Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. A New York telecommunications contractor is planning on expanding a cell tower. The telecommunications contractor needed GPRS to locate any utilities that would be in the proposed expansion area. After performing the scan, the proposed expansion area had one unknown utility in the way.

As a supplement to GPR, we also used radio detection to help identify live power, communication and other utilities that may have a power signal on them. Once the utilities in the path were identified they were marked directly on the surface so the customer will know where the utilities are. After all the utilities were located on this project, the customer brought in a trencher to install drain tiles. Because GPRS was onsite to help identify any anomalies that may be present, the customer was able to trench on the site without striking any existing utilities that were present.

We used a GSSI Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna.

GPRS also...

Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. An excavating company needed GRPS to locate any utilities in a 45’ by 45’ area on their site. After performing the utility locate, GPRS found two utilities in the proposed area (Water and Electric).

As a supplement to GPR, we also used radio detection to help identify live power, communication and other utilities that may have a power signal on them. Once the utilities in the path were identified they were marked directly on the surface so the customer will know where the utilities are. After all the utilities were located on this project, the customer was able to excavate and auger with confidence. They stated that because GPRS was onsite to help identify any anomalies that may be present, they were able to drill and excavate on the site without striking andy existing utilities that may be present.

Ground Penetrating Radar is a great tool for locating utilities on the site. GPRS uses multiple technologies on every site to ensure the accuracy of our...

Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. A local construction company needed GPRS to locate in- floor heating. The project called for the construction company to add offices inside a local manufacturer’s facility. It is important to know where the in-floor heating is so that the wall anchors are properly placed so that it isn’t compromised.

As a supplement to GPR, we also used radio detection to help identify live power, communication and other utilities that may have a power signal on them. Once the utilities in the path were identified they were marked directly on the surface so the customer will know where the utilities are. Because GPRS was onsite to help identify any anomalies that may be present, the customer was able to anchor on the site without striking anyd existing utilities that may be present.

We used a GSSI Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. For portions of this project involving concrete scanning, a 1600 MHz antenna was used with the GPR. This antenna allows...

Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. A nationwide civil engineering company is planning on repaving a portion of a major retail store’s parking lot for their online grocery department. After performing the scan, three utilities were found (Electric, Water, and Sewer).

As a supplement to GPR, we also used radio detection to help identify live power, communication and other utilities that may have a power signal on them. Once the utilities in the area were identified they were marked directly on the surface so the customer will know where the utilities are. After all the utilities were located on this project, the customer was able to install the online grocery pick up parking spaces. Because GPRS was onsite to help identify any anomalies that may be present, the customer was able to repave without striking any existing utilities that may be present.

GPRS knows that you can’t simply use one piece of technology to find all that is below the surface. That is why on each project we complete we...

On October 18, 2019 Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on site by a general contractor to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey at an apartment complex in Cleveland, Ohio. The contractor needed to core several holes in the concrete. The concrete slab in this apartment complex was constructed with post tension cables. GPRS was able to lay out the pattern of both rebar and post tension cables in the concrete slab. By utilizing GPRS, the client was able to safely and confidently core through the floor and proceed with the project with no added expenses or delays. Before you saw cut or core drill, call GPRS to know what’s underground!

The pictures below show the rebar and post tension cables that GPRS located which enabled the client to avoid all obstructions while core drilling.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems is the best way to ensure the locations of reinforcement and conduits prior to saw cutting/drilling through concrete. For more information on how GPRS, Inc. can help you on your next project, please contact Cory Kennedy at...

