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Should You Rent, Buy, or Hire a GPR Service? Ground Penetrating Radar Options Compared
Rental vs. Purchase vs. Hiring a Service
For most construction and facility projects, hiring a professional GPR service is the most cost-effective and lowest-risk option. A utility strike or a severed post-tension cable can cost tens of thousands of dollars in repairs and schedule delays — far more than the cost of a professional scan. This page compares the three options so you can make an informed decision before your next excavation or coring project.
OPTION 1) RENTING GPR EQUIPMENT
One alternative to purchasing GPR equipment is renting it. GPR rentals can be a cost-effective and sometimes a quick means of locating buried utilities. Equipment can be rented immediately (when available), allowing you to quickly get to work scanning a site. There’s no need to worry about servicing or maintaining the equipment and the latest model and technology can be selected. There is the possibility of renting multiple pieces of ground penetrating radar equipment at once in order to speed up the scanning process over a large area or project.
A major downside to renting equipment is knowing how to use it. Time is wasted learning to use the equipment, in addition to time and money spent fixing mistakes which arise from its improper use. GPR rental cost may appear low upfront, but operator error on a live utility or post-tension slab can result in damages that far exceed the rental fee.
A major downside to renting equipment is knowing how to use it. Time is wasted learning to use the equipment, in addition to time and money spent fixing mistakes which arise from its improper use. GPR rental cost may appear low upfront, but operator error on a live utility or post-tension slab can result in damages that far exceed the rental fee.
OPTION 2) PURCHASING GPR EQUIPMENT
Ground penetrating radar equipment commonly costs tens of thousands of dollars. It’s a costly investment for an individual or company who may only be using it once or twice. The purchaser must then learn to safely and effectively use the equipment.
OPTION 3) HIRING A GPR SERVICE
Use of a GPR service provider such as GPRS is the most common and overall most cost-effective method of conducting a ground penetrating radar scan. GPR services can be costlier than renting equipment, though less so than purchasing equipment. Cost is dependent on the size and complexity of the area being scanned- factors determining how long it will take to scan a site.
However, GPRS’s trained project managers are able to provide better results and more insight as to the nature of a project than someone using GPR equipment for the first time. Experience also allows for quicker and more efficient work, making up for the expense.
However, GPRS’s trained project managers are able to provide better results and more insight as to the nature of a project than someone using GPR equipment for the first time. Experience also allows for quicker and more efficient work, making up for the expense.
WHY CALL GPRS?
GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Systems), the nation’s largest private utility locating company, is the top GPR service provider in the country, with more than two decades of experience. GPRS Project Managers are extensively trained on GPR equipment, interpretation, and the impact of local site conditions on scan quality. Since 2017, GPRS has maintained a 99.8% accuracy rate across more than 300,000 projects — a standard that comes from people, methodology, and equipment working together, not equipment alone.
Our Project Managers adhere to the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) standard, which details a three-part approach for ensuring high-quality locates. Our onboarding process includes an 8-week intensive course along with at least 80 hours of classroom training. This is accompanied by mentorship under an experienced Project Manager, as well as continual training and development.
The cost of hiring a GPRS professional is prudent and justified considering the cost and dangers of hitting a buried utility or damaging the structural integrity of a concrete slab. Hitting a utility or structural component can spell disaster for your project’s budget and schedule.
One quick phone call or inquiry can have a local GPRS project manager at your site within 24 hours, enabling you to keep your project moving on schedule. The cost of a utility strike or a coring mistake far exceeds the cost of a professional scan. Contact GPRS to schedule service.
DISCLAIMER: We do not conduct a study, investigation, analysis, or interpretation of soil composition, soil conditions, or other aspects of the physical earth. We report retrieved data only. We do NOT provide geophysical, geological, engineering, or land surveying services. Please contact a geophysicist, geologist, engineer, or land surveyor if you are seeking the provision of geophysical, geological, engineering, or land surveying services.
Our Project Managers adhere to the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) standard, which details a three-part approach for ensuring high-quality locates. Our onboarding process includes an 8-week intensive course along with at least 80 hours of classroom training. This is accompanied by mentorship under an experienced Project Manager, as well as continual training and development.
