General Contractor Practice Exam

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Before beginning an excavation, what is the best way to locate underground utilities?

Ground-penetrating radar
Hand tools
Electric tracing
Utility maps

The correct answer is: Hand tools

The best method to locate underground utilities before starting an excavation is through the use of ground-penetrating radar. This technology employs radar pulses to image the subsurface and can effectively detect various underground utilities, including non-metallic ones, providing a clear visualization of their locations. While utility maps can offer some guidance, they may not always be up to date or accurate, presenting a risk in excavation work. Electric tracing is a method for locating conductive utilities but may miss others that are non-conductive. Hand tools are typically used for exposing or digging after locating utilities but do not serve as a primary detection method. Ground-penetrating radar stands out as a non-invasive, highly effective way to map out underground utilities accurately, thereby minimizing the risk of damaging them during excavation.