Pulse Locating provides specialist potholing services across Perth and regional Western Australia to confirm the precise location, depth and alignment of underground utilities before excavation begins.
When you are preparing to trench, drill or install infrastructure, relying on drawings alone is not enough. Records can be incomplete, markings can be inaccurate, and legacy assets do not always sit where plans suggest. Potholing removes that uncertainty by giving you visual confirmation of what lies beneath the surface. For civil contractors, utility providers and project managers, potholing is a practical control measure that protects crews, assets and programme.
Potholing is the targeted exposure of underground services using non-destructive excavation methods. Rather than excavating broadly or mechanically, a small controlled excavation is created directly over marked service locations. This allows you to physically verify service depth, horizontal alignment and condition before proceeding with further works.
At Pulse Locating we carry out potholing using vacuum excavation techniques. High pressure water loosens the soil in a controlled manner and a vacuum unit removes the spoil immediately.
This process exposes services without mechanical contact, reducing the risk of damage to live assets. It is a precise, measured approach designed to support safe excavation and informed decision making.
Good information at the beginning of a project prevents avoidable problems later. Utility strikes can cause service outages, project delays, safety incidents and significant cost escalation. They also trigger investigations and place reputations at risk.
Potholing allows you to confirm the exact position of underground services before plant moves through an area. It ensures that depth and clearance are understood and that excavation methods are adjusted accordingly. This supports compliance with your duty of care obligations and provides engineers and site supervisors with reliable information on which to base decisions.
Pulse Locating approaches potholing as part of a broader risk management framework. It is not about reacting to problems after they occur. It is about preventing them in the first place.
Every potholing task begins with a review of available service information. Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) data, project drawings and existing site markings are assessed to identify potential service locations and areas of uncertainty.
Once these locations are confirmed, a targeted excavation is created using vacuum excavation equipment. Soil is loosened carefully and removed immediately, maintaining constant visual control over the exposed area. Services are uncovered without the impact associated with mechanical digging.
When the service is fully exposed, measurements are taken to confirm depth and alignment. Photographic records and documentation can be provided where required for compliance or engineering review. After verification, the area is safely reinstated. The entire process is calm, controlled and methodical. It prioritises clarity over speed and accuracy over assumption.
Potholing is commonly required before horizontal directional drilling, trenching, piling or any works that may intersect buried infrastructure. It is particularly important in service dense environments such as road reserves, rail corridors and established urban areas where multiple networks overlap.
Consultants, surveyors and engineers often require physical confirmation of service locations before approving excavation works. In these situations, potholing provides the documented evidence needed to proceed with confidence.
Across Western Australia, Pulse Locating supports projects where accurate subsurface verification is essential to maintaining programme and protecting assets.
Accurate documentation is a critical part of responsible excavation. Pulse Locating provides clear records of potholing results so that project teams can demonstrate due diligence and informed decision making.
This may include depth measurements, photographic evidence and confirmation notes that support engineering assessments and compliance requirements. The objective is simple. Provide reliable information so that works can continue safely and without unnecessary interruption.
Operating under accredited quality and safety systems, including ISO45001 and ISO9001, Pulse Locating integrates potholing into a broader framework of safe excavation practice.
Potholing is typically scoped based on the number of exposure points required, ground conditions, site access and project location. Potholing rates start from $145.00 per hour. Works may be scheduled as part of a broader investigation programme or delivered in response to immediate site requirements.
While potholing introduces an additional step before excavation, it frequently reduces overall project risk and cost. Confirming service positions at the outset can prevent rework, emergency repairs and programme delays that far exceed the initial investment.
Pulse Locating works with civil contractors and infrastructure managers to clearly define scope and provide transparent pricing before mobilisation. The focus is on delivering practical value rather than reactive correction.
Pulse Locating is a Western Australian owned locating partner that combines subsurface utility detection, vacuum excavation and accredited safety systems into one accountable service. Potholing is not performed in isolation. It is supported by experienced operators, established processes and a clear understanding of underground risk.
The team approaches every locate as if it protects people, communities and critical infrastructure. Advice is practical. Communication is steady. Outcomes are clear. When you need certainty before excavation, Pulse Locating provides it.
Office: +08 6305 0607
General Enquiries: enquiries@pulselocating.com.au
Accounts Queries: accounts@pulselocating.com.au
Career Enquiries: hr@pulselocating.com.au
Office & Mailing Address: Unit 2/30 Achievement Way Wangara, 6065