industry insights

Sanitary sewer overflows are a significant public health and environmental concern, posing severe risks to communities and ecosystems.

The recent incident in Valdosta, Georgia, where a sewer line collapse released 100,000 gallons of sewage into the Withlacoochee River, underscores the urgent need for addressing aging infrastructure and implementing effective management strategies to prevent such occurrences.

The Incident in Valdosta

On January 10, 2024, utility personnel in Valdosta were dispatched to investigate an overflowing sanitary sewer manhole at 213 Knob Hill Drive. The overflow was traced back to a significant sewer line collapse on Williamsburg Drive.

This collapse caused an uncontrolled release of approximately 100,000 gallons of untreated sewage into a drainage ditch, which eventually flowed into the Withlacoochee River, one of the few undammed rivers left in the United States and a key tourism destination for kayakers and other water recreation enthusiasts. The emergency response involved the rapid installation of a bypass pump system, allowing for temporary redirection of the sewage and enabling repairs. The overflow was halted in the early hours of January 12, 2024.

The Dangers of Sanitary Sewer Overflows

Public Health Risks

Sanitary sewer overflows can have dire consequences for public health. The release of untreated sewage into the environment exposes communities to harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These pathogens can cause a range of illnesses, from mild gastrointestinal issues to severe diseases like hepatitis and cholera. Ingesting or coming into contact with contaminated water poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of sanitary sewer overflows is profound. Untreated sewage contains not only pathogens but also nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can lead to eutrophication of water bodies. This process depletes oxygen levels in the water, causing fish kills and disrupting aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, the presence of chemicals and heavy metals in sewage can contaminate soil and water, posing long-term ecological threats. In the Valdosta incident, the Withlacoochee River, an essential waterway, faced potential degradation due to the massive influx of contaminants.

Economic Consequences

The economic ramifications of sanitary sewer overflows are substantial. Cleanup efforts are costly, involving not only the removal of sewage and contaminated materials but also the restoration of affected areas. Sanitary sewer overflows can also lead to regulatory fines and increased scrutiny from environmental agencies, placing financial strain on municipalities. Furthermore, the degradation of natural resources, such as fisheries and recreational areas, can impact local economies dependent on these assets.

Addressing Aging Infrastructure

The Valdosta incident highlights a critical issue faced by many cities: aging infrastructure. Many sewer systems in the United States are decades old and have not been adequately maintained or upgraded to meet current demands. Aging pipes are prone to cracks, blockages, and collapses, leading to sanitary sewer overflows. The need for investment in infrastructure is paramount. Municipalities must allocate resources to inspect, repair, and replace deteriorating sewer lines. Implementing modern technologies, such as trenchless pipe repair methods, can reduce costs and minimize disruptions during maintenance.

In a press release issued a few days after the sewer overflow occurred, the City of Valdosta Utilities Department said that it is “currently updating aging infrastructure, managing various programs, and developing new action plans to limit and prevent sanitary sewer overflows in Valdosta.”

“The City of Valdosta continues to dedicate significant resources into preventing Sanitary Sewer overflows,” the city said in the release, via Valdosta Today. “Currently the Utilities department is not only updating aging infrastructure, but also managing a multitude of programs and developing new plans of action to limit and prevent Sanitary Sewer overflows in the City of Valdosta…”

Effective Management Programs

To prevent sanitary sewer overflows, cities must develop and implement comprehensive management programs. These programs should include regular maintenance schedules, prompt response protocols for potential overflows, and robust monitoring systems. The use of advanced monitoring technologies, such as real-time sensors and data analytics, can help detect early signs of sewer line issues and prevent overflows before they occur. Training utility personnel and ensuring they have the necessary resources to respond swiftly to emergencies is also crucial.

Developing New Action Plans

The Valdosta incident underscores the necessity for new action plans to address the challenges of maintaining a reliable sewage system. These plans should focus on:

• ‍Risk Assessment: Identifying high-risk areas within the sewer network and prioritizing them for inspection and maintenance.
• ‍Investment in Technology: Utilizing state-of-the-art technologies for monitoring, maintenance, and repair of sewer lines.
• ‍Community Engagement: Educating the public about the causes and consequences of SSOs and encouraging practices that reduce the risk of blockages, such as proper disposal of fats, oils, and greases.
• ‍Emergency Response Preparedness: Developing and regularly updating emergency response plans to ensure quick and effective action in the event of an overflow.

Sanitary sewer overflows pose serious health, environmental, and economic risks. The recent incident in Valdosta serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within our sewer infrastructure and the urgent need for proactive measures.

By investing in aging infrastructure, implementing effective management programs, and developing comprehensive action plans, cities can mitigate the dangers of sanitary sewer overflows and protect their communities and environments from the detrimental effects of untreated sewage. As we move forward, it is imperative that municipalities prioritize the maintenance and modernization of their sewer systems to prevent future incidents and ensure a safe and healthy living environment for all residents.

Let GPRS Help You Prevent Sanitary Sewer Overflows

GPRS’ Video Pipe Inspection Services help prevent sanitary sewer overflows by using industry-leading, remote-controlled sewer pipe inspection rovers and push-fed scopes equipped with CCTV cameras and sondes: instrument probes that allow for the mapping of buried infrastructure using electromagnetic (EM) locating.

Our NASSCO-certified technicians scope your sewers to locate clogs, identify cross bores, find structural defects & damages, and conduct lateral sewer line inspections. GPRS provides comprehensive, interactive reporting that details every inch of your pipes to help you plan repairs, maintain your system integrity, and mitigate risk.

From sewer lines to skyscrapers, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Video Pipe Inspection (VPI)?

Video Pipe Inspection or VPI is a sewer inspection service provided by GPRS that utilizes CCTV camera-equipped, remote-controlled rovers and push-fed scopes to mitigate or prevent infrastructure damage by inspecting underground sewer and lateral pipelines. GPRS’ NASSCO-certified Project Managers can locate clogs, investigate cross bores, find structural faults and damages, and conduct lateral sewer line inspections.

What size pipes can GPRS inspect?

Our VPI Project Managers have the capabilities to inspect pipes from 2” in diameter and up.

Can you locate pipes in addition to evaluating their integrity?

Yes! Our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers use VPI technology equipped with sondes: instrument probes that allow them to ascertain the location of underground utilities using electromagnetic (EM) locating. This means we can map your sewer system at the same time we’re evaluating it for defects.

Applications for 3D Laser Scanning

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Laser scanning is applicable in many industries due to its precision, efficiency, and versatility. By employing this 3D technology at the onset of a project, AEC professionals can capture and access precise data, drawings, and models to minimize conflicts and expedite design planning, prefabrication, asset management, and facility modifications. Below are ten useful applications for 3D laser scanning.

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1. Building Renovations

3D laser scanning documents the as-built details of a building, capturing the exact layout, dimensions, and locations of architectural, structural, MEP features, walls, windows, doors, stairs, roof, railings, exposed columns, beams, equipment, piping, ducts, and more. The technology delivers contractors and engineers precise point clouds that can be exported and crafted into 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models to ensure that planned renovations seamlessly integrate with the building's existing structure.

By overlaying proposed renovation plans onto the 3D scan data, potential conflicts or clashes can be identified and addressed early in the planning phase. Whether you’re renovating a stadium, theatre, historic building, church, school, etc., 3D laser scanning provides comprehensive as-built data for any site, adding value to the planning, design, and execution phases of any renovation project.

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2. Architectural Design

3D laser scanning aids in the architectural design process by delivering accurate existing conditions to create design models, monitor construction progress, and verify as-built accuracy. 3D laser scanning quickly and accurately provides comprehensive as-built documentation of a building or site unmatched by other technologies. In most cases, point clouds are accurate to 2-4mm, and the as-builts created from those LiDAR scans are accurate to 6mm.

From walls and windows to HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing features, 3D laser scanning can accurately identify and document all visible elements of a structure. 3D laser scanning lets your architectural team focus on design rather than capturing and modeling existing conditions.

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3. Maintenance, Retrofitting, or Expansion of a Power Plant

As power plants evolve to meet changing regulatory requirements or adopt new technologies, retrofitting existing infrastructure is often necessary. 3D laser scanning provides highly detailed and accurate representations of the plant's as-built conditions, including structural components, equipment, piping, boilers, generators, turbines, pumps, condensers, heat exchangers, and more.

This comprehensive documentation serves as a reliable reference for maintenance, retrofitting, and future expansion projects. Precise 2D CAD drawings and 3D building information models (BIM) provide data for engineers to plan new designs around existing infrastructure, mitigating potential clashes and interferences. 3D laser scanning allows engineers and maintenance personnel to conduct virtual walkthroughs of the plant without physically entering hazardous areas. Also, by identifying areas prone to corrosion, wear, or structural degradation, proactive maintenance schedules can be developed to prevent unplanned downtime and extend the lifespan of critical components.

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4. Modifications, Expansion, or Maintenance of a Manufacturing Plant

As-built data of existing structures, equipment, piping, or manufacturing processes can be precisely captured with 3D laser scanning for facility modifications, expansions, and maintenance. Intelligent 3D models can be created from the point cloud data for planning, fabrication, and clash-detection. Verified accurate measurements will aid in production, machinery, or process changes to optimize plant layouts. Virtual fit-outs guarantee installations will integrate seamlessly with existing conditions, comply with safety regulations, and reduce risk.

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5. Measure Floor Flatness and Floor Levelness

3D laser scanning is the best way to measure floor flatness (FF) and floor levelness (FL) with precision, efficiency, and accuracy. Highly detailed point cloud data from 3D laser scanning can be used to determine FF and FL values on concrete floor and flatwork.

Color elevation maps can be quickly produced from the point cloud data to visualize floor flatness and identify the high and low points in concrete and calculate the boundaries of any areas that need to be adjusted. The data points collected maintain their coordinates and can be easily communicated to the project team. Fast and accurate cut and fill calculations can be computed.

Contractors can fix elevation discrepancies with speed and accuracy. Laser scanning produces a colorized elevation map of the entire floor. This way if questions arise, stakeholders can be educated on the standards and the project is validated with data.

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6. Create a Digital Twin 3D Model

A digital twin is a 3D model that accurately represents a building or site’s existing physical space, assets, and processes. It is a real-time, accurate digital representation of the existing conditions of every component and system, including architectural, structural, and MEP features, walls, windows, doors, stairs, roof, railings, exposed columns, beams, equipment, piping, ducts, utility and concrete locate markings, and more. Clients can virtually walk-through a project site to plan for building improvements, increase efficiencies, and optimize workflows.

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7. Retrofitting Pipes and Equipment into an Existing Facility

When plants retrofit new piping, equipment, vessels, valves, and flanges, etc., into an existing facility, it’s important they have accurate existing conditions data to complete virtual interference checks and ensure there are no clashes. The infrastructure of agricultural facilities, water and wastewater treatment plants, healthcare and pharmaceutical facilities, energy and utility companies, oil and gas facilities, government and defense facilities, telecom companies, etc., can be captured with 2–4-millimeter accuracy. With careful planning and the as-built data, 2D CAD drawings and 3D models created from 3D laser scan data, new designs can be precisely engineered, minimizing installation delays, rework, change orders, and costs.

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8. Obtain 2D CAD Drawings for a Building Permit

To get a building permit, you will need to submit a set of construction documents that show the details and specifications of your design. 3D laser scanning captures 2-4mm accurate layout, dimensions, and locations of your project requirements in the form of a point cloud. Point clouds can be transformed into custom deliverables such as 2D CAD drawings, site plans, plan views, floor plans, elevations, sections, details, isometric drawings, and reflected ceiling plans to obtain a building permit.

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9. Obtain a 3D Mesh Model

3D mesh models are highly detailed and realistic renderings of buildings, objects, or sites and are often used in areas where high image quality and accuracy are required, such as in the film and video game industry, architectural visualization, or product design. The point cloud from 3D laser scanning can be used to create a volumetrically accurate, high density and high resolution .fbx, .stl, .obj, and .ply mesh model. Meshes allow users to view the object’s geometry inside a CAD environment without having to navigate a point cloud. Meshes capture the fine elements and spatial details of objects, such as airplanes, cars, boats, monuments, and statues that can be difficult to reproduce in CAD. Mesh files of stadiums and arenas have been used to develop mixed reality experiences during sporting events.

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10. Update P&IDs

A piping and instrumentation diagram, or P&ID, is a schematic drawing of instruments, control systems, and pipelines used in any process development plant. It depicts the connection between piping, equipment, vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, instruments, valves, and process components. P&IDs are applied to industrial and engineering projects, such as steam and electric boilers, and display piping components, such as valves and equipment. 3D laser scanning can accurately capture the as-built conditions of a plant and create a 2D CAD drawing or 3D BIM model to document the existing P&ID equipment, piping, and the flow of control and control devices. It can be used for referencing the process plant and is also used for modification and maintenance.

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The GPRS Difference. Why Choose GPRS?

Accurate measurements help you avoid expensive mistakes, reworks, and change orders. GPRS 3D laser scanning services provide 2-4mm accurate existing conditions site documentation for efficient planning, design, and construction.

GPRS’ elite team of Project Managers efficiently 3D laser scans the exterior and interior of each site with professional-grade Leica laser scanners, capturing the exact layout, dimensions, and locations of your specific project requirements, such as architectural, structural, and MEP features, walls, windows, doors, stairs, roof, railings, exposed columns, beams, equipment, piping, ducts, and more.

Our Mapping & Modeling Team registers and processes the point cloud, removing noise and setting the coordinate system to provide the most precise measurements. Data is then compiled into custom 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models and delivered via SiteMap®. SiteMap® is a free cloud-based software that delivers point cloud data, 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models, all in one platform.

What can we help you visualize?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is BIM?

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling and is more than just a 3D model. 3D BIM scanning gives engineers the ability to manage the building data throughout its whole life-cycle. It provides accurate spatial relationships and manufacturer details, as well as geographic information and other pertinent aspects of a building or site.

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What is a Digital Twin?

A digital twin is highly complex virtual model that is the exact counterpart (or twin) of a physical space. GPRS uses 3D laser scanners to collect real-time data for a building or facility and create a digital duplicate. Data can be easily visualized, measured, and analyzed. Digital twins can be used to improve efficiencies, optimize workflows, and detect problems before they occur.

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What is Floor Flatness and Floor Levelness?

Floor flatness refers to the smoothness of the concrete surface. It measures the degree to which a floor is free of bumps and dips over a small area. The flatness is quantified using the Floor Flatness Number (FF), which is calculated based on the variation in elevation over a certain distance. A higher FF number indicates a smoother floor. Floor levelness, on the other hand, pertains to the extent to which a floor conforms to a horizontal plane over a larger area. It measures the overall slope and waviness of the floor. The levelness is quantified using the Floor Levelness Number (FL), which is calculated based on the floor's deviation from a horizontal plane over longer distances. A higher FL number indicates a more level floor.

Concrete is a fundamental material in construction, known for its durability and strength. However, over time, concrete can develop various issues such as voids, cracks, spalling, and honeycombing, which can compromise the structural integrity of a building. Detecting these problems early is crucial for maintenance and safety. Among the various techniques available for this purpose, ground penetrating radar (GPR), ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV)/Tomography, and X-Ray imaging are prominent. This article explores these methods in detail, comparing their effectiveness in locating voids in concrete, and considering the various reinforcements present in different types of concrete slabs.

Understanding Concrete Deterioration & Defects

Before delving into the detection methods, it's essential to understand the most common types of concrete defects and deterioration, their causes, and their effect on concrete imaging and structural analysis:

Voids: These are air pockets or gaps within the concrete that occur during the pouring process. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s office of Administration Research & Technology, they are defined as “an empty space, other than a crack, in the cement paste that contains nothing but air.” While in some instances, under specific calculations (i.e., hybrid concrete construction – HCC), they can be desirable, for the most part, voids can weaken the structural integrity and serve as initiation points for cracks.

Cracks: Cracks can develop due to thermal expansion, shrinkage, or external loads. They can range from hairline cracks to significant fissures that threaten the stability of the structure. Often, they are readily apparent on the surface, but that surface crack usually does not tell the whole story. Cracks allow water to enter the cured concrete, increasing deterioration, corrosion & rust (in reinforced slabs), and trapping mold.

Spalling: This refers to the flaking (delaminating) of concrete from its substrate, often caused by freeze-thaw cycles, corrosion of embedded reinforcements, or chemical reactions. Concrete cancer refers to the interior corrosion of concrete that is often not observable to the naked eye until the rust and deterioration are advanced and the structure at risk.  

Cold Joints: These occur when there is a delay between successive pours of concrete, where one layer has begun to cure before the next is added, leading to weak or nonexistent bonding between the layers. However, cold joints can also form merely from insufficient consolidation of concrete materials.

Honeycombing: Honeycombing is a condition where hardened concrete seems porous, with evident holes (voids or cavities) that resembling a honeycomb. This defect can be seen by the naked eye as pitting when occurring on the surface, or by ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) or tomographic imaging below it. Improper compaction or inadequate vibration during the pouring process cause this issue. Honeycombing not only affects the aesthetic appeal but also reduces the strength and durability of the concrete.

Reinforcement Issues: As previously mentioned, depending on the slab type, reinforcements such as post-tension cables, rebar, steel mesh, pan decking, or reinforced prefabricated slabs can all complicate void creation, internal concrete deterioration, and assessment, with internal corrosion/rust that can expedite the structural failure of a slab.

How Do You Find Voids in Concrete?

There are various methods of internal concrete slab assessment. Each has its own strengths and limitations, so it is important to choose the correct technology and tools for the job at hand. For instance, X-ray technology may provide clarity in an area where there is no concern about radiation or worker safety, but UPV, or the “heat map” qualities of tomography, might benefit a contractor, engineer, or architect concerned about structural stability.

While GPRS does not guarantee void location, we are often asked to assess concrete for potential voids and enjoy a high rate of success because of the exceptional training and experience of our Project Managers in the field.  

The most common tools to assess potential concrete voids are ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanning and imaging, ultrasonic pulse velocity testing, tomography, and X-ray imaging.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

GPR is a non-destructive testing method that uses electromagnetic waves to image the subsurface.

A GPR device emits high-frequency radio waves into the concrete. These waves “bounce” back to the surface when they encounter a boundary between different materials (e.g., air and concrete). These “bounces” are captured on a mobile device screen as hyperbolas. Various types of materials create variations in thickness, frequency, and color of the hyperbolas which can only be interpreted correctly by a highly experienced subsurface concrete scanning professional. The variations can indicate the presence of potential voids, cracks, or other anomalies, as well as providing precise locations of concrete reinforcements and embedments like conduit, MPE features, rebar, and post tension cables.

