The new integrated system was debuted at CONEXPO 2026
Xwatch Safety Solutions, part of Hexagon and a leader in excavator safety systems, has partnered with RodRadar, creator of the Live Dig Radar (LDR), to deliver a first-of-its-kind integrated system that helps prevent underground utility strikes.
The safety-grade system, which was showcased at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, can automatically stop excavator bucket movement whenever it detects subsurface utilities during active excavation.
RodRadar’s AI-driven LDR digging system uses an innovative ground-penetrating radar (GPR) embedded directly in an excavator bucket to quickly locate underground utilities during excavation. The system doesn’t require pre-project utility data to function and automatically stops activity via Xwatch’s safety-grade hydraulic control system as soon as it detects utilities.
This development brings RodRadar closer to achieving its zero-strike vision and ensuring excavation safety. The integrated solution is comparable to the evolution that led to the development of autonomous emergency braking in automobiles, which avoids collisions rather than relying solely on warning systems.
“RodRadar has solved the detection problem during excavation,” said Dan Leaney, Director of Sales at Xwatch Safety Solutions. “By integrating their Live Dig Radar technology directly into our safety-grade hydraulic control, we can physically stop the machine before a strike occurs. That’s the difference between warning about a risk and actually preventing it.”
Utility strikes remain an ongoing, widespread problem in construction. In the U.S., one to two strikes take place every minute, and over 400,000 incidents are reported each year. The result is thousands of injuries, scores of fatalities, and around $30 billion worth of losses for the economy.
The new integrated system plans to change that. According to Yuval Barnea, VP of sales and marketing at RodRadar, the technology will play a pivotal role in ensuring safety during excavations.
“The integration further closes the safety gap, transforming LDR detections into automatic strike prevention and delivering the industry’s first-ever SBS solution,” he said. “We envision this to be recommended and mandated by leading industry stakeholders, project owners, and contractors.”
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