Ground Penetrating Radar Solutions - GPRS - of Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina was contacted by a general contractor to locate all reinforcement, beams, and conduits within an elevated concrete slab in order to core drill for missed plumbing and electrical sleeves within a new building near Duke University in Durham NC. Approximately 200 areas needed to be scanned due to missed sleeves during the original pour. In order to core drill the new holes, the general contractor needed to avoid all post tension, as requested by the project engineer. They also wanted to avoid all conduits and rebar to ensure safe drilling. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to scan larger areas so that the contractor would have options on hole placement. Also, the findings are marked in real time so that the contractor could work directly with GPRS to solve problems and move the cores to clear locations. GPR found the slab to be approximately 6” thick post tension slab with a mat of rebar and conduits embedded. The Post Tension was found to be running in the beams in one direction and...

GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc.) was recently hired by a local contractor to scan for any utilities in an area where an existing slab would be removed and replaced. The contractor started excavating in the area before our scanning when they discovered a gas line running through the area they would be excavating in. Prior to our scanning, the contactor believed that this gas line ran in a different direction according to the site plans given to them from the building’s owners. Once we arrived, we walked the site with the onsite contact and discussed their plans for removing the existing slab as well as how deep they planned to excavate for the new slab. This was done in order to determine exactly what areas needed scanning and to get an idea of how deep we should scan for utilities. Upon completing the walk-through with the customer, we first used our EM Pipe Locator and walked the proposed area to get an idea of any live communication or electrical signals present within the areas to be scanned. Once we were ready to scan, we set-up and calibrated our 350MHz...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. of Minneapolis, MN was contacted by an electrical subcontractor to locate reinforcement and conduits in an elevated, post tension, concrete slab in Egan, MN. The customer was looking to core drill through the slab and did not wish to strike any power, post tension cables or under slab contents during the process. GPRS, Inc. arrived on site to supply the customer with concrete imaging without delay, providing the information needed and keeping the project on schedule. Our standard turnaround time for scheduling projects is twenty-four to forty-eight hours and we are often available to be on projects for same day service requests.

Ground Penetrating Radar was ideal for this site as it is an active new construction building in Egan with many people on site for the construction project working on different floors. GPR does not require the evacuation of the area as does traditional x-ray concrete imaging. GPR doesn’t emit any radiation and is completely safe to be around. Traditional xray is mostly done after hours; GPR can be done...

Ground Penetrating Radar Solutions - GPRS - of South Carolina was contacted by a general contractor to locate all reinforcement, beams, and conduits within an elevated concrete slab in order to core drill for electrical boxes for tables and desks within a building on the campus of Clemson University. The general contractor needed to avoid all reinforcement, as requested by the project engineer. They also wanted to avoid all conduits to ensure safe drilling. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to scan larger areas so that the contractor would have options on hole placement. Also, our findings are marked in real time so that the contractor could work directly with GPRS to solve problems and move the cores to clear locations. GPR found the concrete slab to be an approximately 6” thick cast in place slab with conduits embedded. When performing the concrete scanning, we were able to mark out the reinforcement and give depths per the client request; we found reinforcement in both directions between 2.5’-3” deep. While using the radar we also found and marked out the beams...

A solar energy tech contractor was given the task of designing and installing a group of solar panels on a concrete dock of a water treatment plant in Washington DC overlooking the Potomac River. Structural columns and beams needed to be anchored into the concrete slab in order to support the solar panels on the water treatment dock. The locations on the concrete slab where the structural columns were set to be placed contained reinforcement steel (rebar) that needed to be avoided as much as possible when drilling for their column anchors. In order for the contractor to locate the reinforcement (rebar) placement within the slab, they needed to GPR scan / x-ray each precise location. Ground penetrating radar, or GPR, is a form of non-destructive testing which allows GPRS, Inc. to detect subsurface anomalies within the concrete slab. Once detected, GPRS can trace out, then mark out the layout of the reinforcement mat within the concrete slab so that the client could look to avoid as much rebar and/or conduits as possible when drilling and/or anchoring.

The solar energy...

