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Soil borings may have the word “boring” in the name, but GPRS Project Manager Andrew Heine’s job at the Philadelphia International Airport was anything but that.
After working with a local general contractor, James J. Anderson Construction, Heine was called back to work on one of their larger projects that needed a quick turnaround.
The client planned to perform 128 soil borings around three of the airport’s taxiways, which are pathways that allow planes to move between runways, terminals, hangars, and parking areas. The purpose of the borings was to run environmental tests on the soil to determine if any areas were compromised by hazardous chemicals. These tests were the first steps in a restoration project for the airport.
“They'll bring those soil borings back to the lab and test them for contamination, but they really want to redo some of these taxiways because they're getting old,” Heine explained. “So, it's like the groundwork for this future project.”
Heine was tasked with scanning the areas the GC chose to drill to locate and map any underground utilities or infrastructure in their planned pathways. The airport also had to remain in operation, which posed an extra challenge for Heine and his team, but they were up for it.
“We had escorts making sure we weren't in the way of any planes and they're real strict about that for good reason,” Heine explained. “So that was part of the challenge since we could work some of the time. A lot of times we had to get out of the way, but we were able to make it happen.”
Despite the added challenges of working near active runways, Heine couldn’t help but be in awe of where his work with GPRS brought him that day.
“So, it's on the taxiways and there are challenges with that as far as where we can be and where you can't be, but it's kind of cool to look at all the planes go by.”
The client marked out each planned coring location with orange spray paint or flags. Heine could then begin scanning the areas while marking his findings with paint and flags too.
“While we were there, the customer marked out their borings in orange. Then we scanned it and made sure they wouldn’t hit anything within a 10-foot radius,” Heine explained. “So, we scan around it to make sure that there's no conflict and nothing gets hit. Then, when we're done, we put this white box around it, saying that we scanned it, and you guys are good to go.”
During Heine’s investigation, he found some underground infrastructure that was directly in the path of some of the client’s planned drilling locations.
Referring to the photo above, Heine said, “That's a [power] line, and that's pretty much right on [the core location]. So, I think if we weren't there, they would have hit that line for sure. If they just did it anyway [without GPRS], they would have hit a few things.”
Without the help of GPRS’ 99.8% accurate scans, they would have most likely hit that power line and possibly hit other underground utilities and infrastructure as well. Doing so would not only delay the project and potentially affect flight schedules; it could have put the lives of the workers at risk.
Heine has been a Project Manager with GPRS for over five years and this is the largest soil boring job he’s had to date.
“That’s a lot, that’s the most I’ve ever done,” Heine said.
The client gave Heine short notice and needed a quick turnaround, but with the help of GPRS Project Manager Trainee Carlos Hernandez, they were able to provide the GC with what they needed in a timely and efficient manner.
“This [job] took six and a half days, and we finished it early,” Heine explained. “Actually, I had a trainee with me who made it go a lot more quickly. We were ahead of schedule, and it was a pretty smooth operation.”
All of Heine’s findings were then secured and delivered via SiteMap® (patent pending) to provide the client with a record of their existing private and public utilities on site that they could securely access 24/7.
How Proper Utility Locating Enhances Soil Boring Safety and Accuracy
Soil borings are a common method used for Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs). These assessments are done by drilling into soil to properly understand the subsurface conditions of a property just like the airport did above.
Drilling of any kind carries inherent risks which is why the incorporation of utility locating in the planning process is vital.
Hiring professionals like GPRS to locate underground utilities can prevent utility strikes, protect personnel and equipment, improve the accuracy of the samples taken, and reduce project delays.
Some of the best practices that maximize the benefits of utility locating during these assessments are:
- Schedule utility locating services before fieldwork begins
- Follow the ground disturbance policy, also called the dig policy of the general contractor
- Use SIM-certified professionals like GPRS, who use multiple technologies to verify findings
- Maintain clear records of all markings, maps, and findings from the utility locating phase
- Communicate any hazards to the drill crews
- Re-evaluate if boring locations shift or the scope of work changes
Based around the requirements of Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM), GPRS offers complimentary ground disturbance policy reviews for general contractors as part of our ultimate pursuit: 100% subsurface damage prevention.
With GPRS’ 99.8% accurate concrete and underground utility scans, you can drill with confidence and keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment?
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a preliminary, non-intrusive investigation to identify potential environmental risks or recognized environmental conditions (RECs) through records reviews, site inspections, and interviews. If RECs are identified, a Phase II ESA is conducted as a more detailed, intrusive investigation involving soil, groundwater, or air sampling to confirm and characterize contamination. While Phase I focuses on identifying potential risks, Phase II provides concrete data to guide remediation or determine the extent of contamination.
What is Subsurface Investigation Methodology?
Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) is a standard operating procedure and set of professional specifications that work as a guide for utility locating experts when scanning for buried utility lines. All GPRS Project Managers are required to achieve SIM 101 certification, which requires 80 hours of hands-on training in a classroom setting and 320 hours of mentorship in the field. For reference, the American Society for Nondestructive Testing’s (ASNT) minimum training recommendation includes eight hours for training and 60 hours practicing GPR to achieve NDT Level 1 certification in ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanning.
SIM requires the use of multiple, complementary technologies, like GPR scanning and electromagnetic (EM) locating, when locating buried utilities or scanning a concrete slab.