Advantages

Non-Invasive: GPR does not require drilling or cutting into the concrete to “see” its interior.

Safety: Unlike X-ray imaging, there is no health or material risk from radiation because it is a non-destructive assessment tool.

Versatility: Ground penetrating radar can be used to detect a wide range of issues and features, including potential voids, and can more accurately find a wide variety of concrete reinforcements and subsurface features.

Speed & Accuracy: GPR surveys can be conducted relatively quickly, providing immediate results via field markings. GPR is most often used to find appropriate clearances for cutting, sawing, or drilling concrete, and those markings can be captured via 3D photogrammetry or laser scanning to create 2D CAD drawings or 3D models of the interior of a concrete slab for planning, design, and construction engineering purposes.

Limitations

Signal Interpretation: The accuracy of GPR depends on the operator's expertise in interpreting the signals. That’s why all 500 of GPRS’ seasoned Project Managers must complete SIM certification before working in the field. SIM stands for Subsurface Investigation Methodology, and is the most exacting standard in the industry, requiring 80 hours of classroom instruction and 320 hours of mentored field work for level 101 certification.

Depth Limitations: The depth of penetration is limited by the frequency of the radar waves, with higher frequencies providing better resolution but shallower penetration.

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) and Tomography

UPV involves sending ultrasonic waves through the concrete and measuring the travel time to determine the concrete's integrity. Tomography extends this concept by creating a detailed image of the internal structure.

To conduct a UPV assessment, ultrasonic transducers are placed on the concrete surface. One transducer emits pulses, and the other receives the transmitted waves. The travel time of the pulses is measured to create an image of the interior of the slab. Longer travel times indicate the presence of voids, cracks, honeycombing, or other defects that slow down the wave propagation. Reading and interpreting UPV technology outputs requires advanced training and experience that most concrete imaging companies simply do not have.

Advantages

Detailed Imaging: Tomography provides a detailed, three-dimensional image of the concrete's internal structure. It is sometimes described as a “heat map” of the concrete’s interior, where color and intensity provide data on the stability of the slab.

Accuracy: UPV is effective in detecting voids, cracks, honeycombing, and other defects.

Safety: UPV and Tomography are both non-destructive assessment techniques and do not pose a risk to the technicians or workers in the area of its use.

Limitations

Access: Both sides of the concrete element are typically required for accurate measurements, which may not always be feasible.

Training & Availability: As previously noted, applying and interpreting the results of these technologies requires advanced training and experience. Because of its specialized requirements, it may be difficult to locate a professional structural analysis tester who utilizes UPV.

X-Ray Imaging

X-Ray imaging uses radiation to create detailed images of the concrete's internal structure. An X-ray source and detector are placed on opposite sides of the concrete. The X-rays pass through the concrete, and variations in density are captured on the detector. While this method does create a more nuanced image, much like we see in medicine, it is cumbersome to execute, brings with it nuclear radiation and the risks associated with it, and requires more time to receive your results.

The resulting images show variances in shades of gray, indicating areas of varying density. Voids, cracks, honeycombing, and reinforcements can be clearly visualized, as can reinforcements and embedments.

Advantages

High Resolution: X-Ray imaging provides high-resolution images that can clearly show voids, cracks, honeycombing, and reinforcements.

Precision: It is highly accurate in detecting and characterizing internal defects.

Limitations

Safety Concerns: While X-ray is technically non-destructive, it involves exposure to radiation, necessitating strict safety protocols for both workers and sensitive materials.

Cost, Time, and Equipment: The equipment is expensive and requires specialized operators, and developing the X-ray images takes more time than the almost instant outputs received from GPR or UPV.

The Role of Concrete Reinforcements

The presence of reinforcements in concrete slabs are designed to strengthen the material and give it longer life. However, the presence of moisture within the concrete, leeching in from cracks, cold joints, voids, or even from the openings surrounding the reinforcements themselves can significantly impact the speed of concrete deterioration. Let's consider three common types of reinforced slabs:

1. Post-Tensioned Slabs: These post tension (PT) slabs contain tensioned cables that provide additional strength The cables are generally deployed in plastic sleeves to reduce their corrosive impact. The high density of the cables make them easy for GPR and other imaging devices to see, which can make it challenging to detect voids near the cables. UPV and X-Ray imaging are less affected by the presence of cables but still require careful interpretation.

2. Pan Decking: This type of reinforced slab involves a metal deck that serves as a formwork for the poured concrete. The metal can shows up easily on GPR and X-ray imaging. UPV is less affected, but the presence of metal can still complicate a void assessment.

3. Prefabricated Slabs: These are manufactured off-site and contain reinforcements already embedded, like rebar. The uniformity of these slabs can make it easier for GPR and UPV to detect anomalies, but X-ray imaging remains the most effective due to its high resolution. However, its safety drawbacks, cost, and delayed results weigh against it.

Outcome

Choosing the right method for locating potential voids in concrete depends on various factors, including the type of deterioration, the presence of reinforcements and their condition, and the specific requirements of the project. Ground penetrating radar is versatile and fast, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, though it requires expert interpretation. UPV and Tomography provide detailed images, but can be labor-intensive and require unimpeded access to both sides of the concrete. X-Ray imaging offers high precision, but involves significant safety and time considerations, and costs.

By understanding the strengths and limitations of each method, engineers and construction professionals can make informed decisions to ensure the longevity and safety of concrete structures.

GPRS specializes in Intelligently Visualizing The Built World® for our customers. What can we help you visualize?

Imagine you’re on the job, working with sharp or hazardous materials, in gloves that are two sizes too big. Or, what if you were sawing into concrete and the respirator you’re required to wear won’t even fit over your head? If you’re like most of the construction workforce, you’d be tempted to ditch the PPE and get the work done.

For about 10% of the construction industry, ill-fitting Personal Protective Equipment is an everyday occurrence, leading to accidents, injuries, and cementing the idea that your employer is not committed to your personal safety.

That’s why in 2023, The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its intent to clarify its rules for Personal Protective Equipment for General Industry Standard.

Specifically, they are clarifying the rules change first proposed in 2016 to the Standards Improvement Project IV (SIP-IV) to explicitly state that PPE must fit properly.

While language regarding the proper fit of PPE exists in current 29 CFR 1926.95 requirements, it states that “PPE be provided by an employer in a reliable condition, that employee-owned PPE be adequate, and that PPE be of safe design,” but does not explicitly state that the adequacy of the PPE includes fitting properly.

The rules change is being undertaken to ensure that “the requirement is clear and more understandable for the industry to ensure workers of all sizes have appropriate PPE.”

OSHA does single out the increase in women in construction as part of their description of “smaller construction workers” for whom the one-size-fits-all PPE approach puts at risk. However, it’s important to note that proper PPE fit is not limited to smaller workers, although they are the ones expected to reap the most benefit from the rule clarification.

A public comment period on the clarification was held through September 18, 2023. Stakeholders, specifically OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), recommended the rule clarification. Industry publication Construction Dive wrote about the need for proper PPE fit in support of the effort, and construction advocates like The Safety Rack and North America’s Building Trades Union (NABTU) supported the proposal.

“This minor regulation clarification means that construction workers will be afforded PPE that fits their various sizes and will improve safety for all workers in our industry. This is a huge positive change for tradeswomen and other trade professional workers who wear different sizes,” Sean McGarvey of NABTU told Construction Dive.

The Safety Rack’s mission is “PPE Equity for Women” to “Ensure Safety for Women in the Workplace.” To that end, they’ve pioneered the #mybodymyppe campaign, which held a week-long awareness-raising event that began April 29, 2024. Their founder, Amy Roosa, weighed in on the rule in July of 2023, saying, “My initial reaction is that this is very positive. That’s the biggest struggle we’re seeing is [PPE] properly fitting women in the construction industry, and this rule proposal has the potential to change that for us.”

What Will PPE That Fits Cost?

The rules proposal from OSHA puts the transitional expense to the construction industry at $545,000. That is arguably a drop in the bucket compared to the annual cost of accidents and PPE failures industry-wide, which are approximately $11.5 billion according to the National Institutes of Health, and the rule clarification cost could impact that larger figure by limiting accidents and injuries caused by ill-fitting equipment.

That $545,000 is considered by OSHA as a one-time expense, whereas the cost of construction injuries in the billions is annual, with $7 billion in non-fatal injuries and $4 billion calculated as the cost of accident-related construction deaths.

Valuing Every Voice in Safety

2024’s Construction Safety Week theme was Value Every Voice, to urge employers, safety directors, and industry leaders to listen and engage with their workers. GPRS is a long-time Construction Safety Week sponsor, and has conducted more than 200 educational sessions on jobsites across the nation in 2024 alone, focusing on personal responsibility as a key driver of construction safety.

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There is nothing more personal to a construction worker than the equipment that keeps them safe. So, making sure their PPE fits and protects them properly is perhaps the most valuable tool for keeping jobsites safe, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of PPE are commonly used in construction?

Common types of PPE in construction include:

• Hard hats/Safety Helmets: Protect the head from falling objects and impact

• Safety Glasses and Face Shields: Protect the eyes from dust, debris, and chemical splashes

• Hearing Protection: Earplugs or earmuffs to protect against loud noise

• Gloves: Protect hands from cuts, abrasions, and chemical exposure

• Safety Boots: Steel-toed boots to protect feet from crushing injuries and punctures

• High-Visibility Clothing: Enhances visibility to prevent accidents, especially in low-light conditions

• Respirators: Protect against inhaling hazardous dust, fumes, and chemicals

Who is responsible for providing PPE on a construction site?

Employers are generally responsible for providing PPE to their workers at no cost. They must also ensure that the PPE is properly maintained and replaced as needed. Workers are responsible for using PPE correctly and reporting any damage or deficiencies.

Can PPE be shared among workers?

PPE that comes into direct contact with the skin, such as gloves and respirators, should not be shared. If PPE must be shared, it should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between uses to prevent the spread of contaminants and ensure proper hygiene.

Schedule a Safety Week or Toolbox Talk with GPRS and we’ll bring the education to you.

The construction technology (Contech) sector is experiencing a significant uptick in investment, marking a notable shift from last year's trends. Despite a 44% drop in investment in 2023, the first quarter of 2024 has seen a reversal with fewer deals but larger overall investment amounts. This change reflects growing confidence in the sector's potential, particularly in areas like green construction and data-driven solutions.

Trends in Contech Investment

Miguel Carralón, an investment advisor at global building materials company Cemex Ventures, emphasized in a recent report summarized in a Construction Dive article that the decline in investment last year should not be interpreted as a loss of interest from investors. Instead, it was a period of recalibration, setting the stage for more significant investments in late-stage deals and technologies related to sustainability and artificial intelligence in 2024.

Key Areas of Investment

A report from Cemex Ventures categorizes Contech companies into four primary focus areas: enhanced productivity, green construction, construction supply chain, and future construction technologies.

• ‍Enhanced Productivity: This category has been the most active, capturing 54% of total investment dollars. Companies in this segment are developing technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall productivity of construction projects. Innovations include advanced project management tools, automation, and robotics, which are increasingly essential in a sector facing labor shortages and rising material costs.
• ‍Green Construction: With 31% of the funding, green construction is the second most funded category. This area encompasses solutions for decarbonization, carbon capture, sustainable materials, and water conservation. The growing focus on environmental sustainability is driving investment in technologies that can help reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects and promote more eco-friendly building practices.
• ‍Construction Supply Chain: Although only accounting for 8% of total investment, this segment is crucial for improving the logistics and supply chain management in construction. Innovations here aim to streamline the procurement process, enhance material tracking, and optimize supply chain operations to reduce delays and costs.
• ‍Future Construction Technologies: This category, which received 7% of the funding, includes forward-looking technologies that could transform the construction industry in the long term. These might include advancements in 3D printing, new construction materials, and novel building techniques that are still in the experimental or early adoption stages. GPRS’ new 3D visualization products, including WalkThru 3D, ProCap Progressive Capture, FlrPln, and TruBuilt Existing Condition As-Builts are examples of these technologies.

Factors Driving Investment

Several factors are contributing to the renewed interest and increased investment in the Contech sector:

• ‍Economic and Inflationary Pressures: The construction industry is not immune to the broader economic challenges, including inflation and fiscal pressures. Despite the recent easing of inflation, these factors are pushing companies to adopt new technologies that can help mitigate rising costs and improve efficiency.
• ‍Sustainability Goals: There is a growing emphasis on sustainability within the construction industry. Governments and organizations are increasingly setting ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices. This trend is driving investment in green construction technologies that can help achieve these goals. An example of this is CoStar’s recent purchase of Matteport.
• ‍Technological Advancements: Advances in AI, machine learning, and other technologies are opening up new possibilities for the construction industry. These innovations can significantly enhance productivity, improve project outcomes, and reduce environmental impact, making them attractive investment opportunities.
• ‍Venture Capital Dynamics: The venture capital ecosystem is evolving, with investors becoming more selective and strategic in their investments. Instead of spreading their capital thinly across many startups, they are now focusing on fewer, high-potential companies. This approach is leading to larger investment rounds and more significant support for promising technologies.

The Road Ahead

While the first quarter of 2024 has shown promising signs, it is still early to predict the year's overall direction. Carralón suggests that the trends observed in Q1 might continue, with Q2 expected to perform similarly in terms of activity. However, we could see more substantial deals and increased investments in early-stage rounds as the year progresses.

The increase in investment in Contech is a positive sign for the industry, indicating confidence in its growth potential and the value of its innovations. As startups continue to develop and refine their technologies, we can expect further advancements that will transform the construction landscape.

The recent surge in investment in construction technology highlights a growing recognition of the sector's potential to drive significant improvements in productivity, sustainability, and efficiency. Despite the challenges faced in 2023, the first quarter of 2024 has shown a renewed focus on making larger, strategic investments in promising startups. As the industry continues to evolve, the Contech sector is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of construction, offering innovative solutions that address some of the industry's most pressing challenges.

The Contech sector is entering an exciting phase of growth and transformation. With increased investment, particularly in areas like green construction and enhanced productivity, the industry is well-positioned to achieve significant advancements in the coming years. Investors' renewed confidence and strategic focus will be instrumental in driving this progress, ensuring that the construction industry can meet the demands of the future.

GPRS is a Contech company offering infrastructure visualization services such as utility locating, precision concrete scanning & imaging, video pipe inspection, leak detection, 3D laser scanning, and mapping & modeling. We put our field-verified data at your fingertips with SiteMap^® (patent pending), our project & facility management application that provides accurate existing condition documentation to protect your assets and people.

From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Construction Technology (Contech) and why is it important?

Construction technology (Contech) refers to the innovative tools, machinery, modifications, software, and methodologies used during the construction phase of a project to improve efficiency, safety, and productivity. Contech encompasses a wide range of technologies, including Building Information Modeling (BIM), drones, 3D printing, AI, and IoT, among others.

Contech streamlines construction processes, reducing time and labor costs, and enabling faster project completion. Technologies such as wearable safety devices and drones for site inspection help minimize risks and enhance worker safety. Tools like BIM and laser scanning improve accuracy in design and construction, reducing errors and rework.

Contech promotes sustainable practices by optimizing resource use, reducing waste, and facilitating the use of eco-friendly materials. And technologies like IoT and AI provide real-time data and analytics, helping construction managers make informed decisions and improve project outcomes.

Does GPRS Perform S.U.E. Work?

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) reduces the risk and improves the accuracy of subsurface utility readings. It is broken down into four levels of quality, governed by ASCE Standard 38-02. GPRS provides private utility locating services but does not currently provide a fully comprehensive in-house SUE service. GPRS does not provide engineering services. If you need professional engineering services, please contact a professional engineer.

How quickly can GPRS respond to an emergency need?

In most circumstances, we can have a Project Manager on your site within 24 hours of contact. Click here for an online quote form.

In 2023, facilities management teams faced a challenging landscape characterized by high interest rates, ongoing sustainability efforts, and a push for employees to return to the office.

In 2024, the industry is poised for significant changes driven by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and evolving workplace dynamics. Based on insights from industry experts, here are the key trends that are defining facilities management in 2024:

How Generative AI Revolutionizing Building Operations

Generative AI and machine learning are set to transform workplace software, laying the groundwork for future autonomous buildings. While traditional AI has been instrumental in extracting insights from limited datasets based on specific rules, generative AI applications seem ready to revolutionize industries, including real estate, over the next year and beyond.

Technologies leveraging AI to control HVAC systems, building management systems (BMS), and environmental factors based on utilization, weather, and other data types may change how facility managers operate workspaces. AI will provide critical insights that enable organizations to optimize their office spaces, advance net-zero goals, and enhance workplace experiences.

Integrating Compliance with Building and Energy Performance Regulations

Building and energy performance measurement are becoming a reality as compliance periods for regulations like New York City's Local Law 97 take effect. This law mandates significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for buildings over 25,000 square feet, starting in 2024. Building owners, developers, and facilities managers will face the reality of these regulations, leading to increased activity in building assessments, energy audits, and consulting services. The focus will be on learning from the successes and failures of similar initiatives in other regions to drive compliance and sustainability efforts.

Achieving Net-Zero Goals with Advanced Building Management Systems for Efficiency

Updating facility buildings represent a significant opportunity to achieve net-zero goals due to their substantial contribution to emissions and energy use. The adoption of advanced building management systems, improved sensors, and optimization technologies will accelerate. These systems will enhance efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and contribute to net-zero targets. However, achieving these goals will require ongoing innovation and the deployment of new technologies to maximize their impact.

Understanding the Importance of Soft Skills, Data Security, and Face Time

As automation and AI-driven technologies take over manual tasks, the importance of soft skills in facilities management will increase. Human-centric tasks that cannot be automated will become more valuable. Concurrently, the rise of AI will introduce new data privacy and security risks, necessitating heightened data protection measures. Despite the digital transformation, face-to-face interactions will remain crucial for building trust and driving business relationships, emphasizing the need for facilities managers to balance digital and in-person engagements.

