UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CONDUIT
LOCATING GPR PROJECT JULY 2009

It was a busy Wednesday afternoon when the phone rang. The University of Michigan was calling about a job they needed to have a concrete slab checked for conduits prior to saw cutting. The University of Michigan needed it done a.s.a.p. to keep the project moving forward without more delays. Based on previous projects, it was imperative to have the concrete checked prior so that no conduits would be cut and damaged.

John Kessinger from GPRS, Inc. mobilized to the University of Michigan site the next morning. It is common for clients to contact us and need us to mobilize on short notice and this is something GPRS prides itself in providing. It was a good thing they called Ground Penetrating Radar Systems too because even though the area was smaller than most, 7 conduits were detected at the bottom of the concrete that would have been cut. GPRS was also able to tell the conduits were “live circuits” from the Radio Detection equipment that was utilized on the job.

All GPRS technicians carry Radio Detection equipment to supplement the ground penetrating radar findings.  Radio Detection equipment has the ability to passively sweep an area and tell if there are “live circuits”, whether electrical or telecommunication conduit. It also has the ability to actively locate metallic pipe or wire that our transmitter can connect and induce a signal for a trace.

The picture above shows GPRS technician John Kessinger scanning the concrete slab with the ground penetrating radar. The white duct tape in the background is where electrical conduits were detected in the concrete slab.

The picture above shows the Radio Detection equipment that was swept through the area to help determine if the conduits were “live circuits”.

John Kessinger runs operations in Michigan and can be reached at 734.377.4551 or by email at john.kessinger@gp-radar.com