Ground Penetrating Radar Solutions - GPRS - of South Carolina was contacted by a general contractor to locate any utilities within 5’ of a proposed sign at a Wal-Mart in Spartanburg, SC. A 10’ x 10’ area was marked out and all utilities in the area were located and marked out with spray paint to allow the contractor to have options on sign placement as well as for the potential of an additional sign in the area. Most people will just call 811 or “PUPS” and rely on their mark out to avoid any issues but GPRS will confirm any utilities in the area as well as look for any private or unknown utilities with much better accuracy, usually within 1’. In this particular area, an unknown utility was found crossing through the area, without a private utility locate this line likely would have been struck with unknown cost, lost time, and injury.

GPRS is able to mark any findings in real time so that the general contractor can work directly with GPRS to solve problems and move the sign to a clear location. The contractor was able to install the sign safely with no underground...

GPRS was contacted by a local engineering firm to scan a concrete slab in two adjacent rooms in a museum on campus at Stanford University, Palo Alto. Because they needed to know the location of each piece of rebar, every conduit, and each beam prior to renovation, GPRS was asked to scan every inch of the slab in each of the two rooms.

Because of the size of the project, as well as the quick turnaround needed for the scanning, GPRS was able to have two project managers onsite for three days each. Along the walls were bookshelves that could not be moved so GPRS was able to scan the slab from the basement below to ensure that everything in the slab was located, marked, and accounted for.

The wood floors in the rooms were going to be preserved so GPRS was instructed to make sure that the markings were temporary. Blue painters tape was used instead of a typical marker or crayon for the layout used on many construction sites that are scanned. Not only did this allow for removal once construction started, it made for a stunning visual effect upon completion that was...

At GPRS we often preach to all of our employees about the push to be the job site “problem solvers”, and we often step onto sites with an apparent problem that needs solving. Whether a trench needs to be dug, a core needs to be drilled, concrete needs to be cut, a pipe needs to be video inspected, or many other needs we can handle, GPRS always tries to have the answers. With the ability to solve problems all over we may “save the day” on several different occasions, but GPRS recently saved the day in a big way on a project in Southern California.

GPRS was called out by a reputable General contractor who was working on a large-scale job for a high- end client (Forbes top 150 business.) The job they were tasked with was to completely buildout two existing shell, multi- story buildings to allow the client to move into the space(s). The concrete in these buildings is reinforced with post tension, rebar, and conduit, which makes for a complicated task for any GPR scanning company. The GC decided to employ a company to perform the cutting/coring and...

In a sea of hardhats, GPRS is found at the caboose of this construction train. Although GPRS was in the back of this line, our work was surely not. GPR and EM locating is crucial and always a first step in any big project.

GPRS was contacted by a major pipeline company to conduct four- way utility sweeps around their pipeline near Davenport, IA. GPRS was able to locate all critical lines prior to the contractors’ work on this pipeline. All scanning conducted was implemented through our SIM process. Check out this link to learn more about our industry leading SIM training and processes!

GPRS was also able to provide the client with surface markings with depths of the structural steel as well as on site photos and a job summary report documenting any important information in regard to the scanning.

Our state of the art GSSI GPR equipment sends radio signals into concrete that send the data back instantly to locate objects. The radio waves are safe for workplaces so there is no need for any stop in work for...

GPRS of Kansas City was contracted by a client in Kansas City to locate underground utilities before the start of their project. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc. utilizes the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) to limit subsurface risks. SIM pairs electromagnetic induction with ground penetrating radar and a highly trained Project Manager who utilizes a specific standard operation procedure that maximizes the technologies at our disposal.

Ground penetrating radar is a great tool to use when searching for underground utilities, but it has its limitations. This is the reason why GPRS, Inc. uses electromagnetic induction. Electromagnetic induction allows the GPRS Project Manager to use a tracer wire to induce and trace a specific signal to locate utilities. This is a technology to use when attempting to locate a utility that’s too deep for the ground penetrating radar. The electromagnetic locator can passively detect live AC power or radio signals that are traveling along some conductive utilities. The EM locator can be used in conjunction with a transmitter to...

