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Australian Standard AS5488 utility investigation documentation

Utility Data Deliverables — CAD, GIS, BIM-Ready Plans

Most locators give you paint marks. We give you survey-grade data in the format your design team works in — CAD, GIS, and BIM. AS5488 compliant, georeferenced to MGA and AHD, ready for direct integration.

What You Get vs What Basic Locators Deliver

The utility locating industry has a gap: most providers stop at paint marks and a written report. For engineering projects, that's not enough. Your design team needs coordinate-based data that slots directly into their CAD, GIS, or BIM software.

HR Utilities bridges that gap. As the utility-locating arm of HR Surveyors — a team of 70+ professional surveyors — we capture utility data at survey-grade accuracy and deliver it in whatever format your team works in. Learn more about our utility surveying services and subsurface utility mapping.

Basic Locators HR Utilities
Basic Locators Paint marks on ground Coordinate-based data in MGA/AHD
Basic Locators Written report CAD/GIS/BIM deliverables
Basic Locators No spatial referencing Georeferenced to survey datums
Basic Locators Standalone locating 70+ surveyors for integrated delivery
Basic Locators May or may not be AS5488 compliant NULCA certified, AS5488 compliant

Deliverable Format Catalogue

Every format your design team needs — from CAD to BIM. All georeferenced to MGA and AHD.

CAD (DWG/DXF)

Industry-standard 2D plans with layer-coded utility types, pipe diameters, materials, and depths. Directly importable into AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and 12d Model.

Used by: Civil engineers, drafters, surveyors

GIS (Shapefile/GDB)

Spatial data in shapefile or geodatabase format for GIS analysis, asset management, and spatial planning. Attribute tables include utility type, depth, quality level, and capture date.

Used by: GIS analysts, asset managers, councils

BIM (IFC)

3D BIM-compatible models for integration with Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, and other BIM platforms. Supports clash detection and federated model coordination.

Used by: BIM coordinators, architects, MEP engineers

3D Strings

3D polyline data showing utility position and depth as continuous strings. Import into Civil 3D, 12d Model, or other civil design software for surface modelling.

Used by: Civil designers, earthworks modellers

PDF Overlays

Georeferenced PDF plans with utility locations overlaid on aerial imagery or site plans. Suitable for site inductions, toolbox talks, and quick reference.

Used by: Site supervisors, project managers, safety officers

Aerial Base Maps

Up-to-date orthorectified aerial imagery of your site, captured by UAV. Can be supplied standalone or with utility data overlaid.

Used by: Planners, architects, stakeholder communication

Why HR Utilities Delivers Data, Not Just Paint Marks

HR Utilities is the utility-locating arm of HR Surveyors — a team of 70+ experienced surveyors. This means we capture utility data the way surveyors do: with survey-grade accuracy, georeferenced to MGA and AHD, and delivered in formats your design team can use without translation.

Survey-grade accuracy with GPS and total station verification

CAD/GIS compatible deliverables for direct design integration

AS5488-compliant documentation meeting national standards

Single point of contact for locating + surveying needs

BIM-ready 3D utility models for clash detection

Learn more about HR Surveyors

Who Needs Which Format?

Civil Engineers → CAD

DWG/DXF plans for direct import into AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or 12d Model.

GIS Teams → Shapefile/GDB

Spatial data for asset management systems, council databases, and spatial analysis.

BIM Coordinators → IFC

3D models for federated BIM coordination and clash detection in Revit or Navisworks.

Site Teams → PDF Overlays

Quick-reference plans for toolbox talks, site inductions, and daily work planning.

Utility Data Deliverables FAQs

What utility data deliverable formats does HR Utilities provide? +

HR Utilities delivers utility mapping data in CAD (DWG/DXF), GIS (shapefile, geodatabase, GeoJSON), BIM (IFC, Revit-compatible models), 3D strings, PDF overlays, and aerial base maps. All data is georeferenced to MGA and AHD. Format can be matched to your design team's specific requirements.

How is HR Utilities' utility data different from a basic locator? +

Basic locators typically provide paint marks and a written report. HR Utilities delivers survey-grade, coordinate-based data that works directly in CAD and GIS systems. Our data is captured to AS5488 standards by NULCA-certified technicians, backed by a team of 70+ professional surveyors through HR Surveyors. You get data your engineers can use — not just marks on the ground.

Can HR Utilities provide BIM-ready utility models? +

Yes. We deliver IFC and BIM-compatible 3D utility models for integration with Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, and other BIM platforms. These models include utility type, diameter, material, depth, and spatial position — allowing clash detection and coordination within your federated model. Contact our team to discuss your BIM execution plan requirements.

What is covered in a standard utility data deliverable package? +

A standard deliverable includes CAD utility plans (DWG/DXF) with layer-coded utility types and depths, GIS shapefiles for spatial analysis, PDF overlay plans for site reference, and a written report documenting methodology and AS5488 quality levels achieved. Additional formats — 3D strings, IFC/BIM models, and aerial base maps — are available on request.

Ready for Precision Utility Mapping?

Expert utility locating services with BYDA certified precision.

Serving projects across Australia with advanced subsurface mapping solutions.