Kathleen Beaver - ACS Underground Solutions

LEAK DETECTION PROJECT Location: St. James, Barbados B.W.I

July 6, 2017 by Kathleen Beaver

This luxury resort commissioned ACS Underground Solutions to provide leak detection on the hotel’s underground dual temperature plastic water lines. A leak in the system was wasting large amounts of water 24/7.

ACS Underground Solutions’ acoustic service crew used GPR (ground penetrating radar) to locate the entire 4” PVC pipe water supply system.

NOISE LOGGERS NARROW THE SEARCH
Our technicians walked the entire property to equip valve boxes and manholes with ACS hand-held noise loggers. Noise loggers sit on valves and pipes and are programmed to record leak noise. Deploying the loggers overnight meant we could localize the leak to one section of the water pipe system.

The next day the ACS Underground Solutions crew discovered the loudest logger was in the spa area. We checked that finding with microphones and verified the noise logger was correct. The ACS crew then performed a correlation leak survey to pinpoint the leak to within inches.

ACS Underground Solutions is private family owned consulting company with decades of experience and deep expertise in virtually all types of utility locating, leak detection, sewer inspection services, and more. Hundreds of engineering firms, higher education institutions, municipalities, construction companies, architectural practices, and others have hired us for work in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indianapolis, Missouri, and even outside the United States—in Barbados.

CALL US AT 203.544.7190 OR EMAIL US TO LEARN MORE.

WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION PROJECT – West Point, NY

June 29, 2017 by Kathleen Beaver

ACS Underground Solutions was commissioned to conduct video inspections of storm and sewer lines at West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York for the Pershing Barracks project. The lines range in diameters from 6″-36″ with an average inspection length of 250 feet. ACS technicians had to access lines through a system of manholes more than 6 feet deep. At that depth OSHA requires Confined Space Entry.

After we gained access to the storm and sewer lines, we deployed a robotic camera. The camera crawled through the line to video record the interior condition of the pipe. ACS technicians simultaneously viewed the video images on a monitor and created a permanent record of the pipe condition on DVD.

A SECOND WEST POINT PROJECT, EISENHOWER BARRACKS
Atkins Construction commissioned ACS Underground Solutions to perform a video inspection survey of the sewer and storm pipes running inside the Eisenhower Barracks. Atkins was about to perform heavy demolition with backhoes and jack hammers to replace the main walkways to the barracks. ACS documented the condition of the sewer and storm pipes before demolition. That documentation was later compared to post-demolition documentation to identify and repair any damage the heavy demolition caused.

ACS technicians used two types of cameras for the inspections. One camera, a large robotic camera, inspected pipes of 6″ to 84″ diameter. The second ACS camera, a 2″ push camera, inspected all 2″ to 6″ pipes. Employing both cameras assured that ACS conducted a complete inspection of all pipes on the site.

WHILE ACS FOUND VERY FEW PROBLEMS DURING OUR PRE-CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION, WE DID IDENTIFY MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION.

CALL US AT 203.544.7190 OR EMAIL US TO LEARN MORE.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY BRIDGE RK-65B
UTILITY LOCATING & MARK OUT PROJECT – Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, NY

June 20, 2017 by Kathleen Beaver

The Triborough Bridge known officially as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge since 2008 and sometimes referred to as the RFK Triborough Bridge is a complex of three separate bridges in New York City. The bridges connect the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx via Randall’s and Ward’s Islands. The bridge is owned and operated by the MTA Bridges and Tunnels, part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

ACS Underground Solutions was contracted to conduct an underground utility location and mark out on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge which connects Randall’s Island to Manhattan. There are multiple electric and communication conduits that service the bridge’s toll booths. Locating and identifying all conduits was critical to preventing damage during construction and avoiding any interruption of traffic flow to Manhattan. The fiber optic lines at the site had no tracer wire connected to them. ACS technicians had to use a flexi trace to make a traceable signal on these very important communication conduits. ACS used highly advanced locating equipment including a 500 kHz Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) antenna on this site to verify such lines.

THE ACS TEAM OF TECHNICIANS USED A COMBINATION OF EQUIPMENT, SKILL, EXPERIENCE, AND KNOWLEDGE TO SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFY AND LOCATE THESE IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION AND ELECTRIC CABLES.

CALL US AT 203.544.7190 OR EMAIL US TO LEARN MORE.

MARK OUT STORM DRAIN LINES AND VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION – NEW YORK, NY

May 31, 2017 by Kathleen Beaver

What we were asked to do for this project
Locate and mark out storm drain lines and perform a robotic video pipe inspection.

How we skillfully completed this project
ACS Underground Solutions specializes in performing inspections of utility pipes, sewer systems, and storm drainage systems using modular, remotely-operated system and high-definition self-leveling camera equipment. From zoom cameras to inspection crawlers, video nozzles to digital push cameras and more, our technology inspects pipes of 17 mm to 8 feet in diameter and runs 750’ in length.

