Subsurface Surveys

Safe projects start below the surface. Serving Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, and throughout Western Canada

What is a Subsurface Survey?

Understand what lies beneath—before you dig.

Subsurface surveys are non-destructive investigations that identify underground utilities, voids, structures, and anomalies. Whether you're excavating, renovating, or building from scratch, knowing what’s underground helps you avoid costly surprises.

We detect:

Buried utility lines (gas, telecom, water, sewer)

Reinforced concrete features

Underground tanks and voids

Historical structures and anomalies

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Our Technology and Tools

Precision starts with the right equipment.

We use industry-leading tools to provide accurate, clear underground data.

Technology We Use:

GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar): Detects utilities, voids, rebar, and cables
Electromagnetic Locators: Ideal for locating metallic lines
Magnetometers & Conductivity Meters: Detect ferrous materials and map soil conductivity
Survey-Grade GPS & Total Stations: Georeferenced data, ready for CAD and GIS

Deliverables include:

AutoCAD- or GIS-compatible utility maps

Georeferenced data

3D visualizations (on request)

Certified Expertise You Can Trust

Certified professionals. Proven results.

At TerraProbe, our team is made up of licensed engineers, surveyors, and experienced field technicians trained in BC's complex subsurface conditions.

Our qualifications:

Registered Engineers & Land Surveyors (EGBC + ASTTBC)
Field staff trained in ASCE 38-22 standards
Ongoing certification and safety training

Why it matters:

Only professionals with provincial credentials can certify data for legal or regulatory use.

Standards & Quality Assurance

Industry-standard processes. Zero guesswork.

We follow the ASCE 38-22 guidelines for subsurface utility engineering (SUE), delivering data that meets or exceeds industry expectations.

Our quality controls include:

Multi-method validation (GPR + EMI cross-checks)

Redundancy scans

Clear documentation of uncertainties

Review and sign-off by licensed professionals

Survey near Hwy 1 in Fraser Canyon to locate possible burial sites from 1800's using a single antenna system.

CASE STUDY//

CAUSEWAY VOID DETECTION

Client Objective/Goal: The goal was to locate possible voids caused by water incursion and indicate the location and size/depth of the anomalies.

Project application: We used an IDS Stream-DP array system for data collection which was then processed using Geolitix and IQMaps software. The client received a 3d and a 2d map of the located anomalies.

PROBLEM

The Client was concerned about possible voids in a causeway caused by water incursion.

The information was needed to give them data to help make a decision on possible remediation steps for the causeway. GPR was the only effective method for providing an indication

SOLUTION

We used an IDS Stream-DP array system for data collection. The data was collected and then process using Geolitix and IQMaps software. The deliverable was a 3d and 2d map of the located anomalies.

BENEFIT

Use of the Stream-DP system allowed us to collect data in one direction only as opposed to a grid pattern. This made the data collection much faster and easily done with one technician. The client was able to receive valuable data in a short time and low cost relative to other methods and types of GPR systems.

RESULTS:

Using the IDS Stream-DP, we found anomalies that were consistent with possible voids in the area and were able to provide information so that our client was able to make informed decisions for further development or remediation of the surveyed area.