Utility Scanning at Michigan International Speedway

On October 26 Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc. was contracted by GEM Industrial to perform a radar utility scan of the infield at Michigan International Speedway. MIS, recently under new ownership, was updating the infield facilities while repaving the racing surface.

GEM needed to dig several trenches across the infield to update the sewers for the infield bathrooms and lay electrical lines to keep up with the level of service NASCAR expects. This
was complicated by years of abandoned telephone and electric line from television crews and
the track itself. 

The combination of 400 MHz ground penetrating radar antenna and radio detection proved effective. Over the course of two days, GPRS technician Mike Ziems was able to accurately map the location of all existing utilities along the purposed path of the new trenches. The use of GPR technology saved GEM time and money by locating areas where caution was needed, and allowing them to dig with confidence where there were no obstructions.