
Metal detectors operate on the principle of passive electromagnetic induction and can only detect isolated metal objects such as gold, copper, and iron. These devices cannot trace utility paths because they cannot differentiate the direction or depth of long, buried continuous pipes. For insulated electrical cables or plastic pipes, metal detectors are completely ineffective as there is no AC current to generate a magnetic field. Furthermore, the detection depth of standard consumer metal detectors is typically limited to 1 - 2 meters for small objects, whereas underground utility lines are often buried 3 - 5 meters deep or even more.









