Kelvin D. “K.D.” Cooper of Gloucester has started Discovery Underground Locating LLC, a private subsurface utility locating and mapping service. 

Cooper has worked as a utility locater for over 25 years, including 20 years with Miss Utility, the Virginia Utility Protection Service. He most recently worked for an engineering firm as a subsurface utility engineer. Cooper said he decided to strike out on his own when he saw the need for the service among local homeowners. 

Cooper said his worksites have included Langley Air Force Base, the Jefferson Lab in Newport News, the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, the College of William and Mary, Radford University, Virginia Tech, and Washington and Lee University.

He said he chiefly uses electronic equipment, such as ground penetrating radar and an electromagnetic locator, to locate a variety of lines. He can find electrical lines as well as gas lines, sewer and well lines, sprinkler lines and just about any line that has ...