Fluke Corporation announced the SmartTrace 2082 Series of Underground Locators in Saudi Arabia on April 29, 2026, addressing growing demand for safer utility mapping across the Kingdom’s large-scale infrastructure projects. The SmartTrace underground locator solution pairs with the PointMan app to track and document buried assets including pipes, electrical cables, and other underground infrastructure.
The device detects underground utilities by injecting signals up to 6 meters deep to identify their locations, depth, and path. Field teams can map utility locations on their smartphones via Bluetooth integration with PointMan, enabling real-time geolocation tracking and documentation. According to Fluke, this capability helps contractors reduce accidental strikes on underground infrastructure, which remain a significant operational and safety risk during large-scale excavation projects.
Addressing Infrastructure Challenges in Vision 2030
With eight Saudi cities featured in the IMD Smart City Index 2026, Saudi Arabia is accelerating adoption of advanced technologies across giga-projects and investments in energy, utilities, and transport infrastructure. The SmartTrace underground locator addresses critical needs in this environment by delivering precise insights into underground cable and pipeline locations. Zaid Asfour, Field Sales Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Fluke Corporation, stated that the solution brings real-time accuracy and connected intelligence to digital utility management. “By combining Fluke’s precision locating technology with the PointMan app, workers can now map, track, and verify underground assets with confidence, reducing risks, preventing costly disruptions, and driving efficiency gains on every site,” Asfour said.
Technical Capabilities and Fault Detection
The SmartTrace underground locator is engineered for accuracy tracing and fault detection, identifying ground faults, sheath faults, and coating defects on pipelines or cables in contact with the ground. By detecting where metallic conductors interact with the earth or where leakage currents occur due to corrosion or damaged joints, the system enhances safety and troubleshooting accuracy. In high-density or previously undocumented environments common across Vision 2030 developments, this capability proves particularly valuable for preventing excavation errors and protecting workers.
Digital Mapping and Smart Infrastructure Management
The SmartTrace underground locator works seamlessly with PointMan to accurately map and document underground cables and pipes, ensuring regulatory compliance and providing reliable records for ongoing and future construction, energy, and mining projects. The geolocation feature enables effective real-time tracking while creating future reference points for upcoming work. By combining precision locating technology with digital mapping, the system supports proactive fault detection and predictive maintenance across critical infrastructure networks including electricity, water, transport, and industrial systems.
The SmartTrace Premium Kit includes comprehensive hardware accessories designed to maximize productivity. Users receive mapping flags, a spray canister stick, an A-Frame for accurate detection of sheath or ground faults, and a Signal Clamp for situations where direct electrical contact is not possible. When used with the transmitter, the A-Frame enables fault detection while saving time and enhancing workflow efficiency.
Market Context and Safety Implications
Project timelines across Saudi Arabia continue to accelerate, making the ability to accurately locate underground infrastructure critical to avoiding costly delays, protecting workers, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. As the Kingdom progresses with its ambitious pipeline of large-scale projects, accidental strikes on underground utilities remain a key operational and safety concern. The SmartTrace underground locator enables contractors and operators to reduce these risks in high-density or previously undocumented environments, ultimately supporting the Kingdom’s rapidly developing urban and industrial landscape as outlined in rؤية 2030.
