA communicates what was found and any areas that need further verification.

UPA identifies what’s underground
early, so project teams can plan
excavation safely.

Enterprise Level Support

UPA provides both guidance and support; helping its customers manage
some of their largest and most complex utility service and construction
projects. We know utility service is about so much more than just getting
the job done.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Material Management

Utility material management with
real-time inventory visibility.

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SAFETY

Safety

Safety leads every decision
and program at UPA.

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INFRASTRUCTURE

Inspection Services

Utility infrastructure inspections
that give a clear view of every asset.

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Partner with UPA

Reach out with your infrastructure, data & analytics, or professional services needs, and a member of our team will follow up.

FAQ’s

Does private locating replace an 811 ticket?2026-10-19T13:59:02+00:00

No. Contact 811 before digging and follow the applicable one-call requirements. Private locating supplements the process by investigating customer-owned facilities outside participating utility owners’ marking responsibilities.

What is the difference between public and private locating?2026-10-19T14:00:03+00:00

Public locating is performed for utility owners and operators through the one-call process. Private locating investigates customer-owned facilities, such as lines serving buildings, outdoor equipment, or irrigation systems on a property. The ownership boundary varies by utility and location.

When is ground-penetrating radar (GPR) useful?2026-10-19T14:02:39+00:00

GPR supplements electromagnetic locating when investigating buried features, including some nonmetallic utilities. Its effectiveness depends on soil conditions, depth, utility material and size, surface access, and other site factors.

What will I receive after the work?2026-10-19T14:03:52+00:00

Deliverables depend on the service and agreed scope. Before work begins, UPA will confirm the field markings and any photographs, inspection footage, field notes, or other documentation included in your project.

Can locating identify every utility and its exact depth?2026-10-19T14:06:44+00:00

No locating method can guarantee that every buried facility will be detected or that an indicated depth is exact. UPA communicates investigation limitations and areas that need additional verification, and safe excavation practices remain necessary.

How does SUE Lite differ from full SUE?2026-10-19T14:08:01+00:00

SUE Lite is a defined package of utility investigation and documentation services. It does not represent a full subsurface utility engineering investigation or certified survey. Projects requiring engineering oversight, physical utility exposure, or specified utility quality levels need a separate scope.

Utility Partners of America (UPA), a System One company, is a national utility infrastructure contractor serving electric, gas, and water utilities since 1997. Headquartered in Greer, South Carolina.

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1881 Suber Mill Road
Greer, SC 29650

Phone:
864.269.2302

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