ULC Technologies LLC, a provider of robotics development and robotics-as-a-service for the energy, utility and industrial industry, announced their latest underground location and detection technology in collaboration with UK gas distribution network SGN and Transport for London (TfL) – the Automated Utility Service Mark Out System (AUSMOS).
Offering easier-to-interpret data and reduced risk for accidental damage of buried assets, the semi-autonomous robotic platform utilizes a sensor suite comprised of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic sensors to detect and mark out below-ground infrastructure. As a result, the data collected is denser and offers more powerful post-processing techniques.
“Outdated and missing facility maps in conjunction with the declining availability of skilled technicians has accelerated the need for this innovative technology,” says Mersim Redzematovic, Project Manager at ULC Technologies. “AUSMOS will allow our teams to deliver accurate mark out so excavation crews can avoid accidental damages and improve project safety.”
Unlike traditional GPR technologies which often require technical experts to process and interpret data offsite, AUSMOS provides same-day data collection, processing, and road mark out. The robotic and repeatable nature of data acquisition and accurate localization of the sensors allows AUSMOS to overlay data captured from different sensors for a more meaningful interpretation of the results.
“As we continue our pilot programs with AUSMOS in the U.S. and U.K., we aim to work with the industry to improve the accuracy of underground excavation and make GPR data more accessible by providing same-day mapping and mark out,” says Redzematovic.
AUSMOS is part of ULC Technologies’ growing portfolio of solutions that focus on supporting damage prevention and utility mapping.