Expanding Roles in Planning, Technology, and Talent Management

Facilities managers will see their roles expand, encompassing strategic planning, technology integration, and talent management. Enhanced training and development programs will be essential to equip facilities managers with the skills needed to leverage emerging technologies. They will play a central role in strategic planning, IT security, health, safety, and environmental risk management, as well as HR and portfolio planning. The push for employees to return to the office will create opportunities and challenges, requiring innovative solutions to create effective work environments while managing costs. Additionally, the retirement of experienced facilities managers will necessitate the development of next-generation leaders through training programs and contingency planning.

Collaborating With Building Operators and Tenants

Building operators and tenants will collaborate to make workplaces more attractive and efficient in 2024. Organizations will focus on rightsizing their footprints and deploying physical and technological changes to enhance the workplace experience. This includes implementing culture and change programs to encourage employees to return to the office. Sustainability and environmental considerations will also drive the adoption of software-based technology solutions to improve energy efficiency.

What Are the Incentives Driving Sustainability Interventions

Increased commitments to aggressive sustainability goals will be evident, driven by pressure from supply chains, public opinion, and market narratives. Incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act Section 179D tax credit will play a crucial role in encouraging companies to invest in sustainability interventions. These incentives will support efforts to meet or exceed net-zero targets, pushing the industry towards more sustainable practices.

Evolving Hybrid Work and Wireless Connectivity

The hybrid work model will continue to shape facilities management in 2024, necessitating robust wireless connection, monitoring, and automation systems. Organizations will require visibility into remote user experiences and assurance of uninterrupted video collaboration applications. IT departments will need tools to monitor network environments and resolve issues regardless of employees' locations. Facilities managers will play a critical role in managing these technologies to support business operations and ensure seamless communication.

Applying Sensor Technology for Building Health and Safety

Advancements in sensor technology will enhance building health and safety monitoring. Sensors capable of analyzing CO2 levels, detecting gases, smoke, and carbon monoxide, and measuring temperature and humidity are becoming more widely deployed. These technologies will expand to monitor broader health and safety parameters, contributing to public well-being and building safety.

Creating Strategic Partnerships in Healthcare Facilities Management

Healthcare systems are increasingly seeking strategic partnerships with experienced facilities management professionals. These collaborations will focus on technology implementation, innovative workforce strategies, and cost savings aligned with organizational missions. Facilities management plays a pivotal role in board-level discussions and long-term planning, emphasizing the importance of real estate in workforce experience, recruitment, and retention.

Facilities management in 2024 will be defined by technological advancements, regulatory compliance, sustainability efforts, and evolving workplace dynamics. Facilities managers will need to adapt to these trends, embracing new technologies, enhancing their skill sets, and fostering strategic partnerships to navigate the changing landscape successfully.

As facilities management continues to evolve, GPRS will be here to lend support with our subsurface damage prevention, existing condition documentation, and construction & facilities project management services. From skyscrapers to sewer lines, we Intelligently Visualize The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, is a cloud-based project & facility management application that provides accurate existing condition documentation to protect your assets and people. Compatible with your existing GIS platform and accessible 24/7 via computer, tablet or smartphone, SiteMap® allows for seamless communication between teams and team members, helping you plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately build better.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Facility Management and Why is it Important?

Facility or facilities management is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the efficient and effective delivery of support services for the organizations it serves. It encompasses a wide range of activities and responsibilities, including the maintenance of buildings and equipment, space planning, workplace safety, and sustainability initiatives. Facility management aims to ensure that the built environment, encompassing both physical spaces and infrastructure, supports the primary activities of the organization.

What Are the Key Responsibilities of a Facility Manager?

A facility manager has a diverse set of responsibilities that vary depending on the size and type of the facility they manage. However, some key responsibilities include:

• Maintenance and Repairs: Ensuring that all building systems, such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and structural components, are properly maintained and functioning efficiently.
• Space Management: Planning and optimizing the use of space within the facility to accommodate the needs of the organization, including office layouts, meeting rooms, and communal areas.
• Health and Safety: Implementing and maintaining safety protocols to protect occupants and ensure compliance with local regulations. This includes conducting regular safety inspections and risk assessments.
• Budget Management: Developing and managing the facility’s budget, including expenses related to maintenance, repairs, utilities, and capital improvements.
• Vendor Management: Coordinating with external vendors and service providers for maintenance, repairs, cleaning, and other facility-related services.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Implementing energy-efficient practices, waste reduction programs, and sustainable procurement policies to minimize the environmental impact of the facility.
• Emergency Preparedness: Developing and maintaining emergency response plans to handle situations such as fires, natural disasters, or other emergencies.
• Technology Integration: Utilizing facility management software and other technologies to streamline operations, track maintenance activities, and improve overall efficiency.

How is Technology Changing the Field of Facility Management?

Technology is significantly transforming the field of facility management by introducing new tools and systems that enhance efficiency, data management, and decision-making. Some key technological advancements include:

• Building Management Systems (BMS): These systems integrate various building controls (e.g., HVAC, lighting, security) into a single platform, allowing facility managers to monitor and optimize building performance in real time.
• Internet of Things (IoT): IoT devices, such as sensors and smart meters, provide continuous data on building conditions, energy usage, and occupancy patterns. This data enables predictive maintenance, energy savings, and improved space utilization.
• Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) Software: CAFM software helps facility managers plan, execute, and track maintenance tasks, space management, and asset management, improving overall operational efficiency.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI-driven analytics can process large datasets to identify trends, predict equipment failures, and suggest optimal maintenance schedules, thereby reducing downtime and costs.
• Mobile Solutions: Mobile apps and devices enable facility managers and maintenance staff to access information, report issues, and perform tasks on the go, increasing responsiveness and productivity.
• Sustainability Technologies: Advanced technologies, such as energy management systems, renewable energy solutions, and sustainable materials, help facilities reduce their environmental footprint and achieve sustainability goals.
• Remote Monitoring and Automation: Facilities can be monitored and controlled remotely, allowing for proactive management and quick response to issues, even from offsite locations.

By leveraging these technologies, facility managers can enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and overall performance of their facilities, ultimately contributing to the success of their organizations.

When you cut, core, or drill through concrete, it's in your best interest to avoid rebar.

If you don't, it could cost you up to $12,000 per repair and as much as $30,000 to replace a single post tension cable

Severe work injuries and costs can occur, and the schedule delays while these repairs are taking place add up. And, of course, your company’s reputation will take a hit, which could affect your future earnings. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way because of accurate rebar scanner technology like ground penetrating radar (GPR), paired with a professional GPR concrete scanning and imaging Project Manager such as those found at GPRS.

What is Rebar?

Rebar, short for reinforcing bar, is the steel bar or mesh of steel wires used as a tension device in reinforced concrete. Its purpose is to improve structural integrity, strengthen and hold concrete in compression, provide additional support to handle tensile forces, as well as prevent cracks and fractures of the concrete under load. By doing this, it helps to ensure the durability and safety of buildings and infrastructure.  

What is a Rebar Scanner?

A rebar scanner is a non-destructive tool such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) that uses radio signals to detect and image materials within concrete structures. When the radio wave encounters an object, it reflects back and produces a reading that displays these reflections as hyperbolas on the screen. This specialized tool is used by GPR concrete scanning Project Managers to locate structural reinforcements, such as rebar, within concrete slabs before any cutting, coring, or drilling takes place.

GPR technology is used to help prevent damage to structures and the equipment, as well as to ensure the safety of workers on job site's nationwide. GPRS Project Managers can accurately identify and mark the location of rebar reinforcements in the floor, ceiling, or wall slabs, using chalk, crayon marker, or paint as displayed in the image below.

How Deep Can a Rebar Locator Penetrate in Concrete?

When it comes to acting as a rebar locator, ground penetrating radar can typically penetrate up to 18-24 inches in concrete, depending on the conditions and the frequency of the radar. In fully cured concrete, GPR can achieve its maximum penetration depth since the material has a more uniform composition and lower moisture levels. However, in freshly poured concrete, the higher moisture content can significantly reduce the penetration depth of GPR. This is because the radar waves are more readily absorbed by the moisture, leading to less effective signal transmission and reduced clarity in the readings.

Can GPR Detect More Than Just Rebar Within Concrete?

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology has many capabilities beyond locating rebar and structural reinforcements. GPR can be used to detect a variety of other structural reinforcements as well before you core, cut, or drill. Other key elements that GPR can help identify include:

• Post Tension Cables: High-strength steel strands encased in plastic sheathes, pre-stressed to provide additional support to the concrete.

• Conduit: Tubes or ducts for enclosing electric or communication cables.

• Electrical Conduit: Specifically designed conduits for protecting and routing electrical wiring.

.• Heating Tubes: Systems embedded within the concrete to allow for underfloor heating.

• Voids: Cavities within a structure or underground. GPR cannot measure the void’s depth.

• Piping: GPR can detect pipes of all sizes, used for utilities and other purposes. Metal pipes are the easiest for GPR to detect. However, GPR can locate all variety of PVC and plastic pipes as well.

By accurately locating these components, GPR aids in damage prevention to structural reinforcements and helps you avoid safety hazards throughout any construction or renovation projects.

The GPRS Advantage

GPRS sets itself apart as the industry’s leading GPR concrete scanning contractor, with nationwide coverage and an industry-leading 99.8% accuracy rate on over 500,000 completed projects. The key benefits of choosing GPRS for GPR rebar and concrete scanning include:

• Green Box Guarantee: GPRS offers the unique Green Box Guarantee, which ensures that areas marked within a green box layout as shown in the image below prior to anchoring or coring will be free of obstructions. If any obstruction is encountered, GPRS commits to covering the cost of material damages, providing clients with peace of mind, reliability, and vendor integrity.

• Subsurface Investigative Methodology (SIM): The success of GPRS Project Managers in the field stems from the comprehensive training they receive upon joining our team. This training is based on the industry-leading Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) for concrete scanning.

• Project Safety: By accurately locating rebar, conduit, and other potential obstructions within concrete, GPRS helps maintain a safe work environment, reducing strike risks, clashes, and structural damage.

• Budget and Schedule Compliance: GPRS' precise GPR concrete scanning services help avoid unforeseen change orders or repair costs, keeping projects on budget and on schedule.

"The biggest difference between GPRS and some of the other companies around here is that GPRS provides the Green Box Guarantee...I can't speak highly enough of GPRS...we are truly appreciative of that.” – Lee Pyfrom, Safety Director, MacDonald Miller

“GPRS ensured safe drilling areas in over 150 locations through very congested floor slabs. The accuracy of the information provided was remarkably sound.” – Mike Keith, Senior Project Superintendent at Turner Construction Company

“Overruns on cost can blow a project budget. When GPRS scans concrete or for utilities on our projects, it helps us limit unforeseen change orders or repair costs.” – Matt Morris, General Superintendent at Swinerton Construction

How To Find a Rebar Scanner Near You

For engineers and general contractors, employing GPRS for accurate GPR rebar and concrete scanning is not just a measure of safety, but a strategic decision that protects the integrity of your project’s infrastructure, the well-being of the workforce, and the financial health of the project. With the Green Box Guarantee, nationwide coverage, and unmatched accuracy, GPRS stands as a leader in ensuring that your projects remain on budget, on time, and safe, while also protecting your reputation.

Let us help you Intelligently Visualize The Built World® on any project, nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much does it cost to repair post tension cable?

A single severed post-tension cable can cost upwards of $30,000 to repair or replace, and it can also lead to structural failure that endangers the lives of not only those completing the work but anyone in the immediate area.

How much does it cost to repair conduit?

The cost to repair a single conduit can vary widely depending on the extent of the damage, the type of conduit, labor costs, and location. On average however, you can expect to pay $12,000 for each repair. Avoid this by contacting the team at GPRS before you saw cut, core, or drill.

Is it possible to scan vertical surfaces or ceilings for rebar?

Yes, GPR rebar locators can scan for the location of rebar in concrete columns and walls. It can also scan the underside of a floor to mark out the reinforced steel and any embedded conduits.

Visualization has been essential for over 200 years, with modern techniques dating back to the 1960s. Jacques Bertin's 1969 work, Sémiologie Graphique (Semiology of Graphics), systematically explored how graphical representations encode data, introducing many key terms and defining retinal variables. Visualization science has since evolved, becoming integral to utility visualization. Today, GPRS revolutionizes how industries like construction and facility management interact with infrastructure data by Intelligently Visualizing The Built World^®.

The Importance of Visualizing Infrastructure

Effective infrastructure management ensures the reliability, safety, and sustainability of our towns and cities. Accurate visualization and analysis of infrastructure assets, such as water and sewer lines, electrical cables, and telecommunications networks, are crucial. This is where GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping software, like SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, becomes invaluable.

Spatial Understanding: Visual representations of infrastructure assets provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of their location, extent, and interconnections. This spatial insight is critical for planning construction projects, managing utility networks, and responding to emergencies.

Conflict Identification: Visualizing infrastructure assets helps identify potential conflicts with other underground utilities, environmental features, or land use regulations. Early visualization of these conflicts helps organizations avoid costly delays, redesigns, and service disruptions.

Data Analysis: GIS mapping software allows organizations to analyze spatial data, identifying trends, patterns, and anomalies in infrastructure performance. Visualizing this data on maps provides valuable insights into asset condition, usage patterns, and maintenance needs, informing strategic decisions and resource allocation.

Visual information is processed 60,000 times faster than text by the human brain, making it easier and faster to understand. Visuals also enhance learning and information retention by up to 78%, and 80% of researchers report fewer errors when using visuals to explain tasks. By visualizing subsurface infrastructure data, we can reach diverse learning styles, keeping everyone aligned and informed. Visualization facilitates easy, accurate, and quick information transfer, aiding decision-making and ensuring the safety of crews, cities, and infrastructure.

The Power of GIS Mapping Software

GIS mapping software revolutionizes infrastructure visualization and analysis. SiteMap^® by GPRS offers advanced capabilities for data collection, integration, visualization, and analysis, empowering organizations with precise utility mapping. More than just underground utility mapping software, SiteMap^® provides:

Digital Utility Mapping: SiteMap^® enables detailed study of digital maps of underground utilities, accurately depicting their location, depth, type, and condition. Digitizing utility maps improves data accuracy, accessibility, and usability, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency.

Precision Utility Mapping: SiteMap^® offers unprecedented accuracy and detail, minimizing the risk of utility strikes, damage, and service disruptions during construction. Precise mapping optimizes excavation, reduces downtime, and ensures underground infrastructure safety.

Comprehensive Utility Mapping: SiteMap^® serves as a complete solution for accurate data collection, integration, visualization, and analysis. Organizations can interact with high-resolution maps, monitor asset changes, and analyze historical data to identify trends and patterns.

The Impact of SiteMap^® in Visualizing Infrastructure

SiteMap^® stands out as a leading GIS mapping software, enabling organizations to visualize infrastructure with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.

Advanced Features: SiteMap^® offers a range of features, including high-resolution mapping, aggregated data, and 99.8% accurate data.

Ease of Use: Despite its advanced capabilities, SiteMap^® is user-friendly and intuitive, requiring minimal training.

Scalability: SiteMap^® scales to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from small municipalities to large utilities and engineering firms.

Data Portability: SiteMap^® seamlessly integrates with existing systems and tools, maximizing the value of infrastructure data and investments.

The GPRS Difference: As a GPRS product, SiteMap^® users benefit from the expertise and accuracy of GPRS, which aims for 100% subsurface damage prevention with a 99.8% accuracy rate. All GPRS Project Managers utilize the industry-leading Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) for utility mapping, concrete scanning, sewer camera inspection, or 3D laser scanning.

GIS mapping software like SiteMap^® is crucial for visualizing infrastructure, enabling informed decisions about management, maintenance, and optimization. By leveraging digital utility mapping software, organizations can enhance spatial understanding, identify conflicts, and analyze data to drive strategic decisions and improve operational efficiency. As the importance of visualizing infrastructure grows, solutions like SiteMap^® will remain essential for managing infrastructure complexities and building well-planned cities of tomorrow. SiteMap^® simplifies subsurface visualization, aiding in the creation of our world above.

GPRS SiteMap^® team members are currently scheduling live, personal SiteMap^® demos. Click below to schedule your demo today!

The management of our cities and towns, intertwined with IT advancements, is becoming increasingly complex.

From buried lines to a web of fragile utility assets above and below ground, managing these infrastructure assets is crucial for ensuring organizational efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. With the growing complexity of infrastructure systems and the rising reliance on technology, organizations are turning to advanced solutions like SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, to streamline their asset management processes. Let’s explore how SiteMap^® utilizes advanced mapping and visualization techniques for subsurface mapping.

Understanding Infrastructure Asset Management

Infrastructure asset management (IAM) involves planning, acquiring, operating, and maintaining physical assets such as buildings, utilities, transportation networks, and IT systems. Effective IAM ensures optimal utilization, efficient maintenance, and alignment with organizational goals and objectives. It sustains public infrastructure systems throughout their life cycles, managing critical assets like wastewater treatment plants, telecommunications, sewers, roads, utility grids, and transportation systems.

In 2022, the United States spent over $36 billion on infrastructure projects, transferring another $94.5 billion to state governments. The IAM process includes:

• Asset inventory
• Condition assessment
• Level of service (LOS)
• Life cycle costing
• Risk management
• Long-term financial planning

Use Cases

IAM is vital across various industries in the public and private sectors. Key use cases include:

• Municipalities and cities
• Utilities
• Transportation
• Energy
• Healthcare
• Educational centers
• Data centers
• Waste management

The Future of IAM

Advanced technologies can enhance various aspects of IAM. Geographic information systems (GIS) capture, store, analyze, and visualize geospatial data, providing spatial context to infrastructure assets. This integration helps managers understand the relationship between assets, their location, and the surrounding environment.

Most GIS platforms, however, are limited to as-built and existing conditions data uploaded by users, which is often inaccurate and outdated. Only SiteMap^® provides professionally captured above and below-ground infrastructure data, courtesy of GPRS’ 500+ Project Managers, trained to deliver the most accurate and accessible data possible.

IAM is crucial for sustainable, efficient infrastructure asset usage. The field is set to become more sophisticated, paving the way for smarter, more resilient infrastructure systems. GPRS exemplifies how new technologies can manage our infrastructure, with SiteMap^® providing the missing puzzle piece to view the big picture accurately.

Challenges in Subsurface Mapping

Mapping the subsurface presents unique challenges due to the concealed nature of underground utilities. Traditional methods like manual surveys and excavation (potholing) are time-consuming, costly, and often inaccurate. The dynamic subsurface environment, with utilities constantly being installed, repaired, and replaced, complicates maintaining up-to-date records.

