Does GPR replace Ohio 811?

Short answer: If your excavation triggers Ohio’s call-before-you-dig process, you still need to request and observe the ticket workflow—not skip it because a contractor “will GPR the trench.” GPR can complement the ticket; it does not replace it.

What the ticket is for

811 programs coordinate notified member operators who mark facilities they are responsible for, within the ticket rules. That workflow is foundational for many sites. Our longer explainer on the split between public coverage and private questions is in GPR and OHIO811 together.

Where GPR still earns its line item

• Private laterals and yard lines — not always represented the way you need for a tight trench window.
• Slab and pavement cuts — concrete scanning and utility imaging before coring (see scanning vs. outdoor locating).
• Evidence for dig packages — marked work points and date-stamped PDFs when the purchase order includes reporting; see our GPR & locating hub for scope context.

How we talk about it on calls

We align on what the ticket already answers versus what your work point still needs to know. When private-side mapping is the gap, private utility locating is often the right category to scope.