ACM Plumbing Contractors GPR Project, Miami, FL

When ACM Plumbing Contractors of Hialeah, FL needed to locate the existing underground utilities around two grease pits at high schools in Miami, FL they contacted GPRS, Inc of Orlando, FL.  ACM has a contract to remove and replace the existing grease traps at the schools and prior to demolition, excavation, and construction they wanted to determine what underground utilities might need to be accounted for.  ACM originally searched and found Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc. on the internet at www.gp-radar.com .  Once on the website they learned of GPR’s ability to locate underground utilities and contacted the Ground Penetrating Radar System’s local office in Orlando, FL.  This is a great application for GPR because the technology not only allows us to pin point the exact location of potential conduits and utilities but also provides an approximate depth to the top of the pipe located.  Radar provides the approximate depth which in turn lets the concrete cutting company know where they need to raise or lower their saw blades to avoid costly and dangerous utility strikes. 

On site GPRS surveyed both grease pit areas at each school and located all underground utilities painting each on the surface for future reference.  This work was completed by Chris Moore with GPRS.  Chris also marked each line with an estimated depth to the top of each pipe found.  GPRS was also able to survey grease pit areas to determine if there was any live power in the area.  This was accomplished using an RD-4000 (radio detection unit).  At least two live power locations were found and the marked.  All in all the survey was a success and ACM Plumbing was able to continue their project planning and scheduling using the utility information provided by ground penetrating radar.

Chris Moore runs GPRS operations in the South Eastern United States.  He is based in Orlando, FL and he can be reached at (321)331.2127 or by email at chris.moore@gp-radar.com. Concrete scanning and surveying is a common application performed by the GPR technicians at GPRS.

This picture shows Chris scanning the grease pit area.  The green lines represent the sanitary/grease lines running to the pit.

This picture shows Chris double checking his marks defining the total size of the grease pit.  You can also see a green sanitary/grease line running from the tank.