The Role of SiteMap® in Subsurface Mapping

SiteMap^® offers a comprehensive solution for subsurface mapping, leveraging advanced mapping and visualization techniques to accurately map underground utilities and infrastructure. Key features include:

High-Resolution Mapping:

SiteMap^® provides high-resolution mapping capabilities, creating detailed maps of underground utilities with unprecedented accuracy. This minimizes the risk of utility strikes, damage, and service disruptions during construction. The Digital Map Viewer is the central hub of SiteMap^®, allowing users to interact with carefully visualized and aggregated data sourced by GPRS.

Advanced Visualization Techniques:

SiteMap^® uses advanced visualization techniques, such as 3D modeling and reality capture, to create immersive and interactive representations of underground infrastructure. These techniques allow users to explore the subsurface environment from different perspectives, enabling better spatial understanding and decision-making. GPRS’ ProCap Progressive Capture documents construction progress with 3D photogrammetry, while WalkThru 3D offers virtual tours for site or facility walkthroughs, measurements, and digital notes.

GIS Data Portability:

SiteMap^® offers seamless data portability with other GIS platforms, allowing organizations to overlay underground utility maps with other spatial datasets, such as land use, topography, and environmental conditions. This integration enables deeper analysis and insights into infrastructure assets.

Best Practices for Subsurface Mapping with SiteMap^®

Data Collection and Validation:

GPRS aims for 100% subsurface damage prevention with a 99.8% accuracy rate for ground-penetrating radar services, utility locating, utility mapping, and concrete scanning. This includes locating critical targets like underground utilities, post-tension cables, rebar, conduits, and underground storage tanks (USTs), ensuring projects remain on time, on budget, and safe.

Utilize Advanced Mapping Features:

Leverage SiteMap’s advanced mapping features, such as high-resolution mapping and 3D visualization, to interact with detailed and immersive representations of underground infrastructure. GPRS offers complimentary KMZ and PDF maps and a SiteMap^® Personal Subscription with every utility locate performed. The Mapping & Modeling Team can create anything from simple GPS-enabled locating maps to highly detailed 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models, depending on your needs.

Integrate Your GIS Data:

SiteMap^® provides instant data portability with other GIS data sources, enabling overlaying subsurface maps with other spatial datasets for deeper analysis and insights.

The Future of Infrastructure Asset Management

IT leads the next wave of infrastructure asset management. Keeping up with the technology and methods to accurately and efficiently manage this complex, growing web isn’t easy but is essential for optimizing infrastructure management.

With SiteMap^®, organizations can overcome subsurface mapping challenges by leveraging advanced mapping and visualization techniques to accurately map underground utilities and infrastructure. Access 99.8% accurate data with Intelligent Visualization and digital portability offered by GPRS. By following best practices for subsurface mapping with SiteMap^®, organizations can streamline their asset management processes, simplifying and improving how they see the subsurface.

GPRS’ SiteMap^® team members are currently scheduling live, personal SiteMap^® demonstrations. Click below to schedule your demo today!

A Washington D.C. landmark is set to be demolished.

Engineering News-Record recently reported that the National Park Service has granted approval for the full structural demolition of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the long-time home of the District of Columbia’s professional football, baseball, and soccer teams.

The 63-year-old, 47,000-seat multi-purpose stadium has been undergoing selective demolition work since late 2022, when approximately 1,800 tons of metal, plastic and non-structural debris were removed along with seats, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

The District of Columbia owns the stadium, which sits on a 190-acre federally owned campus along the Anacostia River. Events DC, formerly known as the Washington Convention and Sports Authority, has contracted with Smoot Construction Co. Of Washington, D.C. (SmootDC) to demo the facility, with the former telling ENR that it is now “completing the final phases of testing the stadium concrete to identify demolished stadium concrete that can be re-used as backfill on the RFK site.”

Current plans call for the cleared site to be graded and converted to grass, although Events DC has so far not provided a timeline for the project.

RFK Stadium opened as DC Stadium in 1961. It cost $24 million to construct, and the first official event it hosted was an NFL game between the home Washington Commanders and rival New York Giants. The Giants won 24-21 before a crowd of 36,767 that included President John F. Kennedy.

President Kennedy returned in 1962 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the first Major League Baseball game held at the stadium, when 44,383 fans watched the Washington Senators beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1. The 60s also saw the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League become the first of eight professional soccer clubs to call the stadium home throughout its history.

The stadium was renamed in 1969 to honor U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated the previous June. It would go on to host concerts, boxing matches, World Cup matches, Olympic events, and more.

In 1996, RFK Stadium said hello to Major League Soccer’s D.C. United and goodbye to the Commanders, who ended their 36-season residency in the stadium with a 37-10 victory over the arch-rival Dallas Cowboys. The Senators had departed for Texas 25 years earlier to become the Rangers, but Major League Baseball returned to RFK in 2005 when President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals’ home opener.

RFK Stadium continued to host events into the late-2010s. D.C. United played their last official game there in 2017 – a year after Events DC announced its plans to redevelop the campus surrounding the stadium.

“The transformational vision for the iconic RFK Campus delivers holistic concepts for the site that leverage the District’s long-underutilized waterfront, provide neighborhood serving amenities and connect the current site with increased and sustainable green space, flexible recreational fields, [and] natural access to pedestrian-friendly paths,” Events DC wrote on its website.

ENR reported that the National Park Service and D.C. will sign an agreement confirming the District’s continued use of the property will conform with the 1957 District of Columbia Stadium Act, which authorized establishment of a stadium for “holding athletic events and other activities and events.” The Commanders had been considering constructing their new stadium on the site of their old one. However, that plan remains up in the air.

Precision Concrete Scanning Keeps Demolition Jobs Safe

Whether demolishing an existing structure or breaking ground on a new build, subsurface damage is a very real and dangerous threat to the safety and success of your projects.

And while the goal may be to bring everything to the ground, striking rebar, post-tension cable, or buried utilities while doing so could cause an immediate structural collapse that puts the entire job site – and even the surrounding community – in danger.

It’s also important to know what’s in the concrete prior to demolition so you know what materials can be reclaimed and reused for future projects.

Precision concrete scanning is a necessary step before any destructive activities take place on a job site. The most effective tools for this work are ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locating.

GPR is a non-destructive detection and imaging technology utilized in construction to see underground or within a concrete slab. A GPR scanner emits radio waves into the surface that’s being investigated, then detects the interactions between those waves and subsurface objects such as rebar, post-tension cable, and conduit. These interactions are displayed as a series of hyperbolas on a GPR readout, with the hyperbolas varying in size and shape depending on what type of material was detected.

A professional concrete scanning or utility locating technician can interpret this data to tell you what was located and provide the approximate depth of that object.

EM locators detect the electromagnetic signals radiating from metallic pipes and cables, rather than the pipes and cables themselves. These signals can be created by the locator’s transmitter applying current to the pipe, or from current flow in a live electrical cable. They can also result from a conductive pipe acting as an antenna and re-radiating signals from stray electrical fields (detected by the EM locator functioning in Power Mode) and communications transmissions (Radio Mode).

Signals are created by the current flowing from the transmitter, which travels along the conductor (line/cable/pipe) and back to the transmitter. The current typically uses a ground to complete the current. A ground stake is used to complete the circuit through the ground.

GPRS’ SIM-certified Project Managers use GPR and EM locating in concert to ensure the most accurate concrete imaging and utility locates. We’ve achieved and maintain an industry-leading 99.8%+ rate of accuracy on these types of projects, and remain committed to reaching our goal of 100% subsurface damage prevention because we want you and your team to leave the job site in the same condition that you arrived to it.

To ensure the field-verified data collected by our Project Managers is at your fingertips 24/7, GPRS created SiteMap® (patent pending), our cloud-based infrastructure mapping software solution that provides accurate existing condition documentation to protect your assets and people.

All GPRS clients receive a complimentary SiteMap^® Personal subscription with every utility locate we complete for them, allowing you to use this data to plan, design, manage, dig, and build better.

From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary health risks associated with demolition work?

The primary health risks in demolition work include exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, and silica dust. Inhaling these substances can lead to serious respiratory issues, including lung cancer, silicosis, and other chronic respiratory diseases. Additionally, there is a risk of injury from falling debris, handling heavy equipment, and noise-induced hearing loss from the use of loud machinery.

How can structural instability during demolition pose a danger to workers?

Structural instability is a major concern during demolition as it can lead to unexpected collapses, endangering workers on-site. Without proper planning and support, parts of a building may give way suddenly, causing severe injuries or fatalities. Ensuring a thorough structural assessment and following a carefully designed demolition plan can mitigate these risks.

What safety measures should be implemented to protect workers during demolition activities?

Several safety measures are crucial in protecting workers during demolition. These include conducting a thorough risk assessment, providing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as helmets, gloves, and respiratory protection, and ensuring all workers are trained in safety protocols. Additionally, securing the work area to prevent unauthorized access, using controlled demolition techniques, and having emergency response plans in place are essential for minimizing risks. Regular monitoring and maintenance of equipment, as well as clear communication among the demolition team, further enhance safety on-site.

Who will build electric vehicle chargers now?

EV manufacturer Tesla rocked the U.S. charging industry late last month when it announced that it was laying off its 500-person team responsible for installing charging stations, and slowing investment in new stations.

Tesla had been at the forefront of the effort to build out a fast-charging network across the U.S. – a project that has received substantial financial support from the federal government.

In a list of the Top 10 Largest Electric Charger Companies in the World compiled in October 2023 by EV Magazine, Tesla took the top slot. The automaker operates the nation’s largest network of fast chargers – which they call Superchargers – and has so far received the most funding as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, through which the government is allocating $5 billion to states over five years to build 500,000 EV chargers.

So, now what?

Shortly after news of the layoffs broke, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that his company will still spend “well over $500M expanding our Supercharger network to create thousands of NEW chargers this year.”

“That’s just on new sites and expansions, not counting operations costs, which are much higher,” Musk added.

Tesla has also reversed course and re-hired some of the dismissed members of their Supercharging team.

Despite this latest development and Musk’s assurances, questions remain over who will replace Tesla – or at least support their scaled back efforts to build out America’s EV charging infrastructure.

Rather than a single successor, several companies will likely step in to fill the void. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “companies from Walmart to Mercedes to BP to a consortium of carmakers have made bold promises to build their own fast-charging networks across the U.S.”

“Billions of dollars are pledged,” the article says. “But so far no one has built anything close to what Tesla has created.”

Bill Ferro, co-founder and chief technology officer at Paren, a software company focused on EV charging reliability, said the EV charging space is currently “the wild west” as companies vie for the federal grants supporting EV infrastructure expansion.

“Anybody and everybody is trying to put EV charging stations in place,” Ferro told WSJ.

Reuters reports that since news of the layoffs at Tesla broke, charging company executives have been inundated with phone calls from landlords looking for new partners for their private charging projects.

The companies believe that Tesla will soon pull out of the NEVI program altogether. Aatish Patel, co-founder of XCharge North America, which makes EV chargers for fleets and charging station operators, said that if Tesla does withdraw from the program, solicitation by states for NEVI-funded charging projects will have to start over.

“It’s going to delay NEVI rollout. There’s no question about it,” Patel told Reuters. “A lot of these sites aren’t going to get built this year, or within the time frames that were initially dictated.”

A spokesperson for the federal government’s Joint Office of Transportation and Energy told the WSJ that the nation’s charging network “will continue to grow based on investments from the federal government, the private sector and states.”

Daniel Bowermaster, senior manager of electric transportation at the non-profit Electric Power Research Institute, told the New York Times that while other companies may not be able to build chargers as quickly or as cheaply as Tesla, “there is significant opportunity, kind of regardless of what Tesla does.”

“It will be addressed by the market,” Bowermaster said. “How do they do it in a timely, cost-effective manner?”

Build Safely With GPRS

Regardless of who builds out America’s EV charging infrastructure, it’s vital that these projects are completed safely and within budget.

A single utility strike while excavating can endanger the lives of workers on site and any nearby community members – and cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Proper precautions – including following federal law and contacting your state’s 811 one-call service before digging – can help protect lives, money and your schedule.

GPRS’ damage prevention services – including utility locating, precision concrete scanning & imaging, and video pipe inspections – help ensure you avoid subsurface damage while installing EV infrastructure. Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners and electromagnetic (EM) locators, our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers (PMs) fully visualize the buried infrastructure on your site so you know where you can and can’t safely dig.

All this field-verified data is at your fingertips 24/7 thanks to SiteMap^® (patent pending), our cloud-based infrastructure mapping software solution that provides accurate existing condition documentation to protect your assets & people.

From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the components of electric vehicle charging infrastructure?

Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure refers to the network of charging stations and related services that provide electricity to recharge electric vehicles. This infrastructure includes various types of charging stations, from residential outlets to high-power stations designed for public use. Key components of this infrastructure include:

• Charging Stations: These are places where electric vehicles can be charged. They vary in speed and power output.
• Connectors and Plugs: Different EV models may use different connectors. Common types include CHAdeMO, CCS (Combined Charging System), and Tesla's proprietary connector.
• Network Services: Many charging stations are part of a network that offers services like finding available stations, reserving charging slots, and processing payments.
• Support Services: Maintenance, customer support, and emergency assistance for EV drivers.

What are the differences between regular and fast chargers for electric vehicles?

The main difference lies in their charging speed, which significantly affects how quickly an EV's battery can be recharged:

Regular Chargers (Level 1 and Level 2)

• ‍Level 1 Chargers: These are standard household outlets (110-120V in the U.S.) and provide the slowest charging speed. It can take from 8 to 24 hours to fully charge an EV, depending on the battery capacity.
• ‍Level 2 Chargers: These are higher power chargers (240V in the U.S.) found in homes, workplaces, and some public areas. They can charge an EV battery from empty to full in 4 to 8 hours.

Fast Chargers (DC Fast Chargers or Level 3 Chargers)

These chargers use direct current (DC) and much higher power levels (up to 480V or more). They can charge an EV battery to 80% capacity in as little as 20 to 30 minutes.

• ‍Tesla Superchargers: A well-known example of fast chargers, these are designed specifically for Tesla vehicles and are among the fastest, offering charging speeds that can add up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes.

Are EV charging stations free to use?

There are some free public chargers available, but many chargers require payment with a fee-based on how much energy gets transferred to the electric car. The rate can also be based on a per-minute-of-charging basis, battery size, the charger’s power, or the energy delivery efficiency to the vehicle.

Recent experiments with charging an EV while on the go, however, may change the way drivers pay for utilizing these services.

GPRS’ Video Pipe Inspection Services are being put to good use at a historic hospital in California that’s undergoing an infrastructure overhaul.

The medical campus is undergoing a substantial renovation, which includes updating its buried infrastructure. GPRS Project Manager David Castro has been tasked with deploying GPRS’ sewer scope inspection services to create a complete record of the roughly 56,000 linear feet of sewer infrastructure on the site, including components that have been in the ground for a century.

“…So, we [are] getting good footage for the [hospital] and checking the conditions of the pipes, and noting any areas that they need to address and fix,” Castro said. “These buildings are really old, the sewer lines are really old, they’re outdated [and] kind of beat up in a lot of places, and some of them are abandoned. So, they’re just trying to get a complete picture of what’s going on here with the sewer system.”

GPRS’ Video Pipe Inspection Services utilize CCTV camera-equipped, remote-controlled sewer inspection rovers and push-fed scopes to investigate and map waste and stormwater infrastructure.

These state-of-the-art rovers and scopes are outfitted with sondes: instrument probes that allow GPRS Project Managers to use electromagnetic (EM) locators to ascertain the location of underground utilities from an inaccessible location.

Using this equipment, GPRS can inspect a sewer system for defects such as clogs, cross bores, inflow/infiltration (I/I), and other forms of damage that would otherwise cause costly and potentially dangerous problems.

Even the best equipment, however, is useless unless you have the proper training to use it. The hospital told Castro that they’d worked with other sewer scoping companies prior to GPRS, but the data they received was unusable and they were forced to start over from scratch.

All GPRS VPI Project Managers are certified in the National Association of Sewer Service Companies’ (NASSCO) Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP), Lateral Assessment Certification Program (LACP), and Manhole Assessment Certification Program (MACP). So, they know how to consistently and accurately assess the condition of your pipelines, laterals, and manholes.

All GPRS Project Managers are also certified in Subsurface Investigation Methodology, the industry-leading training program for professional utility locating, precision concrete scanning, and sewer scoping technicians.

To achieve SIM 101 certification, Project Managers complete 320 hours of field training and 80 hours of classroom training. Their classroom training occurs at GPRS’ state-of-the-art training facility in Sylvania, Ohio,

Castro is leaning on his training as he inspects the hospital’s complex sewer system.

“What we’ve been running into is some sections of the system that are obviously abandoned. They’ve got no signs of flow or anything like that, but sometimes the abandoned lines might have a trickle of water in them because there could be infiltration somewhere,” Castro explained. “So, we have to investigate and confirm the best we can, but the condition and the amount of decay in some of the lines is a pretty big issue.”

When you hire GPRS to conduct a sewer inspection, you receive comprehensive WinCan reporting that includes detailed descriptions of any pipe defects found, and video footage and screenshots of these problems. The defects are ranked by severity and geolocated, so you know what needs to be addressed first and exactly where you need to dig to conduct repairs.

These reports are delivered to you via SiteMap^® (patent pending), GPRS’ cloud-based infrastructure mapping software solution available to you 24/7 from any computer, tablet, or smartphone for accessible and immediate existing conditions documentation.

The reporting GPRS is providing in California will help the hospital’s leaders plan, update their sewer infrastructure, and avoid costly and potentially dangerous subsurface damage in the process.

“[Our customers are] getting really good information,” Castro said. “It’s not always good, but it’s vital information, and they’re going to take all the data that we provide them and engineer a new system that’s going to hopefully last for the next 50 years.”

From sewer lines to skyscrapers, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What size pipes can GPRS inspect?

Our elite VPI Project Managers have the capabilities to inspect pipes from 2” in diameter and up.

What deliverables does GPRS offer when conducting a sewer scope inspection?

GPRS is proud to offer WinCan reporting to our video pipe inspection clients. Maintaining sewers starts with understanding sewer condition, and WinCan allows GPRS Project Managers to collect detailed, NASSCO-compliant inspection data. GPRS Project Managers not only inspect the interior condition of sewer pipes laterals, and manholes; they can also provide a map of their location. The GPRS Mapping & Modeling Department can provide detailed GPS overlays and CAD files. Our detailed WinCan/NASSCO reports contain screenshots of the interior condition of the pipe segments that we inspect, as well as a video file for further evaluation, documentation, and/or reference.

