Proximity detection method for a conductive, buried structure , in particular an underground conduit or wiring system at a construction site , by the steps of: • generating an alternating electrical current of a desired frequency by a current-source , • introducing the alternating electrical current into the structure so that a time-variable electromagnetic field is emitted, by the thereby current-carrying structure, • detecting the time-variable electromagnetic field by a mobile detection-unit above ground that is electrically insulated from the ground, • determining the proximity of the structure to the mobile detection-unit according to the detected time-variable electromagnetic field , • indicating the proximity as a distance information between the structure and a reference point which has a known position relative to the mobile detection-unit , wherein at least a first and a second single point electrodes stuck into soil , so that the electrodes are surrounded by a soil material and spaced approximately 5-200 meters apart from each other, are introducing the alternating electrical current by conduction directly into the soil , such that a flow-path of the alternating electrical current is: • from the current-source to the first electrode , • from the first electrode through soil material to the buried structure , so that the first electrode and the buried structure are conducted by the soil material only, • following at least a part of the buried structure as path of least resistance in the soil material, • from the buried structure through the soil material to the second electrode , so that the second electrode and the buried structure are conducted by the soil material only, • from the second electrode to the current-source by an insulated cable above ground, wherein the first and the second electrode define a detection-area in-between of them, in which detection-area the step of detecting the time-variable electromagnetic field is executed, and characterized in that the current-source is equipped with a system configured for detecting and indicating whether the alternating electrical current is flowing along the flow-path with a desired strength. • generating an alternating electrical current of a desired frequency by a current-source , • introducing the alternating electrical current into the structure so that a time-variable electromagnetic field is emitted, by the thereby current-carrying structure, • detecting the time-variable electromagnetic field by a mobile detection-unit above ground that is electrically insulated from the ground, • determining the proximity of the structure to the mobile detection-unit according to the detected time-variable electromagnetic field , • indicating the proximity as a distance information between the structure and a reference point which has a known position relative to the mobile detection-unit , wherein • from the current-source to the first electrode , • from the first electrode through soil material to the buried structure , so that the first electrode and the buried structure are conducted by the soil material only, • following at least a part of the buried structure as path of least resistance in the soil material, • from the buried structure through the soil material to the second electrode , so that the second electrode and the buried structure are conducted by the soil material only, • from the second electrode to the current-source by an insulated cable above ground, wherein the first and the second electrode define a detection-area in-between of them, in which detection-area the step of detecting the time-variable electromagnetic field is executed, and characterized in that the current-source is equipped with a system configured for detecting and indicating whether the alternating electrical current is flowing along the flow-path with a desired strength. <EOS>