As the United States continues to embrace electric vehicles, production of their components requires construction of new manufacturing facilities. And as construction of these facilities begins, proper utility locating and mapping, and 3D laser scanning services can ensure the success of these projects.
Engineering News-Record reported recently on the groundbreaking for Japanese EV battery maker Envision AESC’s new, 3-million-sq-ft plant in Kentucky. The $2 billion project represents the second largest investment in state history. It will be entirely powered by renewable energy, including on-site solar and additional power purchased from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Envision’s project is just the latest EV battery plant being constructed in the Bluegrass State. Southfield, Michigan-based Barton Malow and Lexington, Kentucky-based Gray Construction are building two EV battery plants as part of the Ford-SK project.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said during the groundbreaking for the Envision project that these projects “cement Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States.”
These are just two of a slew of EV battery plant projects currently ongoing across the United States, which are designed to address the expected growth in demand for EVs.
ENR cited a study by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which projected in 2022 that demand for battery cells will grow, on average, by more than 20% per year until 2030, reaching at least $360 billion globally.
The charging infrastructure to support the expected increase in EV popularity is currently being construction nationwide, with the help of federal and state funding.
How GPRS Ensures Success of EV Projects
GPRS applies our suite of infrastructure visualization services to ensure the success of projects of all shapes and sizes.
By providing accurate, reliable utility locating and mapping, we help you avoid costly and potentially dangerous subsurface damage during excavation.
Our SIM-certified Project Managers use ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locating to find everything buried beneath your jobsite.
GPR scanners emit radio waves which interact with any objects buried underground. Those interactions between the radio waves and the buried objects are captured by the scanner and displayed in a reading as hyperbolas varying in size and shape depending on the type of object located. Qualified utility locating technicians can interpret these readings to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the built world beneath your site.
EM locators compliment the findings collected by GPR by detecting the electromagnetic signals radiating from metallic pipes and cables.
These signals can be created by the locator’s transmitter applying current to a known utility, or from current flow in a live electrical cable. If a utility is buried too deep for GPR to detect, or if the soil is not conducive to GPR scanning, our Project Managers will deploy EM locators to compensate for these limitations.
When it’s time for walls to go up, GPRS 3D laser scanning services provide you with millimeter-accurate data for design, construction, and maintenance of your facility or campus. Our elite Mapping & Modeling team will package your data to suit your needs – from raw point clouds to a fully rendered 3D BIM model – to ensure you have all the information you need to get the job done right, delivered in formats that make them instantly understandable and easy to communicate.
All Your Data in One Place
The best information in the world isn’t worth anything if you can’t access it easily when it’s needed.
That’s why GPRS created SiteMap® (patent pending), our revolutionary cloud-based facility management solution where you can store, access, and securely share all your data anytime, anywhere, with just the press of a button.
When a GPRS Project Manager performs a utility locate, precision concrete scanning & imaging, 3D laser scanning, video pipe inspection, or leak detection on your site, that data is instantly uploaded into SiteMap® for you to see and use. And you receive a complimentary SiteMap® subscription when we perform a utility locate on your property.
SiteMap® is an infrastructure mapping solution designed to help you plan better, design better, dig better, and ultimately, 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 the links below to schedule a service or request a quote today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is ground penetrating radar?
While accuracy depends on external factors such as ground and soil conditions, GPRS’ SIM-certified Project Managers are specially trained to ensure we can obtain the best results possible in each situation. Through our experience, we’ve found that when using a GPR concrete scanning antenna, accuracy is typically +/- ¼” to the center of the object and +/- ½” to the actual depth. When conducting utility locating using GPR, the accuracy is +/- 6” to the center and +/- 10% to the actual depth.
To compensate for GPR’s limitations, GPRS Project Managers deploy other technologies such as electromagnetic (EM) locating.
What is 3D laser scanning?
3D laser scanners use LiDAR (light detection and ranging) to measure and record precise locations and distances, ultimately producing a point cloud file. The technology enables you to produce highly accurate digital measurements and images quickly and easily for use in construction and engineering projects. 3D laser scanning is a revolutionary tool to document existing conditions. It is invaluable in design, prefabrication, asset management, and facility modifications.
Can GPRS work with my schedule to avoid disrupting ongoing operations?
Yes! GPRS tailors our services to meet your needs, and that includes working nights and weekends to help limit disruptions to normal business operations. The equipment that GPRS uses is battery operated, emits less radiation than a cell phone, and less noise than a household vacuum cleaner, allowing us to work discreetly.