Depth of cover (DOC) is the vertical distance between the ground surface and the top of a buried pipeline — a critical safety parameter that protects pipelines from third-party damage, environmental loads, and surface activities.

Depth of cover (DOC) is the vertical distance between the ground surface and the top of a buried pipeline — a critical safety parameter that protects pipelines from third-party damage, environmental loads, and surface activities. Insufficient depth of cover is a leading risk factor for pipeline failures caused by excavation strikes and ground loading.

Regulatory standards (e.g., ASME B31.8, CSA Z662, AS 2885) specify minimum burial depths based on pipeline class location, land use, and crossing type. Typical requirements range from 0.6 m in rural areas to 1.2+ m at road and railway crossings.

Depth of cover can change over time due to erosion, land development, agricultural activity, riverbed scour, and ground settlement. Regular DOC surveys are essential for identifying areas where pipelines have become dangerously shallow.

EMPIT’s CMI technology provides continuous depth of cover measurement along the entire pipeline route — delivering centimeter-accurate burial depth data without excavation, ground-penetrating radar limitations, or point-by-point manual measurement. CMI DOC surveys identify shallow cover areas for targeted remediation before third-party damage occurs.