When GameTime designs a playground installation, they have to concerns regarding underground utilities. First, that when they dig the footers for the equipment, they do not cut or damage any underground utilities, especially high voltage electric lines. Second, that the playground will never have to be removed if any work needs to be done on underground utilities in the future. In order to properly access the design parameters of a new playground in Knoxville, Tennessee, GameTime contacted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems in Charlotte, North Carolina. On site GPRS was able to precisely identify and locate the underground utilities on the as-built drawings, as well as several which were not shown on the as-builts, including some power lines and storm drains. Furthermore, because there is no radiation hazard associated with GPR, the scanning could take place during a normal working day without removing any employees from the premises.

Mitch Ross runs GPRS operations in the Mid-Atlantic Region, including East Tennessee. He is based in Charlotte, NC and he can be reached at (704)501-7089 or by email at mitch.ross@gp-radar.com. Underground utility scanning for the purpose of locating, identifying, and finding the depth of underground utilities is a common service performed by the GPR technicians at GPRS.