Underground Utility Locating & Subsurface Investigation Services in Philadelphia

Private Utility Locating

Contacting Pennsylvania 811 is the first step to marking publicly owned utilities, but much of Philadelphia’s subsurface infrastructure is privately owned and not covered by this service. Blood Hound specializes in locating private underground utilities that 811 does not cover, including:

• Private electrical and communication lines
• Water, sewer, and force mains
• Irrigation and site lighting systems
• Fuel lines and underground storage tanks
• Parking lot and campus utilities

Using electromagnetic (EM) locating and ground-penetrating radar, our field crews identify private subsurface infrastructure with a high degree of confidence, giving project teams the information they need before a single shovel hits the ground.

Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR)

Philadelphia's mix of modern construction and historic infrastructure often means non-conductive utilities, abandoned lines, and uncharted subsurface conditions. Blood Hound's GPR scanning services provide a nondestructive view beneath concrete, asphalt, and soil to detect:

• Non-metallic utilities that EM locating cannot identify
• Unknown, abandoned, or undocumented lines
• Voids, anomalies, and subsurface hazards
• Structural elements beneath paved surfaces

GPR is a critical tool for Philadelphia projects where subsurface records are incomplete or where the age of infrastructure makes confident assumptions dangerous.

Concrete Scanning

Before cutting, coring, or drilling into concrete anywhere on a Philadelphia jobsite, Blood Hound performs GPR concrete scanning to identify hidden hazards including rebar, post-tension cables, embedded conduits, and plumbing. This service protects workers, prevents structural damage, and keeps projects compliant and on schedule.

Vacuum Excavation

Blood Hound offers wet and dry vacuum excavation as a precise, low-impact alternative to mechanical digging for utility exposure and verification. This method is especially valuable in Philadelphia's congested urban corridors where traditional excavation poses unacceptable risk to adjacent utilities and structures. Vacuum excavation is commonly used for:

• Utility daylighting and depth verification
• Design-phase potholing and confirmation
• Emergency access and targeted repairs
• Sensitive job sites with high utility density

Leak Detection

Aging water infrastructure throughout Philadelphia creates ongoing risk of undetected leaks that can cause structural damage, water loss, and service disruptions. Blood Hound uses non-destructive acoustic and correlating technology to pinpoint leaks in buried water mains, irrigation systems, and subsurface infrastructure, minimizing excavation and reducing repair costs.

Geospatial Services

Blood Hound's geospatial services provide high-resolution mapping and documentation using drone technology, LiDAR, and precision GPS. Our deliverables integrate directly with CAD and GIS platforms, giving Philadelphia project teams accurate records of site conditions to support design, coordination, and long-term infrastructure management.

Robotic Camera Inspection (CCTV)

Blood Hound deploys robotic camera systems to inspect underground piping and sewer infrastructure without excavation. CCTV pipe inspection identifies structural defects, blockages, infiltration, and other conditions affecting system performance, providing the detailed documentation needed for maintenance planning and regulatory reporting.

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)

For design and engineering projects requiring a higher standard of subsurface documentation, Blood Hound provides SUE services at QL D, QL C, and QL B quality levels. SUE reduces design conflicts, supports ASCE 38 compliance, and lowers the risk of costly utility relocation during construction.

Electromagnetic Locating (EM)

EM locating is a foundational service used to identify conductive utilities beneath the surface. Blood Hound's technicians apply EM technology across Philadelphia project sites as a standalone service or in combination with GPR and vacuum excavation to build a complete picture of subsurface conditions.

Incomplete subsurface information leads to utility strikes, project delays, cost overruns, and serious safety incidents. Blood Hound gives Philadelphia project teams the accurate, reliable underground data they need to move forward with confidence.

Contact Blood Hound today to schedule service or request an estimate. Know what's below before you dig.