Can you locate pipes in addition to evaluating their integrity?

Yes, our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers use CCTV camera-equipped sewer scoping technology affixed with sondes: instrument probes that allow them to ascertain the location of underground utilities from an inaccessible location. This allows them to use electromagnetic (EM) locating to map sewer systems at the same time they’re evaluating them for defects.

Does GPRS offer lateral launch services?

Yes, we offer lateral launch capabilities as part of our standard video pipe inspection services.

Telecommunication lines and cell sites keep people connected.

Whether it’s the new high-speed underground fiber lines that ensure your office at home has the fastest upload and download speeds available, or the 5G broadband signal from a small or macro cell site to your phone to give you high speed internet and four bars wherever you go, this critical infrastructure helps ensure you never miss a beat.

Cellular and internet infrastructure is vital to our daily connectivity and workflow. That’s why it’s so important to protect it when new construction begins. One way to do this is through accurate utility mapping before digging or directional drilling. Once utilities on site are mapped, the next best step is to store that data within an intuitive and user-friendly GIS software for telecommunication lines, like SiteMap®. Mapping & digitizing telecommunications infrastructure helps to increase connectivity across America with highspeed broadband internet. Currently 14.5 million Americans are without access to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) baseline (25/3 Mbps) for broadband connectivity. This is hindering their ability to have high speed internet and communicate digitally and quickly at the same pace as the rest of the U.S. Despite this, the FCC as well as fixed and mobile providers all throughout the country have continued to make impressive gains in bringing about high-speed internet to all the United States.

In the Fourteenth Broadband Deployment Report, the FCC provided the telecom industry with an in depth report of updates on this progress where stakeholders shared an evaluation of the progress being made in the deployment of advanced telecommunication capabilities and infrastructure throughout the U.S., and whether that progress is occurring in a reasonable and timely fashion. The report details how both fixed and mobile services were capable of independently meeting the definition of advanced telecommunications capabilities. This is defined as high-speed, switched, broadband telecommunications capability that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications using any technology. However, customers “tend to subscribe to both services when they have the ability to do so, which suggests that, even though there is some overlap in functionality, both services continue to offer distinct capabilities for consumers.”

What’s the Difference Between Fixed and Mobile Broadband?

Fixed broadband services, such as underground telecommunication utilities (fiber, cable, T1, etc.), are known for transmitting high speed internet capabilities to homes and businesses (commonly known as Wi-Fi) with greater reliability and generally higher speeds.

Mobile broadband, on the other hand, is defined as wireless internet access delivered through small and macro cell towers and other portable devices that offers the convenience of internet access outside of the home or office. Some may refer to the use of mobile broadband as using their “cellular data” when not connected to a fixed broadband Wi-Fi network.

The Main Goal: Closing the Digital Divide

In this case, if the goal is to achieve standard FCC connectivity of (25/3 Mbps) to all Americans throughout the U.S and closing the digital divide between rural and urban areas, the question then becomes, how?

The answer is expansion. Whether its underground communication lines being directionally drilled into the ground in communities all throughout the U.S., or new macro and small cell sites being constructed, new infrastructure is needed in place to help bridge the digital divide. Without this, the goal to achieve total connectivity and eliminate the gap between rural and urban areas will be a far cry for both fixed and mobile providers throughout the country.

And with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act unleashing over half a trillion dollars in new infrastructure investment, with roughly 65 billion allocated towards helping to ensure that every American has access to reliable high-speed internet, the time to act is now. The problem with this however, is that without proper damage prevention practices, ground disturbance policies, and GIS utility mapping software in place, more damage can be done then good when installing new telecom lines and macro and small cell sites.

Dire Need To Expand Without Damaging Existing Underground Infrastructure.

Currently, the telecommunication industry is made up of companies that make communication possible on a global scale for billions of people. However, underground telecommunication lines continuously are the number one utility type to experience underground utility damage during excavation and drilling, according to a report released in late 2023 by the Common Ground Alliance titled Telecom’s Critical Role In Reversing Utility Damage Trends.

In 2022, telecommunication and cable TV lines also showed up at the top of the CGA’s Dirt Report as the most damaged type of underground utility. In the report, these lines added up to 47% of all utilities struck when underground utility damage occurred as shown in the image below.

On the other hand, work done by telecommunication contractors– including the installation of new telecom lines, and repairs or modifications to existing utilities – contributed to the most damages to all facilities by work performed and the third most damages to telecom facilities in 2022 as shown in the images below. Telecom operators were also among the largest contributors to instances in which excavators could not legally begin work 56% of the time on their planned start date. Additionally, telecom contractors were involved in over half of damages that occurred while telecom and natural gas work was being completed.

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In the December 2023 report or Telecom’s Critical Role In Reversing Utility Damage Trends, the CGA’s President and CEO, Sarah Magruder Lyle stated “As both substantial contributors to and recipients of damages, telecom stakeholders have much to gain by enhancing prevention efforts.”

“…While telecom rightfully prioritizes expanding its networks and customer base, a competitive advantage does not need to come at the expense of safety,” Magruder Lyle continued to write “Boosting damage prevention’s profile internally and collaborating more extensively with partners are pathways to improved outcomes. Locating processes, in particular, need to be rethought, revised and reinforced to curb the crisis of inaccurate and late marks.”

Further down in the report, the testimonials support the fact that telecommunication companies can increase subsurface damage prevention efforts through investment in reliable mapping technology, the decrease of information siloes internally, and the increase of damage prevention awareness throughout all levels of the company. GPRS’ easy-to-use GIS utility mapping software SiteMap®, powered by GPRS’ 99.8%+ accurate data, can fit that need.

How GPRS Can Help.

For nearly 20 years, GPRS has been in the telecommunications industry and has worked closely with companies such as Crown Castle, American Tower, MasTec Communications Group, DISH Network, and Mobilitie, among many others, to develop and implement specific processes that benefit contractors and service providers to prevent subsurface damages to critical facilities as discussed in the previous paragraph.

In the past few years, the large-scale adoption of 5G has essentially every telecommunication service provider in the world building out its infrastructure to offer 5G functionality. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that clients quickly receive a comprehensive report of any subsurface issues to ensure that these infrastructure upgrades are not delayed. At GPRS we have completed projects for many of the largest telecom companies in the United States; in fact, our highly trained nationwide network of Project Managers has experience in all telecom-related settings such as OSP construction, macro tower placement and modifications, ISP placement and installation, small cells, fiber optic installation, and much more to help ensure a timely, consistent, and on budget project delivery.

Our service lines, such as pre and post-sewer line inspections prior to directional drilling new telecom lines and accurate utility locating on macro cell sites prior to the upgrade of generators, fiber lines, shelter buildings, or grounding grids can help your team operate your telecom projects safely. While there is always a risk involved when underground utilities are near your excavation or drill project, our team at GPRS adheres to the industry’s lead methodology for ground disturbance, SIM, which has led to our 99.8%+ accuracy rating on over 500,000 utility locating projects, nationwide. This 99.8%+ accurate and complete utility data collected by our Project Managers in the field and marked with paint or flags on the ground, is also uploaded into our easy-to-use GIS for telecommunications software, SiteMap®. In this platform you can reference your entire projects above and below ground infrastructure data in a secure and cutting-edge mobile app from the palm of your hands.

SiteMap® helps you Intelligently Visualize The Built World® of your facilities and towers all across the country from one secure location. Inside you can access digital floor plans of your cell towers collected with 3D photogrammetry technology, precise digital twins, full site utility locates, underground sewer inspection reports for cross bore prevention, fully rendered 3D BIM Models, and more. GPRS provides you with a one stop shop for all your telecommunications infrastructure data above and below ground needs with SiteMap® so you can operate, plan, design, communicate, dig, and ultimately build, better.

If the goal is to continue to close the digital divide and extend the reach of broadband deployment to all Americans, why does that have to come at the cost of risking  existing underground infrastructure?

It doesn’t.

Contact the nationwide network of GPRS Project Managers today to learn how we can help you enhance subsurface damage prevention during your broadband build out, increase the accuracy of your infrastructure data with existing condition documentation, and simplify your telecommunication and cell tower facility and project management with SiteMap®.

ALWAYS STAY CONNECTED WITH GPRS

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Does My Telecom Infrastructure Get Uploaded Into SiteMap®?

Great question! SiteMap’s data is collected by the SIM-certified Project Managers at GPRS. So, when you call out our team to map out your sites underground utilities, that data is accurately mapped by our team members in the field with a suite of technologies including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) utility locators, among others, per SIM standards. This data is then collected and uploaded to SiteMap® utilizing either a GNSS Geode or our proprietary GeNiuSS iQ device. Within five minutes of data collection, in most cases, your underground utility infrastructure data will be accurately displayed within SiteMap® for your reference, as shown in the image below.

How Does SiteMap® Display My Data?

SiteMap® displays your data within its Map Viewer feature. This gives you the capability to search for your job site or projects, depending on your needs, and reference each and every line you have within the system. Whether your infrastructure is on one campus, or spread throughout multiple facilities nationwide, with SiteMap®, you’re able to easily reference and view each and every place you manage with the few clicks of a button. Within the Map Viewer, you can deconstruct the layers of your data within SiteMap® to view an individual utility type, line, or feature to help you pinpoint exactly what you need, when you need it as shown in the image below.

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A new law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ignited a significant debate over heat protection measures for outdoor workers, particularly in the construction and agricultural sectors.

This legislation, known as HB 433, prohibits local governments from enacting their own rules to ensure that workers have access to water, rest, and shade on hot days.

HB 433 was introduced following attempts by local entities such as Miami-Dade County to implement measures that would protect workers from the dangers of extreme heat. These local efforts were designed to offer enhanced safety provisions, including mandatory breaks, access to water, and shaded areas for workers to cool down.

The bill's proponents, including some business groups and political leaders, argued that having a patchwork of local regulations could create operational challenges for businesses. They pointed out that consistent state-wide policies could simplify compliance and help businesses operate more effectively without navigating varying local ordinances.

Supporters of HB 433, including figures like Bill Herrle, the Florida director of the National Federation of Independent Business, argue that the bill promotes a stable and predictable regulatory environment. They contend that small business owners, in particular, benefit from not having to adjust to different sets of rules in different locales, which can be time-consuming and costly.

These proponents assert that existing state regulations already provide sufficient protection for workers and that additional local requirements could lead to unnecessary redundancy and increased operational costs.

Conversely, labor and environmental groups, along with some public health advocates, strongly opposed the bill. They argue that current state-level protections are inadequate, particularly in the face of rising temperatures due to climate change. These groups highlight that instances of heat-related illnesses and fatalities among workers are a growing concern.

In their view, the resistance to local ordinances suggests a reluctance among some businesses to implement measures that could potentially save lives but might also incur additional costs. Opponents also point to numerous cases where workers have not received adequate protection under existing regulations, indicating a gap between legal standards and the practical realities of outdoor work.

Economic and Health Implications

The legislation also addresses economic aspects by preventing local governments from requiring contractors to offer wages above the state's minimum wage, which is set to increase from $12 to $13 an hour. This has added another layer to the debate, with critics arguing that it limits local efforts to improve living standards for workers.

From a health perspective, the lack of mandated heat protection measures can lead to serious consequences. Heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and other heat-related conditions are significant risks for workers exposed to high temperatures over prolonged periods. Advocates for worker safety emphasize that simple measures like scheduled breaks, water access, and shade can dramatically reduce these risks.

Broader Implications and Future Outlook

The passage of HB 433 is part of a broader national trend where state governments preempt local efforts to regulate various aspects of work conditions. This approach has sparked a wider discussion about the best level of government to handle such regulations, with arguments for both localized flexibility and statewide uniformity.

As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, leading to hotter summers, the need for comprehensive worker protection measures is becoming increasingly clear. The debate in Florida reflects a larger conversation about how to balance economic considerations with the imperative to protect workers' health and safety.

The controversy over HB 433 in Florida highlights the complex interplay between business interests and worker safety. While some argue that a uniform set of regulations helps promote business growth and stability, others contend that this approach can overlook critical safety needs that are best addressed at a local level, especially in diverse and geographically varied states.

As the effects of climate change intensify, this debate is likely to continue, with significant implications for the health and well-being of workers in construction, agriculture, and other outdoor industries. The outcomes in Florida may also influence similar legislative efforts across the United States, making this an important issue to watch in the coming years.

At GPRS, safety is always on our radar. That’s why we sponsor safety initiatives like Concrete Sawing & Drilling Safety Week, Construction Safety Week, and Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week.

Click here to learn more about GPRS’ safety initiatives and partnerships.

The federal government supports the reclamation of brownfields through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program by providing seed money for local government agencies to provide clean-up and redevelopment guidance. In 2002, those efforts were made law by the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has earmarked “a historic $1.5 billion investment” in Brownfield Program funds, which is broken up into specific parts: $1.2 billion in direct project grants funding and $300 million for State & Tribal response programs.

Here is how the EPA is planning to spend all that money:

• A major increase in EPA Brownfield Grant Funding
• Substantial funding for the remediation and repurposing of mine-scarred brownfields
• Billions in additional funding for water, wastewater, stormwater, and green infrastructure, including for emerging contaminants including PFAS pollution
• New and expanded transportation infrastructure programs
• Expansive resources for broadband infrastructure investment
• New funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean manufacturing deployments
• Expanded grants for pollution cleanup and resiliency projects in targeted coastal and waterfront areas
• Economic development for 33 states in targeted regions supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, the Denali Commission, the Northern Border Commission, and the Southwest Regional Commission

State brownfield reclamation projects can provide tax incentives for revitalizing contaminated sites and providing additional funds for those interested in the potential of these sites. There are 58 state and local Brownfields Programs available in the U.S.‍

According to one group of attorneys who provide business and environmental services throughout Ohio, the U.S. EPA commissioned a study that showed that every dollar in brownfields spending put toward assessment/testing and clean-up provided $19.78 in additional economic leverage. Brownfields often benefit from their locations – connected to existing infrastructure – while also benefitting the surrounding community upon remediation. Residential property values are purported to see a 5-15% increase within 1.29 miles of a reclaimed brownfield.

There are plenty of plans out there to help revitalize and reclaim brownfields. One of the more intriguing initiatives envisions turning them into solar farms to expand the nation’s renewable energy portfolio and help meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of “achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035” and to hit net zero emissions as an economy by 2050.

There is precedent for turning “brownfields into brightfields,” and there are already 300 solar installations built on capped landfills (which are part of the definition of brownfields) throughout the U.S. according to the EPA. Some 10,000 disused landfills are part of the 450,000 brownfield sites still to be remediated in the nation.

However, there are specific considerations that must be addressed when proposing a brightfield site. The American Clean Power Association detailed those concerns in their Redeveloping Brownfields with Solar fact sheet in 2022.

Among the challenges listed are

• Environmental Risk
• Legal Liability
• Permitting
• Site Assessment
• Remediation & Site Preparation
• Special Construction Measures

Whether you are hiring an environmental consultant to provide a Phase I or Phase II study, erecting specialized fences, walls, wash ramps, or protective ground layers, or beginning actual construction on a remediated site, knowing exactly what is underground is the most important consideration before putting a drill bit, bucket, or shovel on the ground. Because striking an electrical, gas, water, or sewer line, or other utility that may be on site, could turn an already risky development into a disaster.

Your choices for utility locating & mapping for a brownfield site vary depending on your needs. You can choose a simple utility locate for environmental assessment coring locations, a utility map that visualizes the matrix of pipes, lines, tanks, and conduit and layers them, or a complete conceptual site model (CSM) that provides a full 3D view of all the underground facilities on your brownfield site.

GPRS provides all of the services listed above and more, like our WalkThru 3D and ProCap Progressive Capture 3D photogrammetry products that allow you see your site and utility field markings virtually from anywhere, and track your construction progress at whatever intervals you require. All infrastructure maps, models, virtual tours, reality capture, and more are delivered via our state-of-the art digital platform, SiteMap®. Every GPRS customer receives a complimentary SiteMap® Personal subscription, a PDF and .KMZ file of their utility locate.

GPRS products Intelligently Visualize The Built World® to allow you to more easily communicate and collaborate among teams, whether they’re on site or across the country, to safely and efficiently remediate and reclaim your brownfield and put it to work for the community.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any regulatory considerations that need to be taken into account when developing a brownfield site?

When developing a brownfield site, several regulatory considerations must be addressed to ensure safety, compliance, and sustainability. These include:

1. Environmental Assessments: Most regions require a comprehensive environmental assessment to identify any contamination from previous industrial or commercial activities. This involves soil, water, and air testing. GPRS Environmental Services can provide a full site scan that details your entire site, above and below-ground, to allow for safe and efficient Phase I and Phase II studies.
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2. Cleanup Standards: Depending on the extent of contamination, regulatory bodies set cleanup standards that must be met before they feel the site is remediated and redevelopment can proceed. These standards vary based on the intended use of the site post-cleanup (e.g., residential, commercial).
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3. Legal Liability: Developers must understand their liability for any existing environmental contamination. In some jurisdictions, there are protections or incentives for developers who are cleaning up and reusing brownfield sites.
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4. Public Health and Safety: Ensuring that the site meets health and safety standards to protect future users and nearby communities is crucial. This includes managing any hazardous materials found on site.
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5. Zoning and Land Use: Local zoning laws may need adjustments or special permits to allow for the intended redevelopment, especially if changing the site’s original use.
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6. Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with the local community and other stakeholders is often a regulatory requirement, ensuring that the development meets broader social and economic goals.

By navigating local, state, and federal regulatory frameworks, developers can successfully remediate and transform brownfield sites into valuable and sustainable properties.

How is a Conceptual Site Model prepared for an Environmental Assessment?

