Quick Start Guide for New Locators

Time needed: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner
Goal: Get you productive with TerraFlow Mobile on your first day

Welcome to TerraFlow Mobile! This guide gets you up and running quickly with just the essentials. You'll learn exactly what you need for your first day in the field—nothing more, nothing less.

What You'll Learn

In the next 15 minutes, you'll learn:

✅ How to open TerraFlow and start a locate
✅ How to connect your equipment
✅ How to capture utility points
✅ How to save and sync your work

We'll skip: Advanced features, customization, and optional tools. You can learn those later!

Part 1: First Time Setup (3 minutes)

Download and Install

Already installed? Skip to Part 2.

Android users:

Open Google Play Store
Search "TerraFlow Mobile" or "TerraFlow Utility Mapper"
Tap Install
Open the app

iOS users:

Open App Store
Search "TerraFlow Mobile"
Tap Get
Open the app

Log In

Your supervisor should have given you:

Username
Password
Company/organization code (if required)

Open TerraFlow Mobile
Enter your credentials
Tap Log In
Allow location permissions when prompted (tap Always Allow)
Allow Bluetooth permissions when prompted (tap Allow)

✅ You're logged in when: You see the map screen with your location.

Part 2: Connect Your Equipment (5 minutes)

Connect Your Locator

Your locator needs to be paired with your phone/tablet.

Quick Pairing Steps:

On your locator:
- Turn it on
- Press Menu
- Find Bluetooth → Pair
- Wait for "Ready to Pair" or similar
On your phone:
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth → ON
- Wait for your locator to appear in device list
- Tap the locator name
- Enter PIN if asked (usually 0000 or 1234)
- Wait for "Connected"
In TerraFlow Mobile:
- Tap Settings (gear icon or bottom menu)
- Scroll down to Sensor Settings
- Tap Locator dropdown
- Select your locator model
- You should see it listed (e.g., "RD8200", "vLoc Pro")

✅ Success: Your locator name appears in the Sensor Settings dropdown.

Having trouble? See Locator Connection Guide or ask your supervisor.

Check Your GPS

TerraFlow uses GPS to mark where utilities are located.

Look at the top of your screen:

Green GPS icon = Good signal, ready to go
Yellow/Orange GPS icon = Searching, wait a moment
Red/Gray GPS icon = No signal, move to open area

For your first day: Make sure GPS shows green before collecting data.

Part 3: Your First Locate (5 minutes)

Understanding the Main Screen

When you open TerraFlow, you see:

Map showing your location (blue dot)
+ Button (usually bottom right) to start new workflow
Settings button (bottom of screen)
GPS status (bottom of screen)

Start a New Locate

Tap the + button
Select your workflow (your supervisor will tell you which one)
- Usually "Standard Locate" or similar
Tap Save or Start Collection

You're now in collection mode!

Switch to Sensor Tab

To use your locator with TerraFlow:

Look at the top of the screen
Find the tabs (usually: Manual, Sensor)
Tap Sensor

This is where the magic happens—where your locator talks to TerraFlow.

Capture Your First Utility Point

Let's say you're locating a gas line:

Select utility type:
- Look for utility buttons or dropdown
- Tap Gas (or whichever utility you're locating)
Walk to the utility:
- Use your locator to find the utility line
- Stand directly over it
Capture the point:
- Press i then + on your locator (specific sequence varies by model)
- Keep locator still for a moment
- Watch TerraFlow screen
Verify data captured:
- You should see:
  - Depth reading (e.g., "1.2m")
  - Signal strength
  - GPS coordinates
  - New point on the map

✅ Success looks like: A colored dot on your map with depth information.

Capture More Points

Continue walking the utility line and capturing points:

Every 10-15 meters on straight runs
At every corner or bend
At crossing points
At valves or other features

Remember: Select the correct utility type before each point!