When we arrived on site we inserted a flexitrace to locate and mark out storm drain lines from manhole #3 going toward building #1856, then from manhole #3 going to a dry well #2, then from manhole #3 going to manhole #6. We further traced and marked out storm drain lines from manhole #1 going toward manhole #3. Technician located a small drain line in the playground area and that line lead to a dry well with no connection lines inside the well. Manhole #5 required Confined Space Entry (CSE) we we not able to inspect at that time.

After the lines we located ACS technician inserted high definition robotic crawler video camera into the lines. Video inspection was performed and all pipes were clear with no deterioration present. All original videotaping in USB format along with a summary report was provided to the Client upon completion of work conducted by ACS Underground Solutions.

No Guesswork
During video camera line inspections, radio transmitters on the camera record the depth and location from the surface of any obstructions or defect. ACS Underground Solutions technician’s can accurately diagnose and solve any drain line concerns. There is no guesswork, therefore your problems will be resolved quickly and cost effectively.

Identify Problems
ACS Underground Solutions video camera line inspections will identify all types of problems, such as tree root invasion, misaligned, broken, punctured, off-grade or corroded pipes. The camera also identifies leaks and obstructions or grease buildup. Pipe inspection can be repeated after line has been properly cleaned by jet or repaired to verify it’s integrity. For information or questions about video pipe inspection call today ACS Underground Solutions at 203.544.7190.

Environmental Test Bore Clearings using GPR & CAT – Greenwich, CT

May 31, 2017 by Kathleen Beaver

ACS Underground Solutions can clear environmental test bores on any proposed sites. Test bore clearings are performed in the same manner as a utility mark out by attaching to the known utilities and sweeping the areas in a passive mode and using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) which allows the contractor to drill, excavate and perform their samples for the site.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-intrusive testing method used for a variety of locating purposes. GPR may be used for a broad range of engineering, environmental and construction applications. GPR is commonly used to detect and delineate buried waste materials (bulk and drummed); to locate buried utilities (metallic and non-metallic); to locate buried structural components; to locate voids in/or below concrete.

ACS Underground Solutions specializes in GPR for locating non-detectable objects underground that traditional locating methods have difficulty finding.

What we were asked to do for this project?
ACS Underground Solutions was contracted to clear ten (10) environmental test bore sites in Greenwich, CT. First location was at the old Mercedes-Benz building parking lot where we cleared eight (8) bore sites. Then we proceeded to the second site in the back parking lot of new Mercedes-Benz building and cleared two (2) additional bore locations.

What we accomplished to finish the project
All utilities were verified, marked out and the fiber optic communication conduits were traced. All areas were scanned with CAT and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Once each boring location was cleared of utilities it was painted green for “GO” and flagged. On this job site we did not come across a location that was not clear, however if that should have occurred and if desired by the client an alternate location could be determined, areas that are not clear to dig or drill are always painted red for “NO”.

If you would like to learn more please email us or call us at 203-544-7190.

Void Detection Ground Penetrating Radar Underground Survey – New York, NY

May 30, 2017 by Kathleen Beaver

What we were asked to do for this project
ACS Underground Solutions was hired to conduct an underground GPR survey to investigate voids in a 30’ x 15’ roadway area in NYC.

How we successfully completed this project
Our technician arrived on site and reviewed utility drawings with client. The work boundaries where the GPR Survey took place were defined. Our technician scanned the area using Ground Penetrating Radar with a 500 MHz antenna and successfully detected and located voids approximately 1ft below the surface. Another void was located at an electric manhole along curb heading towards Park Avenue in Manhattan. Manhole in street was scanned and showed section of collapsed asphalt between manhole and sidewalk. As the voids were located, they were marked-out on the ground with white paint for further reference. ACS technician also used Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) locator to verify an electric conduit. A report summary was provided to the client upon completion of the underground survey work performed by ACS.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) uses radio waves to detect and locate underground voids and cavities that may cause issues such as:

Ground depressions
Sinkholes
Sinking cement
Cracked cement
Soil disruption

When the machine is pushed across the ground surface of the subsurface area under investigation radio waves are simultaneously reflected to the equipment’s monitor. The image is then recorded as to what is being seen underground. ACS experienced technician’s are specially trained to determine what these images represent.

Take proactive steps today by calling ACS Underground Solutions and let us put our experience and expert approach to work for you. We know how to effectively and efficiently identify underground voids. If you would like to learn more please email us or call us at 203-544-7190.

LEAK DETECTION PROJECT Location: St. James, Barbados B.W.I

WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION PROJECT – West Point, NY

ROBERT F. KENNEDY BRIDGE RK-65B
UTILITY LOCATING & MARK OUT PROJECT – Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, NY

MARK OUT STORM DRAIN LINES AND VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION – NEW YORK, NY

Environmental Test Bore Clearings using GPR & CAT – Greenwich, CT

Void Detection Ground Penetrating Radar Underground Survey – New York, NY

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