A Conceptual Site Model (CSM) is an essential tool in environmental assessments, especially for brownfield sites. It provides a visual and descriptive representation of the potential environmental risks and conditions at a site. Here’s how a CSM is typically prepared:

1. Data Collection: Gather historical and current data about the site, including previous uses, existing structures, and known contamination. This involves reviewing historical records, aerial photographs, and previous environmental reports.
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2. Site Investigation: Conduct field investigations to collect soil, water, and air samples. This helps identify the types and concentrations of contaminants present.
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3. Identify Sources of Contamination: Based on the data, identify the sources of contamination, such as former industrial operations, waste disposal areas, or chemical spill sites.
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4. Pathways and Receptors: Determine how contaminants could move through the environment (pathways) and who or what could be affected (receptors). Common pathways include groundwater flow, air dispersion, and surface water runoff. Utility lines like water and sewer pipes, electrical lines, and telecom cables provide preferential pathways that speed the distribution of contaminants. Locating and mapping utilities is essential to creating an accurate CSM.
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5. Risk Assessment: Evaluate the potential risks to human health and the environment by considering the types and concentrations of contaminants, exposure pathways, and the sensitivity of potential receptors.
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6. Visual Representation: Create diagrams and maps to visually represent the sources, pathways, receptors, and boundaries of the site. This helps stakeholders understand the complexity of the site conditions. GPRS’ Mapping & Modeling Team can create 2D CAD plan views, virtual tours, or a complete 3D CSM with 6mm accuracy, depending on your needs.
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7. Iterative Process: Update the CSM as more data becomes available or as conditions change throughout the cleanup and redevelopment process.

A well-prepared CSM is a dynamic tool that aids in understanding the site’s complexities, guiding the cleanup process, and communicating with stakeholders about the risks and remediation strategies.When brownfields –  the more than 450,000 properties in the U.S. thought to contain hazardous pollutants or other contaminants – are left fallow, they pose risks to the environment, public health, and safety of a community.

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is at the forefront of the push towards sustainability in the construction industry. The reuse and recycling of construction materials – also known as circular construction – is becoming more common by the year, and GIS technology offers precise tools for measuring, mapping, and managing these materials. GIS platforms enable contractors to optimize their use of resources, thereby reducing waste and enhancing efficiency.

In 2018, the United States generated an estimated 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris, more than twice the amount collected from residential areas annually. Out of this, 143.8 million tons ended up in landfills. In the European Union, where over a third of all waste stems from construction and demolition, protocols are in place to ensure that at least 70% of this waste, by weight, avoids landfills. This aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly "Responsible consumption and production."

Cement production, responsible for up to 8% of global human-made carbon dioxide emissions, has seen significant scrutiny. Many top builders and developers in the U.S. are now opting for sustainable materials and practices, including the use of low-carbon cement, to mitigate these environmental impacts.

Digital Tracking and Asset Management

Managing construction debris efficiently requires overcoming challenges related to the age, origin, warranty, and value of materials. Here, GIS technology becomes indispensable. Construction officials use GIS to create digital records—sometimes referred to as materials banks or passports—that map every asset in a building. This digital mapping ensures that when a building reaches the end of its lifecycle, an exact inventory and location of each asset is available. This level of detail allows for assets like light fixtures to be returned to manufacturers for warranty and reuse.

Precision and Efficiency in Practice

The precision provided by GIS and drone technology not only aids in accurate measurement but also in meticulous planning. For the foundation placement of the project in Vancouver, drone imagery was used to pre-plan the positioning of trucks and pumps. This ensured that the process, which involved over 500 ready-mix trucks over 12 hours, proceeded without hassle or on-site coordination issues. As Bilal Yasir from PCL remarked, "everything fit like a jigsaw puzzle with precision and accuracy."

The Path to Sustainability

The call for sustainability in construction is made tangible using GIS and related technologies. By enabling precise location and measurement of materials and assets, these tools help contractors achieve a new level of sustainability. This is not only beneficial for keeping waste out of landfills but also for reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.

The integration of GIS into construction practices is a clear step towards a more sustainable future, where every material is valued and nothing is wasted unnecessarily. As we continue to embrace these technologies, the dream of a circular construction economy inches closer to reality, paving the way for a greener and more responsible world.

SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, is a cloud-based project & facility management application that provides accurate existing condition documentation to protect your assets and people. It features GIS functionality and can support data portability for your existing GIS platform of choice.

What sets SiteMap^® apart from traditional GIS platforms is that it’s built on the field-verified data collected by GPRS’ SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers, which is layered and modeled by our in-house Mapping & Modeling Team to suit your needs.

GPRS’ SiteMap^® team members are currently scheduling live, personal SiteMap® demonstrations. Click below to schedule your demo and see how SiteMap® will help you plan, design, manage, dig, and build better today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a GIS Platform?

GIS stands for Geographic Information System. It is a technology used to gather, manage, and analyze geographic data. GIS platforms help users understand spatial patterns and relationships through maps and 3D scenes, enabling decision-making processes in various sectors like urban planning, environmental management, transportation, and more.

Key features of GIS platforms typically include:

• Mapping: Visualizing geographic data on a map
• Spatial Analysis: Analyzing the spatial location and relationship of geographic data
• Data Management: Storing and organizing data in a way that is easily retrievable
• Geocoding: Converting addresses into geographic coordinates
• Routing: Calculating optimal paths between locations
• Remote Sensing: Integrating and analyzing data from satellite images and other remote sources

What are the Benefits of Underground Utility Mapping?

Having an updated and accurate map of your subsurface infrastructure reduces accidents, budget overruns, change orders, and project downtime caused by dangerous and costly subsurface damage.

How does SiteMap^® assist with Utility Mapping?

SiteMap^®, powered by GPRS, is the industry-leading infrastructure management program. It is a single source of truth, housing the 99.8%+ accurate utility locating, concrete scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, and 3D laser scanning data our Project Managers collect on your job site. And the best part is you get a complimentary SiteMap^® Personal Subscription when GPRS performs a utility locate for you.

Click here to learn more.

Does SiteMap^® Work with my Existing GIS Platform?

SiteMap^® allows for exporting of data to SHP, GeoJSON, GeoPackage, and DXF directly from any user’s account that either owns or has a job shared to their account. All these file formats can be imported and utilized by other GIS packages if manually imported by the user. More information can be found at SiteMap.com.

Building Information Modeling (BIM), sometimes also known as Building Information Management Modeling has become an indispensable tool in the construction industry.

BIM goes beyond traditional 2D drafting, providing a 3D digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. This model serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility, forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life cycle, from earliest conception to demolition. But how does one go about obtaining a BIM for their site or facility?

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Step 1: Define Your Requirements

Before diving into the process of obtaining a BIM, it’s crucial to define what you need from the model. BIM models vary significantly based on their usage — from architectural design and structural engineering to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) planning.

Ask yourself:

• What is the purpose of the BIM? Are you using it for initial design, ongoing facility management, or renovation?
• What level of detail (LoD) do you require? BIM models range from LOD 100 (basic shapes) to LOD 500 (as-built models with detailed attributes and warranties).
• Who will use the BIM? Consider the stakeholders (architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers) and their software preferences.

By answering these questions, you’ll identify the scope and specifications your BIM should meet, which will guide the process and the professionals you’ll need to engage.

Step 2: Choose the Right Professionals

Obtaining a BIM often involves collaboration with several professionals who specialize in different aspects of the building process. Depending on your project, you may need to work with:

• Architects and Engineers: They create the initial design and structure of the building in a BIM environment.
• Surveyors: They use 3D laser scanning or photogrammetry to capture the exact dimensions of the existing site or building.
• BIM Consultants: Specialists who can integrate different models from various teams and ensure the BIM is up to standard.
• Construction Managers and Contractors: They update the BIM during the construction phase to reflect the real-time status of the project.
• VDC Professionals: VDC can be used throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, from design, to construction, through operations to asset modifications. BIM models are the basis for VDC, and are utilized to communicate design plans and construction workflows to the project team.

Selecting experienced professionals who are well-versed in BIM technology is crucial for a successful and accurate model.

Step 3: Data Collection and Initial Modeling

For an existing building or site, the first step is to collect accurate data. This is typically done through:

• 3D Laser Scanning: A method where laser scanners create a point cloud of the site. This point cloud is then used to generate the 3D model.
• Photogrammetry: This technique uses photographs from various angles to create a 3D model of the site.

New constructions will rely on architectural drawings and specifications to create the initial BIM. The professionals you’ve hired will use software like Autodesk Revit, Bentley Systems, or ArchiCAD to develop the BIM based on this data.

Step 4: Model Integration and Refinement

Once the initial model is created, it's not uncommon to integrate separate models from different teams. For example, the architect’s model might need to be combined with the MEP engineer's model. This integration is crucial to identify and resolve clashes between different systems, like a beam running through a duct.

During this phase, the model is refined to include:

• Detailed Components: Adding furniture, equipment, and detailed MEP components.
• Attribute Data: Including detailed information such as material specifications, manufacturer details, and operational data for facility management.

This refinement turns a simple 3D model into a comprehensive BIM that serves multiple purposes and stakeholders.

Step 5: Review and Finalization

With the model integrated and refined, it’s time for a thorough review by all stakeholders. This review process helps identify any discrepancies and make necessary adjustments before the model is finalized. Tools like Autodesk BIM 360 or Navisworks are used to review the model and facilitate communication across teams.

Step 6: Implementation and Maintenance

Once finalized, the BIM becomes a living document of the building or site. For new buildings, the model will continue to be updated throughout construction. For existing facilities, the BIM serves as a baseline for future renovations and maintenance.

To maintain the BIM:

• Regular Updates: As changes occur in the building, the BIM should be updated to reflect the new state.
• Training: Ensure that facility managers and maintenance teams are trained to use BIM software and understand the model.
• Integration with Facility Management: Many BIM tools integrate with facility management software to help plan maintenance and operations efficiently.

GPRS Provides Industry-Leading 3D Laser Scanning, BIM Services

Obtaining a Building Information Model for your site or facility is a multifaceted process that requires clear planning, the right professionals, and ongoing management. However, the effort is worthwhile. A well-executed BIM can save time, reduce costs, and improve the facility’s lifecycle management. By following these steps, you can ensure that your BIM project is successful and serves its intended purpose well into the future.

As a leading provider of 3D laser scanning and BIM modeling services, GPRS’ advanced laser scanning technology accurately captures the dimensions of existing structures, and our BIM modeling expertise ensures these measurements are seamlessly integrated. Our meticulous methodology not only refines spatial configurations but also boosts efficiency, significantly reduces errors, and minimizes rework. These efforts lead to exceptional outcomes for our clients’ projects.

GPRS’ SIM-certified Project Managers employ cutting-edge Leica laser scanners, ground-penetrating radar, and electromagnetic locators to precisely capture as-built site conditions. Our in-house Mapping and Modeling Team then processes this data to create custom utility maps, 2D CAD drawings, and comprehensive 3D BIM models.

This array of deliverables is integrated flawlessly into SiteMap^® (patent pending), our proprietary cloud-based infrastructure mapping software. SiteMap^® features an intuitive interface that provides access to georeferenced utility data, CAD files, and BIM models, all in one unified platform. This integration ensures smooth collaboration and enhances informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep you on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does 3D laser scanning take?

An individual scan usually takes between 1-2 minutes. Your GPRS Project Manager will set up the scanner in multiple positions around your building or site. Most building scanning projects can be laser scanned in as little as a couple of hours, but larger sites may take a few days. Entire facilities or campuses can take several weeks to capture.

How much does 3D laser scanning cost?

The cost of 3D laser scanning a building or site depends on the size and complexity of what is being scanned. 3D building information modeling (BIM) costs are based on the size of the area being modeled, level of detail (LoD), and features needing to be included. 3D laser scanning can bring tremendous cost savings to a project. Quality data can lead to a faster design process and fewer change orders, ultimately saving time and money.

Is BIM only suitable for large projects?

No. Building information modeling (BIM) provides comprehensive site information that brings value to projects of all shapes and sizes. BIM management will expedite planning, improve workflows, and increase collaboration – which means that implementing BIM laser scanning will lead to cost and time savings, regardless of the project scale and complexity.

When engineers in Deming, New Mexico, needed to saw cut into a concrete slab within a warehouse, they contacted GPRS to mitigate the risk of subsurface damage by utilizing our precision concrete scanning services.

The engineers needed to know the location and depth of utilities and any other unknown subsurface objects running through the slab. They also wanted to know the thickness of the slab.

Coring or cutting through rebar or post tension cables in concrete can result in immediate structural failure that endangers everyone on site – and costs a lot of money to repair. According to a recent study completed for GPRS by Finch Brands, the average cost to repair damage to rebar or conduit embedded within concrete is $12,000.

To prevent this, GPRS used a ground penetrating radar scanner to locate the utilities, reinforcing steel, and other anomalies within the concrete in the Deming warehouse.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive detection and imaging technology that utilizes radio waves to evaluate what’s inside concrete or buried underground. The GPR scanner emits a radio signal into a structure, then detects the interactions between the radio waves and any subsurface objects – metallic or non-metallic. Those interactions are displayed in a readout as a series of hyperbolas, which vary in size and shape depending on what type of material has been located.

Professional concrete scanning technicians like GPRS’ SIM-certified Project Managers are specially trained to interpret these readouts to provide accurate information about the location and depth of buried objects.

SIM stands for Subsurface Investigation Methodology, the industry-leading training program and specification for not only concrete scanning but also utility locating, video pipe inspections, and leak detection.

All GPRS Project Managers are required to achieve SIM 101 certification, which includes a minimum of 320 hours of field training and 80 hours of classroom training.

During their field training, the trainees are paired with experienced GPRS Project Managers who walk them through the finer points of Intelligently Visualizing The Built World^®. The classroom education takes place at GPRS’ state-of-the-art training facility in Sylvania, Ohio, where the trainees utilize the site’s innovative, 3,000-square-foot training slab that’s designed to mimic even the most complex conditions they might encounter in the field.

All that training meant the Project Managers in Deming were prepared to meet the engineers’ needs. We scanned the concrete slab and marked our findings directly on the concrete with crayon at their request to ensure easy cleanup upon project completion.

The PMs were on site within 24 hours of initial contact with the client, ensuring the project’s schedule remained intact.

A New Era of Infrastructure Mapping

Even GPRS’ 99.8%+ accurate concrete scanning and utility locating services aren’t worth much if the data we collect isn’t at your fingertips when and where you need it.

That’s why we created SiteMap^® (patent pending), our cloud-based project and facility management application that provides accurate existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

All GPRS clients receive a complimentary SiteMap^® Personal subscription whenever they hire us to perform a job, allowing you and your team to easily, yet securely access and share the field-verified data you need to build better from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.

In the case of concrete scanning, GPRS’ in-house Mapping & Modeling Team can export the GPR concrete scans and field markings captured with 3D photogrammetry to create accurate existing condition as-builts to give you the information you need in a format you can easily work with and share. And that data will be uploaded into SiteMap^®, so even after the markings we leave on site fade or are washed away, you still know where it’s safe to cut or core.

The Green Box Guarantee

GPRS isn’t just confident in the results of our concrete imaging – we guarantee them.

The GPRS Green Box Guarantee states that when GPRS conducts a concrete scan and places a Green Box on your slab prior to you anchoring or coring that concrete, we guarantee the area within the box will be free of obstructions.

If we’re wrong, we agree to pay the material cost of any damage that occurs.

The Green Box Guarantee helps prevent potentially life-threatening injuries and damages, eliminates project delays, costly repairs, and unexpected change orders, and ensures clear communication between you and our field team members about where it’s safe to break ground. It’s just one way we are working to achieve our goal of 100% subsurface damage prevention.

From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How is ground penetrating radar used to identify tendons vs. rebar in a post-tensioned slab?

In post-tensioned structures, we typically find one mat of support rebar near the base of the slab. This mat is generally consistently spaced and remains at a constant elevation. Post tension cables are generally found above this support mat and “draped” throughout the rest of the structure. The elevation of the cable is usually high near the beams and column lines and drapes lower through the span between beams and column lines. Knowledge of these structural differences allows us to accurately differentiate between components. Our Project Managers will leave you feeling confident in our findings and in your ability to drill or cut without issue.

Can GPR determine the difference between rebar and electrical conduit?

Ground penetrating radar can accurately differentiate between rebar and electrical conduit in most cases. We have an extremely high success rate in identifying electrical lines in supported slabs or slabs-on-grade before saw cutting or core drilling.

Additionally, GPRS can use electromagnetic (EM) locators to determine the location of conduits in the concrete. If we can transmit a signal onto the metal conduit, we can locate it with pinpoint accuracy. We can also find the conduit passively if a live electrical current runs through it.

The combined use of GPR and EM locating allows us to provide one of the most comprehensive and accurate conduit locating services available.

Will there be a Green Box placed on every concrete slab that I have scanned?

No. Our Green Boxes communicate to our clients that all critical targets such as rebar reinforcement, electrical conduits, and post tension cables are absent, and no obstruction is present. We place Green Boxes on elevated concrete slab locations that we’re confident are clear to core, cut, or drill through. If we aren’t confident that you won’t hit anything, we won’t place a Green Box on the slab.

Throughout history, managing utilities has been a complex challenge for societies.

Take street lighting, for example.

Early civilizations used natural gas transported through bamboo pipelines from volcanic emissions to illuminate the streets of ancient Peking. This gas powered the early streetlamps. By 500 B.C., the Romans were lighting their streets with oil lamps filled with vegetable oil placed outside their homes. The organization of street lighting further evolved when, in 1417, Sir Henry Barton mandated that houses hang lanterns after dusk. By 1524, an order in Paris required that all homes display lights in their windows. This led to the emergence of "link-boys" in London, young servants who carried torches to light the way for the city's wealthy children. This early need for lighting evolved into gas streetlights, maintained by lamplighters, illuminating the nights of our early societies.

And this is just the history of streetlights. When you consider that this is only one aspect of municipal infrastructure, it becomes clear why so many communities and facilities struggle with a complex web of underground utilities without an accurate map to navigate them.

Today's urban environments necessitate efficient infrastructure management. Managing underground utilities presents unique challenges due to their hidden nature and complex networks. SiteMap® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, is transforming the way we approach underground utility mapping and management, revolutionizing our perception of the subsurface.

The Importance of Underground Utility Mapping

Understanding the significance of underground utility mapping is essential to appreciate the impact of solutions like SiteMap®. Here are key reasons why this mapping is crucial:

Cost Savings:

The American Public Works Association (APWA) estimates that damage to underground utilities during excavation activities costs the U.S. economy around $30 billion annually, with other estimates reaching as high as $60 billion. Accurate mapping can reduce these costs by preventing utility strikes and the associated repair expenses.

Safety Enhancement:

According to the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), utility strikes are a leading cause of workplace fatalities in the construction industry. Electrocution, part of OSHA’s Fatal Four hazards, can be significantly mitigated through precise underground utility mapping, enhancing workplace safety.

