Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc of Albuquerque, New Mexico was contacted by Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center of Albuquerque, New Mexico to perform Ground Penetrating Radar scans with the intentions of locating unknown electrical conduit prior to saw cutting concrete in the Hospital.  The VA Hospital was planning to locate a new MRI machine in the center of a room and needed not only to saw cut the floor, but needed to be 4 feet away from any electrical current so that there would be no interference with the MRI machine.  Jason Schaff with GPRS mobilized to the site and was able to survey the 20 x 20 area in about 2 hours.  Two 480 Electrical Lines were located going across the center of the room as well as a 12,480 duct bank. In addition to ground penetrating radar scanning, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems also used radio detection.  This method serves as a double check to the ground penetrating radar as it can pick up live electrical current in conduits as well as locating any sort of telecommunication lines. 

Ground Penetrating Radar continues to be a proven technology for hospital applications as it does not interfere with any other hospital equipment.  The power output of the ground penetrating radar unit is a fraction of a standard cell phone.  Patients and workers do not need to be removed from the area prior to the concrete surveys. This is a valuable piece of information when considering that generally Ground Penetrating Radar is used in close proximity to patients, MRI’s, and other medical equipment.  This is just one more reason to consider GPR when looking to your next hospital project. Our company performs Ground Penetrating Radar System work at hospitals daily and there is an increasing trend that Ground Penetrating Radar, or concrete scanning, is specified as standard procedure prior to core drilling, saw cutting, or making any penetrations in concrete slabs or walls.

Jason Schaff runs GPRS operations in the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington and Las Cruces New Mexico. He can be reached at 505-250-6742 or by email at Jason.Schaff@gp-radar.com.