Active locating uses both the receiver and transmitter. Which statement best describes active locating?

• A. It uses the receiver only.
• B. It uses both the receiver and transmitter.
• C. It cannot estimate depth.
• D. It is used only for surface mapping.

Answer: (B)

Active locating energizes a buried facility with a signal from a transmitter and uses a receiver to pick up that signal. The transmitter injects the signal into the line, creating a trace that the receiver follows to pinpoint the path and, with the right methods, estimate depth. This is why the statement describing active locating as using both the receiver and transmitter is the best choice. Using only the receiver describes passive locating, which doesn’t energize the line. Active locating can estimate depth, so the claim that depth can’t be estimated isn’t correct, and it isn’t limited to just surface mapping—it’s used to locate underground utilities and determine how deep they run.