You may have watched the NFL draft from your home or favorite sports bar; hopefully you enjoyed it. It was quite a production throughout, but maybe even more amazing was the effort to set the stage for the event! There were thousands of crew members that helped to create the one of a kind stage and environment at the end of Broadway St. in downtown Nashville.

One of the crews that played a critical role in the success of the event was GPRS. GPRS was called to the project on a weekly basis to support operations by locating subsurface utilities throughout the work area and beyond. GPRS was utilized to provide utility locating prior to driving fence posts, tent anchors, support columns and placing temporary electrical, drainage and sewer lines. Throughout the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft event, GPRS located dozens of main utility lines including gas, electrical, water, sewer, storm and telecommunication. GPRS was also successful in locating a number of secondary and service lines. Having each of these utilities located ensured that the other personnel on site were safe...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN was contacted by an electrical subcontractor to locate reinforcement and conduits in an elevated, post tension, concrete slab in Minneapolis. The customer was looking to core drill through the slab and did not wish to strike any power, post tension cables or under slab contents during the process. GPRS, Inc. arrived on site to supply the customer with concrete imaging without delay, providing the information needed and keeping the project on schedule. Our standard turnaround time for scheduling projects is twenty-four to forty-eight hours and we are often available to be on projects for same day service requests.

Ground Penetrating Radar was ideal for this site as it is an active office building in Minneapolis with many people on site for the construction project as well as tenants on different floors. GPR does not require the evacuation of the area as does traditional x-ray concrete imaging. GPR doesn’t emit any radiation and is completely safe to be around. Traditional xray is mostly done after hours; GPR can...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. was contacted by an electrical contractor in Fargo, ND prior to drilling through an elevated concrete slab. The contractor was concerned about drilling through critical reinforcement and thus contacted GPRS to do concrete scanning using GPR (ground penetrating radar). This particular project involved the building of a 17-story building in downtown Fargo along with an adjacent parking ramp. This particular Fargo building had lots of different types of slabs with consduits, rebar and post-tension reinforcement in different areas. GPRS was able to perform the concrete scanning in a non-destructive and timely matter without interfering with the other work being done on site. While on site, GPRS was able to help out another Fargo plumbing contractor with locating rebar in a poured wall prior to core drilling. With the schedule and scope of this Fargo project being of highest importance, GPRS was able to have a project manager on site within 24-48 hours. By having project managers located near all major cities nationwide, GPRS is the industry...

GPRS was contacted by a local construction company to scan for suspect radiant heat tubing at a new Tesla facility near Chicago, Illinois. The contractor needed to find the heat tubing in order to safely remove the metal sheath around the existing vehicle lifts future building projects.

GPRS also scanned several areas for the electricians on site in order for them to safely dig a trench for new underground electric lines for the Tesla charging stations. GPRS was able to pair thermal imaging and GPR technologies in order to locate the heat tubing for a safer dig and saw cutting.

The thermal camera we use can detect changes in temperature as small as <0.1°C with accuracy with 2°C. When the system is heated near to or after the start of the project there is a contrast between the temperature of the tubing and the concrete slab.

“Time is a primary currency traded on any given construction project. At Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, our everyday efficiency in operations allows us to respond to the immediate needs of our customers, often within 24 hours or...

It’s no mystery that drilling for environmental samples comes with certain risks. Overhead power lines, above ground obstacles like crowded parking lots, and, perhaps most challenging of all, underground utilities.

Drillers, geotechs, and environmental firms alike know this particular challenge full well. Because of this, robust damage prevention plans are created in attempt to eliminate line strikes and other hazards associated with drilling for samples. Various best practices are considered, implemented, and refined as experience dictates.

GPRS does not provide geophysical, geological, land surveying or engineering services. If you need such services, please contact an appropriate professional. If you are interested in hearing more about how GPRS can help you on your next project, please call us at: 972-922-0223