Magnetic guidance surveying — engineered for the hardest bores.
When walk-over locating hits its limits, magnetic guidance keeps your bore on grade. Depth, water, rebar, and interference no longer control the design.
A survey-grade steering system that doesn't depend on the surface.
Magnetic guidance surveying uses an artificial magnetic field generated by a surface coil to steer HDD bores with survey-grade accuracy. Unlike walk-over locating, it works at depth, under water, and through the electromagnetic noise of urban ROWs.
JPS Directional Drilling operates its own magnetic guidance equipment and trained surveyors — no third-party sub, no scheduling gap, no finger-pointing when tolerances are tight.
- Survey-grade X/Y/Z position, rod by rod
- Independent of earth's magnetic field distortions
- Works under rivers, levees, and traffic
- Accurate at depths of 75+ ft
- Real-time steering telemetry to the driller
- Complete as-built deliverables for owner records
The bores where magnetic guidance pays for itself.
Depths beyond walk-over range
Traditional walk-over locators lose accuracy past ~50 ft. Magnetic guidance stays accurate at 75+ ft and beyond.
River, bayou & levee crossings
Water and levee tops block walk-over signal. Magnetic guidance surveys through — no boat, no interruption of traffic.
Congested downtown ROWs
Rebar, tram lines, traffic loops, and buried utilities distort walk-over signals. Magnetic guidance is immune.
Hospital, airport & rail corridors
When you can't stop traffic or shut down operations, in-line magnetic guidance is the safe answer.
A closed-loop reference from surface coil to sonde.
- 01
Surface coil layout
A calibrated wire loop is laid on the surface along the planned bore path to establish a known magnetic field.
- 02
Downhole magnetometer
A magnetometer sonde inside the drill string measures the field, referencing the loop instead of the earth's field.
- 03
Real-time position
Position and azimuth are calculated in real time and delivered to the driller for continuous steering corrections.
- 04
As-drilled logs
Every rod is logged with X/Y/Z coordinates, generating a full as-built survey for owner records and locate databases.