Part 4: Finishing Up (2 minutes)

Switch Between Utilities

When you finish one utility and move to the next:

Stay in workflow tab
Change the utility type dropdown/button
Start capturing points for new utility
TerraFlow keeps them separate automatically

Save Your Work

Good news: TerraFlow auto-saves as you go!

But you should still:

Don't force-close the app mid-collection

Sync Your Data

When you're done for the day (or after each job):

Make sure you have internet (WiFi or cellular)
Tap the Menu button (three lines, top left)
Tap Synchronize or Sync Data
Wait for the green checkmark or "Sync Complete" message

This uploads your work to the office!

✅ Success: You see "Last synced: [current time]" or similar message.

Essential Rules for Your First Day

DO:

✅ Keep your phone within 10 feet of the locator (Bluetooth range)
✅ Check GPS is green before collecting points
✅ Select the correct utility type before capturing
✅ Sync your data before going home
✅ Ask questions if you're unsure

DON'T:

❌ Don't collect when GPS is red (inaccurate)
❌ Don't force-close the app during collection
❌ Don't forget to sync at end of day
❌ Don't mix up utility types (gas vs water, etc.)
❌ Don't skip this: Always verify your locator is connected!

Troubleshooting Basics

Problem: Locator not working in TerraFlow

Check:

Is locator paired in phone Bluetooth settings?
Is locator selected in TerraFlow Sensor Settings?
Are you on the Sensor tab (not Map or Form tab)?
Did you select a utility type?

Problem: GPS not working

Check:

Settings → Location → ON?
TerraFlow has location permission?
Are you in an open area (not inside building)?
Wait 2-3 minutes for GPS to acquire satellites

Problem: Can't sync data

Check:

Do you have internet (WiFi or cellular)?
Are you logged in to TerraFlow?
Try again in a few minutes

Still stuck? Ask your supervisor or contact support@terraflow.ca

Your First Day Checklist

Before heading to the field:

[ ] TerraFlow Mobile installed and logged in
[ ] Locator is charged and paired
[ ] Phone/tablet is fully charged
[ ] GPS is working (green icon)
[ ] Locator appears in Sensor Settings
[ ] You know which workflow to use
[ ] You have your first job/ticket info

During your first locate:

[ ] Started new collection with job info
[ ] Switched to Sensor tab
[ ] Selected correct utility type
[ ] Captured points with depth readings
[ ] Switched utility types when needed
[ ] Verified points appear on map

Before going home:

[ ] Synced all data successfully
[ ] Verified sync completed (green checkmark)
[ ] Plugged in all equipment to charge overnight

What's Next?

After your first day, learn more:

Week 1: Master the basics

Complete Your First Locate (detailed walkthrough)

Week 2: Build efficiency

Creating Custom Workflows

Month 1: Advanced skills

Handling Complex Utility Crossings
Generating Reports
Quality Control Best Practices

Quick Reference

Button Sequence Reminders

Most common locator button sequence:

Select utility type in TerraFlow
Position over utility
Press i on locator
Then press + on locator
Wait for confirmation beep
Check TerraFlow for captured data

Common Utility Types

Gas (usually yellow)
Hydro/Power (usually red)
Water (usually blue)
Sewer (usually green)
Telecom (usually orange)

Settings Location

Sensor Settings: Settings → Sensor Settings → Locator
GPS Settings: Settings → Location Settings

Need Help?

Ask your supervisor first—they know your specific setup!

Technical Support:

📧 Email: support@terraflow.ca
🌐 Help: www.terraflow.ca/resources/help

Common Questions:

Remember

🎯 Your goal today: Capture accurate utility points and sync your data.

💪 You've got this! TerraFlow is designed to be intuitive. After a few locates, it'll feel like second nature.

📚 Keep learning: This guide covers the minimum. Explore other features as you gain confidence.

🤝 Teamwork: Your experienced colleagues are your best resource. Don't hesitate to ask for help!

Ready to start? Charge your equipment, open TerraFlow, and head to the field. You're going to do great!

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Last updated: October 2025 | Perfect for your first day with TerraFlow Mobile