Environmental Protection:

Damage to underground utilities can lead to environmental issues such as contamination, water pollution, and habitat destruction. Accurate mapping helps prevent these incidents, supporting environmental sustainability efforts.

Urban Advancement:

Proper infrastructure monitoring is crucial for advancing our cities and towns. The utility grid must not only support our current population but also accommodate growth, change, and new technologies. For instance:

• Sewer Systems: Mapping sewer systems ensures the proper functioning of sewage networks.
• Stormwater Drainage: Accurate utility mapping aids in managing water runoff during heavy rains, reducing flood risks and protecting properties and lives.
• Fiber Optic Cables: With the growing reliance on high-speed internet and data transmission, precise mapping of fiber optics is vital for network management and expansion, also helping to prevent network disruptions during severe weather.

Effective utility management accelerates municipal progress. Better subsurface understanding allows us to build well-connected, advanced cities and towns.

The Role of SiteMap^® in Underground Utility Mapping

SiteMap^® is pivotal in transforming underground utility mapping with its advanced technology and comprehensive features. Here’s how SiteMap® enhances the benefits of this mapping:

High-Precision Mapping:

SiteMap® offers high-precision mapping capabilities, enabling users to accurately determine the location, depth, and type of underground utilities. This accuracy minimizes the risk of utility strikes and ensures the safety and integrity of infrastructure.

High Accuracy:

With SiteMap^®, users access GPRS's 99.8% accurate locate data. Once you order a locating service from GPRS, you get free access to a SiteMap^® Personal account, which you can upgrade and customize as needed. In this account, you can interact with subsurface data like never before, thanks to GPRS’s use of advanced technologies, providing some of the most accurate data available.

Comprehensive Reporting:

SiteMap^® generates detailed, layered visualizations, giving stakeholders actionable insights into underground utility assets. This supports informed decision-making, regulatory compliance, and effective communication. The Digital Plan Room acts as a data control center, a vault containing every file and map from any GPRS locating job.

Share Easily:

The Map Viewer allows you to simplify communications by showing contractors exactly what they need to see, when they need to see it. This single source of truth is accessible to all relevant parties for the life of your project, 24/7, from any computer or mobile device.

Unlocking the Benefits of SiteMap^®

SiteMap^® represents a necessary shift in underground utility mapping, offering unmatched precision, ease of use, and mobility. By leveraging SiteMap^®, organizations can unlock numerous benefits, including cost savings, safety enhancements, and environmental protection. As cities and communities grow and evolve, the importance of accurate underground utility mapping will only increase. Solutions like SiteMap^® are indispensable for navigating the subsurface and ensuring the reliability and sustainability of infrastructure networks.

The days of lamplighters may be gone, but the need to monitor natural gas and other utilities remains. SiteMap^® simplifies this process, making it easier than ever to monitor utilities and other subsurface assets and features.

GPRS SiteMap^® team members are currently scheduling live, personal SiteMap^® demonstrations. Click below to schedule and learn how SiteMap^® can help you plan, design, manage, dig, and build better today!

More than 200 designers, architects, and engineers came together in Chicago, Illinois May 1-2, 2024, for the LCI Lean In Design Forum, to explore how design can benefit from Lean thinking and practices. The main goal of Lean management is to improve efficiency and effectiveness by reducing the time spent on non-value-added activities to optimize workflows.

Total Lean Management is a process developed by Toyota which aims to reduce waste in all areas of an organization. A model was developed from this process to help organizations identify the key “pain points” in their operation and work to eliminate waste in all areas – not just manufacturing.

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How Does a Unified Team Help Lean Construction Practices?

Matt Mikolajczyk, GPRS’ Market Segment Leader for SiteMap^®, attended the LCI Design Forum for GPRS. He shared that, “The vast majority of construction projects utilize design-bid-build mentality, which separates the various parties of a project into smaller, separate projects. Lean is a way of thinking and managing the processes that is different. The focus is to create an efficient design by working closely together as a team through the entire conception, design, fabrication, and construction process.”

Lean construction practices align the owner, design team, and construction team (as well as any additional contractors) into a unified team, where every party becomes contractually involved in each step of the design and construction process. The entire team will be in a “Big Room” during the design stage and the designers will remain involved throughout the project’s construction.

During the forum discussions, the “Big Room” idea was tested, where major design, construction, and owners were co-located in the same room to work together through increased communication and collaboration. They prioritized value generation, continuous improvement, and optimizing workflows, with an emphasis on respect for all parties involved on the team.

Mikolajczyk said, “I certainly noticed the respect for all parties in attendance as everyone I met was happy to talk with me and open up about what Lean means to them.”

The Lean design examples presented were almost “common sense” to Mikolajczyk, adding value to the design in the most efficient and effective way possible.

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Lean and Target Value Delivery Management Practice

Mikolajczyk also participated in a session on Lean and Target Value Delivery. Target Value Delivery (TVD) is a management practice used throughout all phases of design and construction to deliver projects within a fixed budget, while meeting the operational needs and values of the client.

The steps involved planning and validating a business case before forming a team, organizing the “Big Room,” and finally beginning the constant and iterative process of project planning, cost modeling, cost estimating, and conceptual design.

Mikolajczyk said, “The heavy work and focus is up front prior to getting to production design and construction.”

During the TVD session, participants first had to design and construct a “tower” using traditional design methodology.  There was no communication allowed at the table, except through written RFIs.  Much of the information was lost in translation. The cost of materials was unknown. Stress was placed on the design team to complete the design quickly, and the construction team to build quickly.

“At the end of the day, we constructed a tower, but everyone was stressed, and the tower was very expensive to build.”

The exercise was then repeated using the “Big Room” approach. Historical costs were known, and everyone was part of the design thinking (owner, designer, and contractor).  The tower was designed together, and the team was always involved and moving forward. “The design was much less expensive, and everyone had fun doing it,” said Mikolajczyk.

“I was very impressed with how Lean construction practices were able to streamline so many processes, yet it wouldn’t have worked so well without a team working closely together in complete alignment.”

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How Can GPRS Add Value to Lean Design?

So, what were Mikolajczyk’s key learnings for GPRS?

“My main goal of attending the LCI Design Forum was to learn how GPRS can help our clients meet their target value delivery goals. GPRS is not a member of the design team, nor are we present in the ‘Big Room.’ We can add value to all members of the team by providing accurate as-built data up front on both brown and greenfield sites.”

GPRS delivers a comprehensive array of services for subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and management of construction and facility projects.

We provide utility locating, concrete scanning, video pipe inspection, and leak detection services to help prevent subsurface damage during excavation, or when drilling or coring through concrete. Our Project Managers utilize cutting-edge tools like ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) locating, and remote-operated sewer pipe inspection rovers to deliver detailed information of a site’s subsurface infrastructure.

3D laser scanning and 3D photogrammetry services utilize LiDAR technology to capture millions of three-dimensional data points of a space. Each data point is converted into a pixel with an X,Y,Z coordinate. Millions of data points are captured and processed, creating an accurate 3D as-built data set of the site. Data is then compiled into custom utility maps, 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, 3D meshes, 3D virtual tours, digital twins, floor plans, and more by our in-house Mapping and Modeling Team.  All data, drawings, maps, and models are delivered digitally via SiteMap^®, GPRS’ free cloud-based software.

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GPRS Delivers Accurate As-Builts Prior to Design and Construction

Many times, GPRS is called to a project site after the design is completed, right before breaking ground.

It is typically the contractor’s responsibility to verify that existing plans and utility locations are accurately shown on the design plans. They are also typically responsible for repairing all damages that occur during construction.

Many building professionals can benefit from Lean construction practices:

• Architects, engineers, and designers
• Owners, owners’ reps, and general contractors
• Trade partners engaged in Design/Build and Design/Assist
• Preconstruction managers
• Design managers
• Estimators
• BIM/VDC managers

GPRS can provide all architectural, structural, and MEP system layout and dimensions, plus utility and concrete markings prior to design and construction.  

“We help project teams verify that all discoverable utilities have been found, gravity sewers have had CCTV records pre and post construction, leaks in fire suppression and other water systems are discovered, concrete embedment and thicknesses are identified, and that all as-built conditions are documented so that accurate 2D plans and 3D models can be created. We can also help the construction team verify that a design is constructable and safe to proceed,” said Mikolajczyk.  

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Who Can Benefit From Lean Construction Practices?

GPRS can add value, save time, and minimize risk for teams who are working off bad data. As-built data collected after design planning can lead to delays, damages, and redesigns that can be costly.

“So many times, we have seen that creating a true as-built of the existing above and below infrastructure upfront through our locating, scanning, and modeling services has helped teams be more successful and reduce the unknown on projects,” said Mikolajczyk.

“We have helped project sites stay safe by keeping updated and centralized subsurface as-built records of utility lines as they go in the ground using our CAD team and SiteMap^® platform. We can provide exact dimensions, locations, and layout of a building, facility, or site, including walls, doors, windows, rooms, architectural and structural features, and more to allow team members to collaborate with comprehensive site data. This takes the burden off the contractor to develop their own as-builts at the start or end of a project.”

GPRS can help design teams start off on the right foot with accurate as-built data and also help maintain a single source of truth throughout the life of a project with our SiteMap^® platform, as well as our mapping and modeling services.

Any step toward Lean thinking to eliminate waste, increase communication, and streamline processes will certainly help projects be completed on time, under budget, safe, and help maintain the reputation of all parties involved.

This is in complete alignment of the value proposition of GPRS and SiteMap^®.

What can we help you visualize?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How does lean construction work?

Lean construction is a project delivery process that uses Lean methods of maximizing stakeholder value while reducing waste by emphasizing collaboration between teams on a project. The goal of Lean construction is to increase productivity, profits, and innovation in the industry.

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What is SiteMap^®?

SiteMap^® is an all-inclusive, cloud-based facility, construction & infrastructure management software that uses the data collected on-site by GPRS’ Project Managers to create up-to-date as-built drawings, 3D models, virtual walk-throughs, and comprehensive, layered utility maps. It can also house historical infrastructure data for construction sites, facilities, campuses, or a company’s distributed assets.

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What is Target Value Delivery?

Target value delivery focuses on prioritizing customer value instead of cost, eliminating many inefficiencies that come with a siloed approach. It starts with understanding what’s most valuable to the owner and the project’s constraints. Target value delivery essentially flips the traditional design and delivery process upside down—instead of the design determining the cost, the project’s scope informs the budget, which, in turn, determines the design.

A century ago, towns were often divided into wards, and the complexities of what lay beneath were left to outdated as-built maps and exploratory methods like potholing or daylighting.

These techniques, while traditional, were inefficient and frequently hazardous, particularly in coal-rich regions. However, as times change, so do the methods and the entire field of infrastructure asset management. With the introduction of advanced management software solutions like SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, organizations are now equipped to navigate the future of infrastructure management with enhanced efficiency and precision. Let’s delve beneath the surface to explore the transformative role that SiteMap^® plays in shaping the future of the industry.

Trends in Infrastructure Asset Software Development

Trends influence everything from what you drink and wear to what you buy and drive. Whether you engage with these trends is often a personal choice, but in fields like infrastructure management, adopting new technologies can significantly benefit your organization. Here are several key trends in infrastructure asset management:

Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML):

AI and ML are transforming infrastructure asset management by enabling predictive analytics and decision-support systems. According to a report, the AI market is projected to grow from $28.7 billion in 2022 to $96.6 billion by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate of 27.5% from 2022 to 2027. Although data on AI's efficacy in facility and infrastructure data capture and management is sparse, SiteMap® has chosen to rely on the accuracy of GPRS’ SIM-certified Project Managers over fully implementing these technologies. However, the trend towards AI and ML in infrastructure management is undeniable.

Cloud-Based Solutions:

Cloud-based infrastructure asset software offers scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, allowing organizations to access critical data and tools from anywhere, at any time. Global end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to grow 20.4% to $678.8 billion in 2024, up from $563.6 billion in 2023, according to Gartner, Inc. All cloud market segments are expected to see growth in 2024, with Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) projected to experience the highest growth at 26.6%, followed by Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) at 21.5%. SiteMap^® provides cloud-based deployment options, enabling seamless collaboration, data sharing, and integration with external systems, while ensuring data security and compliance.

Internet of Things (IoT) Integration:

IoT devices such as sensors, meters, and drones are increasingly used to collect real-time data on infrastructure assets. In 2023, $805 billion was spent on IoT technology worldwide, a figure below the forecast due to the global Coronavirus pandemic's impact. The projected worldwide spending on IoT was $1.1 trillion as estimated in 2019. While SiteMap^® may not traditionally employ IoT, it utilizes similar methodologies to accurately identify utility locations and more.

Digital Twin Technology:

Digital twin technology creates virtual replicas of physical assets, enabling organizations to simulate and optimize asset performance in real-time. The global digital twin market size was estimated at $16.75 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 35.7% from 2024 to 2030. This technology is gaining traction for its ability to bridge the physical and virtual worlds. SiteMap^® supports the creation of digital twins for infrastructure assets, providing a comprehensive view of asset lifecycle, performance, and maintenance requirements, facilitating informed decision-making and risk management.

Enhanced Data Visualization and Analytics:

Advanced data visualization and analytics tools help organizations derive actionable insights from vast data volumes. Studies show that 80% of organizations find decisions made using visualization tools to be more accurate, and 86% report faster decision-making. SiteMap^® offers comprehensive reporting and visualization features, enabling effective analysis, interpretation, and communication of complex data, supporting informed decision-making and stakeholder communication. The Digital Plan Room is one example of how visualization aids in effectively representing subsurface data.

The Role of SiteMap^® in Shaping the Future of Infrastructure Asset Management

SiteMap^® stands at the forefront of innovation in infrastructure asset software development, incorporating cloud-based deployment, digital twin technology, and advanced data visualization and analytics capabilities, among others. By embracing these emerging trends, SiteMap^® empowers organizations to unlock new opportunities, optimize asset performance, minimize risks, and drive sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving business landscape. With SiteMap^®, organizations can confidently navigate the future of infrastructure asset management, harnessing technology to map tomorrow and beyond.

SiteMap^® not only utilizes modern trends but also pioneers them. We lead the way in innovation while maintaining our commitment to accuracy and ease of use. SiteMap^® acts as a multifunctional application, offering unique capabilities such as:

• Infrastructure management
• Infrastructure mapping
• Utility cloud mapping
• Utility management
• Mapping software
• Geospatial solution
• GIS mapping
• Digital map viewer
• GPS software
• Geospatial mapping

This study supports the fact that managing subsurface software and technology requires a multifunctional resource that demands careful planning and sensitive management, balancing utilization and preservation of subsurface functions. SiteMap^® achieves this and more.

The GPRS Difference

SiteMap^® is more than typical infrastructure management software; it's backed by GPRS, the nationwide leader in subsurface locating and mapping, with a 99.8% accuracy rating across 500,000 jobs.

GPRS is committed to 100% subsurface damage prevention. Our 99.8% accuracy rate reflects our consistent delivery of high-quality results nationwide, using the industry-leading Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) for utility mapping, concrete scanning, sewer camera inspection, or 3D laser scanning.

Our field-to-finish process is supported by a 99.8% accuracy rate. Our skilled Project Managers use various devices like ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, CCTV crawler cameras, LiDAR, and acoustic leak detectors to collect data. This data is then processed into deliverables by our in-house Mapping and Modeling Team.

These maps and models are stored within SiteMap^®'s digital plan room. After completing a private utility locate service, our field data automatically creates a site map in formats such as .pdf, .kmz, and .shp. This field-to-finish solution includes a free subscription to SiteMap^®.

This comprehensive collection and management service is unmatched in the market and is exclusive to GPRS and SiteMap^®. Thus, SiteMap^® isn’t just following trends; it’s creating new ways to see and manage the subsurface, including developing proprietary technologies that redefine utility data collection management.

SiteMap^® offers organizations a complete solution for navigating infrastructure management complexities with precision and efficiency. By leveraging SiteMap^® and GPRS capabilities and embracing certain trends, organizations can map tomorrow with confidence and see the subsurface in unprecedented ways. SiteMap^® is more than a tool; it is a window into the world of the subsurface, providing a clear and simple view of what lies beneath.

GPRS SiteMap^® team members are currently scheduling live, personal SiteMap^® demos. Click below to schedule your demo today!

A discarded straw hat helped uncover a decades-long water heist in San Joaquin Valley, California.

The extraordinary story has divided the area’s farming community, and also highlights the difficulties in accurately accounting for one of our most important natural resources.

An article published recently in the Los Angeles Times details the accusations levied against 77-year-old Dennis Falaschi, the former longtime general manager of the Panoche Water District who allegedly masterminded the theft of more than $25 million worth of water out of a federal canal over the course of two decades.

The Panoche Water District is a public agency responsible for supplying irrigation for 38,000 acres of farmland in Fresno and Merced counties on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley, an area short on water but with a surplus of fertile soil.

Falaschi is accused of siphoning 130,000-acre feet of water – enough, according to the LA Times article, to supply a small city for several years – through a secret pipe. He allegedly had his employees carry out this work for him, often at night, and then sold the water to farmers and other local water districts or back to the federal government for water credits.

The illicit siphoning allegedly began in 1992 and continued until 2015 when it was discovered, in part, thanks to the work of Mark Walsh, a hydrographer employed by the water authority that oversees the federal government’s water operations in the western San Joaquin Valley.

The secret pipe Falaschi allegedly used to steal the water was an old turnout on the canal that had been abandoned and sealed with cement. According to a five-count federal indictment handed down in April 2022, the heist began in 1992 when one of Falaschi’s employees discovered that the turnout was leaking through the cement. Instead of reporting the leak, Falaschi allegedly told the employee to install a gate that could be opened and closed, to put a lock on the gate, and to conceal the setup so it could not be easily noticed.

Walsh discovered the setup when he was performing his routine work of inspecting the canal and the hundreds of pipes and irrigation ditches that it services. Walsh told the LA Times that during this process he noticed a straw hat that had fallen near the pipe and was spinning as if floating in water and caught in a strong current. This led him to investigate further, and it was then that he discovered the locked gate.

“When I saw that, I thought: Someone is stealing water,” Walsh told the Times.

News of Walsh’s discovery reached the FBI around the same time they also received a tip about the alleged scheme from a local farmer who, angry about his water rates, had been researching Panoche’s records and claimed to have evidence of the water district’s misuse of public funds. Falaschi eventually resigned from his post, but he and some of his former employees are still facing federal charges related to the allegations.