The cost of hiring a GPRS professional is prudent and justified considering the cost and dangers of hitting a buried utility or damaging the structural integrity of a concrete slab. Hitting a utility or structural component can spell disaster for your project’s budget and schedule.
One quick phone call or inquiry can have a local GPRS project manager at your site within 24 hours, enabling you to keep your project moving on schedule. The cost of a utility strike or a coring mistake far exceeds the cost of a professional scan. Contact GPRS to schedule service.
DISCLAIMER: We do not conduct a study, investigation, analysis, or interpretation of soil composition, soil conditions, or other aspects of the physical earth. We report retrieved data only. We do NOT provide geophysical, geological, engineering, or land surveying services. Please contact a geophysicist, geologist, engineer, or land surveyor if you are seeking the provision of geophysical, geological, engineering, or land surveying services.
WHY DO I NEED A GPR SCAN?
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is commonly used to locate buried utilities and other objects, as well as materials inside of concrete (rebar, conduit, etc.) For this reason, GPR services are a necessary part of many construction projects, preventing costly and time-consuming damage. Whether you need utility locating before excavation or concrete scanning services before coring or cutting, the question of GPR scan cost should always be weighed against the cost of proceeding without one.
What Can Go Wrong Without a Professional GPR Scan
The decision to rent equipment or skip professional scanning entirely is most often made under schedule pressure or cost pressure. It rarely accounts for what a mistake actually costs. Here are the consequences that drive most calls to GPRS.
Utility strikes during excavation. Hitting a gas line, electrical conduit, or water main stops a job immediately. Repair costs, emergency response, project delays, and potential liability claims can total tens of thousands of dollars on a single incident. According to the Common Ground Alliance, a utility strike occurs every 61 seconds in the U.S.
Severed post-tension cables during coring or cutting. Post-tension cables are under significant tension and can recoil violently when cut. Beyond the safety risk to workers, a severed cable can compromise the structural integrity of an entire slab, requiring engineering review and potentially major remediation.
Misread data from untrained operators. GPR equipment produces hyperbolic waveform data that requires trained interpretation. An untrained operator scanning with rented equipment may miss targets entirely or misidentify what they’re seeing. GPRS Project Managers complete an 8-week intensive training program and adhere to the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) standard — the most rigorous utility locating methodology available.
Utility strikes during excavation. Hitting a gas line, electrical conduit, or water main stops a job immediately. Repair costs, emergency response, project delays, and potential liability claims can total tens of thousands of dollars on a single incident. According to the Common Ground Alliance, a utility strike occurs every 61 seconds in the U.S.
Severed post-tension cables during coring or cutting. Post-tension cables are under significant tension and can recoil violently when cut. Beyond the safety risk to workers, a severed cable can compromise the structural integrity of an entire slab, requiring engineering review and potentially major remediation.
Misread data from untrained operators. GPR equipment produces hyperbolic waveform data that requires trained interpretation. An untrained operator scanning with rented equipment may miss targets entirely or misidentify what they’re seeing. GPRS Project Managers complete an 8-week intensive training program and adhere to the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) standard — the most rigorous utility locating methodology available.
Hire GPRS vs. Rent GPR Equipment vs. Buy GPR Equipment
hire gprs
- Low initial cost
- Short term commitment
- No investment in training needed - GPRS is expert
- Risk reduced by hiring expert service provider
- Knowledge of how concrete structures are constructed
- Knowledge of how underground infrastructure is constructed
- Has all industry standard insurance coverage
rent gpr equipment
- Low initial cost
- Short term commitment
- Training available
- High risk of damages and injuries due to lack of training
- May not understand how concrete structures are constructed
- May not understand how underground infrastructure is constructed
- Likely is not approved by insurance to be performing gpr scanning
buy gpr equipment
- High initial cost
- Long term commitment
- Limited manufacture training
- High risk of damages and injuries due to lack of training
- May not underground how concrete structures are constructed
- May not understand how underground infrastructure in constructed
- Likely is not approved by insurance to be performing gpr scanning