“The [Panoche Water District’s] egregious lack of spending oversight is shocking,” California State Controller Betty T. Yee said in a press release issued along with her team’s review of the district’s administrative and accounting controls. “It is especially troubling in a region where effective water governance is so vital for the agricultural community. I am looking into what options are available to ensure small entities like Panoche Water District are kept accountable.”

Mitigating Non-Revenue Water Loss

Whether through theft, leaks, water main breaks, or other defects, water that does not reach the end user – also known as non-revenue water, or NRW – is one of the most important issues the U.S. faces as it looks to maintain and improve its aging infrastructure.

If the water is stolen, both supplier and customer are being cheated. If it leaks into the ground, it could cause soil erosion and decay to surrounding infrastructure that will eventually be costly and dangerous to the community.

A water main breaks every two minutes, and an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water are lost each day in the U.S., according to data compiled by the American Society of Civil Engineers. That’s enough water to fill over 9,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Given those statistics, it’s no surprise that the ASCE gave our country’s drinking water infrastructure a C- in its most recent Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.

It’s also no surprise that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received more than $50 billion in funding to improve the nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding represents the single largest investment in water ever made by the federal government.

“The nation has underinvested in water infrastructure for too long,” reads a fact sheet about the funding on the EPA’s website. “Insufficient water infrastructure threatens America’s security, and it risks people’s health, jobs, peace of mind, and future prosperity.”

While these ongoing improvement projects will vastly improve the integrity of the country’s water infrastructure when completed, it will likely take years – maybe even decades – to address the bulk of the country’s aged lines.

Routine water loss surveys are a vital tool for maintaining the water infrastructure we have until it can be replaced and ensuring that new lines have been installed correctly and without pre-existing defects that could lead to more NRW loss.

GPRS’ water loss specialists have the equipment and expertise to locate leaks and provide insights into your water distribution system. We employ a variety of industry-leading equipment and methods, including acoustic leak detectors, leak noise correlators, video pipe inspection, ground penetrating radar, and electromagnetic locating, to protect your assets and people.

From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize? Click below to schedule a service or request a quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many miles of pipe can GPRS test in one day?

While it can vary depending on your specific situation, our professional leak detection specialists can typically test up to 10 miles of pipe a day on a metallic system (cast iron/ductile) and can test one contact point (hydrant/valve) per minute. We’re able to work so efficiently because our field team members have undergone special training to hear the specific tone produced by a leak.

Why does GPRS typically conduct leak detection services in the early hours of the morning?

Our acoustic listening equipment is highly sensitive and amplifies leaks and other noises which mask signals during the day. If we work in city environments, there is often a significant amount of ambient noise. This noise includes airplanes, traffic, mowers, machinery, and most importantly, people using water. It is up to the Project Manager performing your leak detection to determine if night work should be utilized to minimize all other noise to focus on the leak signal.

Why don’t I see any water at the location you’ve pinpointed as the leak’s location?

Water finds the path of least resistance. Water can run through cracks in subsurface rock or make its way into storm, sanitary, and conduit piping. If the subsurface contains a high volume of sand, it will naturally flow farther down. There is no water visible on the surface in more than 99% of the leaks we locate.

Facebook needs no introduction.

According to statista.com, in 2023, Facebook was the largest social media platform with 3.03 billion monthly active users worldwide.

Facebook generates 4 new petabytes (1 million gigabytes) of data per day, sees 100 million hours of daily video watch time, generates 4 million likes every minute, uploads more than 250 billion photos, and ingests 500+ terabytes of data each day.

The company has a large and complex infrastructure that uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) for some of its backend servers. Plus, it maintains 18 global data centers, with 14 located in the United States, to store Facebook data.

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Five-Building Campus, $800 Million Investment

According to Construction Dive, a new 960,000 square foot Facebook data center is being constructed in Mesa, Arizona worth $800 million, which will become the company’s first facility in Arizona. The project is expected to support an estimated 100 long-term operational jobs and 1,500 temporary construction jobs. At the height of construction, the number of skilled tradespeople onsite could peak at 2,000 workers.

The Mesa Data Center, first announced in August 2021, is a greenfield development of a five-building campus encompassing over 2.5 million square feet of data center and administrative space for tech giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg. Meta purchased the 396 acres site for $123.2 million.

The Mesa Data Center will be built on the southeast corner of Elliot and Ellsworth roads. Apple already has a massive facility located at Elliot and Signal Butte, and Google plans to build a new data center on Elliot west of Sossaman. Numerous other cloud storage firms are located in Arizona’s Elliot Road Tech Corridor.

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DPR Construction Selected as General Contractor

Meta selected California-based contractor DPR Construction to build this $800 million data center. “Building the campus will use 12,000 tons of steel, more than the Eiffel Tower, and will incorporate over 600 miles of framing studs and 700 acres of drywall. Roughly 2,000 people are working on the project, which is expected to be completed in 2026,” according to a social media post from Mesa’s Mayor John Giles.

DPR Construction plans to hire drywall contractors, concrete contractors, general carpenters, laborers, acoustical ceiling installers, caulking installers, waterproofing installers, steel strut installers, door, frame and hardware installers, and many other tradespeople to complete construction.

The new data center will power Facebook, making digital communication and connection possible. The facility will house routers, switches, servers, storage systems, and other equipment to keep applications running and data secure for Facebook's 3.03 billion monthly active users, allowing them to interact, exchange messages, and share photos.

Telecom data centers are going through a similar transformation to handle high data volume and low latency needs. The average full-scale data center is 100,000 square feet in size and runs around 100,000 servers, which are essentially powerful computers. Servers are often stored in racks, which is like a cabinet for multiple servers.

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Prioritizing Sustainable Energy and Water Conservation

Meta is also prioritizing sustainable energy and water conservation for the Mesa data center.

Three new Arizona solar projects from the Salt River Project will deliver a combined 500 megawatts of power. The first, a 100-megawatt West Line Solar, came online in fall 2022, followed by 200-megawatt plants Randolph Solar Park and Valley Farms Solar, in 2023. All three solar plants are located in Pinal County. The new Facebook facility in Mesa expects to use about 450 megawatts of power. These solar projects will allow this data center to operate with 100% renewable energy.

Water conservation is also an important initiative because the Arizona groundwater supply can’t support the new data centers.  

According to Business Insider, “These huge data centers use incredible amounts of water because the computing gear inside gets really hot when it processes all those videos and mobile app sessions. Water is often used to cool the equipment.”

Rachel Peterson, VP of Infrastructure at Facebook said, “the Mesa facility will use 60% less water than the average data center, with water recycled several times before it's discharged for agricultural use.”

Facebooks says it will not draw water rights from the city of Mesa. It has invested in three Arizona projects that will restore over 200 million gallons of water per year in the Colorado River and Salt River basins. One project is repairing and upgrading a tribal irrigation system in northern Arizona in exchange for leaving some of the tribe's water allotment in Lake Mead. The three water conservation projects will replace more water than the data center will consume.

Peterson added, “We are thrilled to be breaking ground on our newest data center. Mesa stood out as a great location for a number of reasons. It has great access to infrastructure, opportunities for renewable energy development, strong talent for both construction and operations, and great community partners.”

Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority said, “Arizona has become one of the leading destinations for data centers anywhere in the world, and with the addition of Facebook, we demonstrate once again our premier attractiveness for technology. We look forward to partnering with Facebook to prioritize sustainability and conservation as we add to Arizona’s already thriving technology ecosystem.”

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Facebook Data Center Locations

According to Data Center Frontier, Facebook has invested more than $16 billion in building and operating its data centers in the United States. The company developed a new website that maps the locations of the company's 18 data centers, (plus new data centers which broke ground recently) that will span 40 million square feet of data center space, along with 52 solar power arrays and 15 wind farms providing renewable energy to support its online operations, and 9 water conservation projects.

Facebook Data Center Locations:

• Odense Data Center, Southern Denmark, Denmark
• Clonee Data Center, Leinster, Ireland
• Singapore Data Center, Tanjong Kling, Singapore
• Luleå Data Center, Norrbotten County, Sweden
• Huntsville Data Center, Alabama, USA
• Montgomery Data Center, Alabama, USA (2024 break ground)
• Mesa Data Center, Arizona, USA (2021 break ground)
• Newton Data Center, Georgia, USA
• Kuna Data Center, Idaho, USA (2022 break ground)
• Jeffersonville Data Center, Indiana, USA (2024 break ground)
• DeKalb Data Center, Illinois, USA
• Altoona Data Center, Iowa, USA
• Rosemount Data Center, Minnesota, USA (2024 break ground)
• Kansas City Data Center, Missouri, USA (2022 break ground)
• Papillion Data Center, Nebraska, USA
• Los Luna Data Center, New Mexico, USA
• Forest City Data Center, North Carolina, USA
• New Albany Data Center, Ohio, USA
• Prineville Data Center, Oregon, USA
• Gallatin Data Center, Tennessee, USA
• Fort Worth Data Center, Texas, USA
• Temple Data Center, Texas, USA (2022 break ground)
• Eagle Mountain Data Center, Utah, USA
• Henrico Data Center, Virginia, USA

Tom Furlong, President of Infrastructure, Data Centers at Meta, says “We have 48 active buildings and another 47 buildings under construction. So, we’re going to have more than 70 buildings in the near future.”

Facebook is not alone, many companies are pouring billions of dollars into expanding their data center infrastructure to meet demand for their digital services.

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How Can GPRS Help?

GPRS delivers a comprehensive array of services to data centers for subsurface damage prevention, existing condition documentation, and management of construction and facility projects.

Our offerings in concrete scanning, utility locating, video pipe inspection, and leak detection help prevent subsurface damage during excavation, or when drilling or slicing through concrete. Leveraging cutting-edge tools like ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) locating, and remote-operated sewer pipe inspection rovers, our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers (PMs) equip you with an in-depth view of your site’s subsurface structures.

For a clear depiction of above-ground conditions and to document our PMs’ findings in utility locating and concrete scanning, our 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry services deliver 2-4 mm-accurate data useful for both project design and future operation and maintenance (O&M) tasks. Furthermore, our internal Mapping & Modeling Department can tailor this data into any required format and software.

GPRS delivers accurate as-built data to the Renewable Energy sector. We have completed hundreds of wind (utility-scale) and solar projects in all stages of project development and construction. With the recent expansion of the EV-charging network, we’ve worked with major companies such as Tesla, Rivian, ChargePoint, EVgo, and Electrify America to provide above-ground architectural, structural and MEP as-builts and BIM models, plus underground utility locates using the most reliable scanning technology available. 

We deliver up-to-date and accurate construction as-builts, existing condition drawings, utility maps, 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, 3D mesh models, digital twins, point clouds, updated floorplans (FLRPLN), and more for construction design, prefabrication, clash detection, facility modifications, and asset management. An accurate record of existing conditions can expedite project planning and decision making for data center construction.

All GPRS data, drawings, maps, and models are delivered via SiteMap®, our industry-leading infrastructure software platform. And the best part is you get a complimentary SiteMap® Personal Subscription with every GPRS service.

What can we help you visualize?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the process of constructing a data center?

According to dgtlinfra.com, the entire process, which includes engineering, materials procurement, civil works, equipment installation, and commissioning tests, often takes anywhere from 1.5 to 3 years. At the height of construction, it's not unusual for such projects to employ over 1,000 construction workers on-site temporarily.

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Why put a data center in Mesa?

Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said Arizona is now a leading destination for data centers. The Phoenix region is booming with data center construction due to its low natural disaster risk. Several other companies operate or are developing data centers in east Mesa including Apple, Google, EdgeCore, Cyrus One, Digital Realty, NTT/Raging Wire, and Edgeconnex, according to an article by Data Centre Dynamics, an industry publication.

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In 2022 1,069 construction workers died on the job according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number puts construction at the top of a disturbing chart – the same chart it has topped since record-keeping began – reflecting the most on-the-job deaths in the U.S.

Fatalities on construction sites increased by 7.7% in 2022. Across all industries, a worker died every 96 minutes on the job in the U.S., and there was an alarming increase in workplace suicides, which increased by 13.1%. The construction industry has a higher fatality rate overall than every other industry; this includes a larger-than-average number of substance abuse issues, overdoses, and suicides compared to other industries.

The History of Workplace Injury & Fatality Data

Prior to 1970 and the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act that established OSHA, private construction contractors and businesses like coal mines, railroads, and oil rigs were not required to report statistics on workplace fatalities. According to one source, a leading “skyscraper construction firm” admitted that one worker perished every 33 hours on site between 1910 and 1920. That’s more than one fatality a week, approximately 65 deaths annually, and that’s just the statistic from one company.

When you consider the construction involved in the handful of industries listed above, and the fact that no one had to report any incidents, injuries, or deaths that occurred while workers toiled in harrowing conditions, the potentially unreported loss of life in construction, extraction, and related industries prior to 1970 is staggering.

100 years later, thankfully, the number of construction site deaths is significantly smaller; yet jobsite fatalities are still far higher than every other industry, and are rising, after staying largely “flat” since 2012.

The Fatal Four, Plus One

In mid-April of 2023, OSHA released its raw data on work-related injury and illness across all industries, but has not yet provided analysis of the millions of pieces of information. If the underlying causes of accidents, injuries, and fatalities remain consistent with prior years, the “fatal four” plus one, continue to take lives. Many of those fatalities could have been prevented or avoided if safety protocols were understood and followed by everyone on site.  

Almost everyone on a job site is familiar with OSHA’s Fatal 4, also sometimes called the Focus 4:

• Slips, Trips & Falls
• Struck By Accidents
• Caught In-Between Accidents
• Electrocutions

The data has remained consistent over the last decade for the top four causes of death on construction sites, which is why most safety training rightly focuses on them. According to analysis from The Associated General Contractors of America, falls accounted for 38% of fatalities, struck by deaths account for 8%, electrocutions, 6%, and fatalities caused by being struck, caught in-between, or crushed by materials or equipment were at 5% in 2022.

Incidences of caught in-between and struck by accidents as related to trenching activity have experienced an alarming uptick in recent years. So much so that OSHA issued an enhanced enforcement directive to address the “alarming rise” in trench related fatalities.

The “Plus 1” to OSHA’s Fatal 4 is silicosis, the incurable lung condition caused by breathing respirable crystalline silica dust (RCS), that is the byproduct of concrete, stone, and brick cutting, coring, and drilling activities. In 2019, OSHA put forth an initiative to raise awareness about silicosis and in 2022, the administration added enhanced enforcement and reporting measures for those who work with cut stone to improve PPE requirements and incidence reporting for RCS.

With so much emphasis on construction safety and saving lives, the increase in construction fatalities is troubling. Until the 2023 data is analyzed, it is difficult to come to specific conclusions, but two factors seem to be contributing to the increase in fatal construction accidents.

1. Workforce Shortage
   Data released at the beginning of 2024 demonstrates just how tight the construction labor market is. A 500,000 skilled worker shortage is cited as one of the biggest issues in completing large-scale projects and infrastructure upgrades. That means supervisors and foremen are pushing harder than ever to get jobs done, and that stress trickles directly down to each individual contractor and tradesperson.
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2. Substance Use on the Job
   As noted at the top of this piece, the construction industry has an increasing problem with mental health and substance use/abuse on the job. Construction Safety Week began addressing this issue on a national level in 2020 and continues that focus with this year’s theme – Value Every Voice.

Memorializing the Fallen & Bringing Additional Awareness

Did you know that there is a national Workers Memorial Day in the U.S., sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?

There is. It was established in 1970, the same year as OSHA, by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to commemorate those who have lost their lives at work and to draw attention to workplace accidents, fatalities, and the need for ever-increasing safety on the job. Now the event has been expanded to a week-long series of events from to provide industry and employer education on health and safety.

The event’s organizers have expanded beyond its union roots to include OSHA, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and the U.S. Department of Labor. There is even a virtual “memorial wall,” created in conjunction with the United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF), where families can send photos of their loved ones lost to work-related accidents to be memorialized.

The goal of all of these initiatives and reports remains the same – to eliminate construction-related fatalities throughout our industry. Join us in this mission by registering for a complimentary Construction Safety Week talk, sponsored by GPRS, today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What role does safety training and education play in preventing construction accidents?

Proper safety training that includes best practices surrounding OSHA’s Fatal 4: avoidance of slips, trips & falls, caught in-between, struck-by, and electrocution accidents, plus additional training and resources for mental health awareness, heat-related illnesses, etc. have made a real impact on construction safety. Until 2021-2022, the industry had seen a marked and continual decrease in job site incidents and fatalities.

GPRS’ Construction Safety Week talks include all of the above best practices and PPE use, plus silicosis awareness, and put the focus and responsibility for safety on each individual in the workplace. Each person who attends a GPRS CSW event leaves with a personal safety plan designed to protect them and help them protect their co-workers.

What are the consequences for companies that fail to prioritize safety on their worksites?

OSHA and other state and federal regulatory agencies take workplace accidents very seriously. Fines and regulatory penalties, legal actions, and expensive insurance premiums are just some of the ramifications of failing to protect construction workers on site. Beyond that, when there is a major construction accident or a fatality, the public scrutiny and media attention can directly and negatively impact your reputation and your bottom line.

In recent years, OSHA has issued enhanced enforcement initiatives and investigations that have even called for state agencies to criminally prosecute construction companies whose non-compliance issues have led to fatalities.

Are there any emerging trends or technologies that could help reduce construction fatalities in the future?

Striking utilities like gas or electrical lines underground, or hitting a post tension cable or conduit inside a concrete slab are major factors that contribute to workplace accidents, injuries, damages, and fatalities.

GPRS is pursuing 100% subsurface damage prevention and currently maintains a 99.8%+ accuracy rate in subsurface utility locating and mapping, and concrete scanning and imaging. When you know what’s underground and inside before you cut, core, dig, or drill, your chances of a mishap fall dramatically.

While the tools of our damage prevention trade – ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic locators, and other equipment – help you see what is underneath the surface, the new technology we’ve created to help you visualize your existing conditions and infrastructure may be the most effective safety tool we can provide. SiteMap®, powered by GPRS, is our new digital utility and infrastructure mapping and data management tool, and all GPRS customers receive a complimentary SiteMap® Personal subscription to help them Intelligently Visualize The Built World® to dig, collaborate, manage, and build better.