industry insights

Construction backlog rose to its highest level since September 2023, according to a recent survey issued by the Associated Builders and Contractors.

The ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator rose to a 20-month high of 8.7 months in April, according to the member survey conducted April 22 to May 6. The reading is up 0.3 months since April 2024 and continues a trend that’s seen backlog increase significantly over the past year for contractors with greater than $100 million in annual revenues.

Backlog has also risen modestly for smaller contractors, although it is down on an annual basis for those with $30 million to $100 million in annual revenues.

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for profit margins improved in April, while the readings for sales and staffing levels fell, though the outlook for sales is higher than a year ago. The readings for all three components remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.

ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu acknowledged that despite the record-level of backlog a significant number of members saw projects delayed or canceled in April due to tariffs.

“Nearly 22% of contractors had a project delayed or canceled in April due to tariffs, up from 18% in March, while 87% have been notified of tariff-related materials prices increases,” Basu said. “Contractors remain busy despite these headwinds; backlog rose in April and is now at the highest level since September 2023. While ABC members remain upbeat about the near-term outlook, the share of respondents that expect their sales to decline over the next six months rose to 19% in April, up 6 percentage points since the start of the year.”

Data center construction continues to dominate the construction industry. The Dodge Momentum Index, a 12-month leading indicator for construction spending specifically focused on nonresidential buildings,  grew 0.9% in April predominantly thanks to data center ramp-ups. The DMI would have dropped 3% and commercial planning 2.3% were it not for those projects.

“Despite an uptick in April, the bulk of the DMI’s growth was driven by a surge in data center planning, while momentum in other nonresidential sectors lagged behind,” Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Boston-based Dodge Construction Network, told Construction Dive. “Owners and developers are navigating heightened economic and policy uncertainty, which likely bogged down much of this month’s planning activity.”  

Let GPRS Help You Stay On Time, On Budget, and Safe

When you’re dealing with a backlog of projects, the last thing you need is the delays caused by striking a buried utility.

But hitting a buried line while digging, or severing a conduit, post tension cable or rebar while cutting or coring concrete doesn’t just put your schedule and bottom line at risk. Subsurface damage can endanger the lives of your workers and anyone in the surrounding area.

GPRS mitigates the risk of subsurface damage through our utility locating and concrete imaging services. Utilizing state-of-the-art ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners and electromagnetic (EM) locating, we provide you with accurate, actionable data about what’s hidden below your jobsite, so you can dig, cut, or core with confidence.

To make sure this field-verified data is securely at your fingertips 24/7, GPRS introduced SiteMap^® (patent pending). Accessible via computer, tablet or smartphone, SiteMap puts all the data our SIM-certified Project Managers collect on your site or campus into one single source of truth. So, whether you and your team are on-site or halfway across the world, you’ll be able to plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately build better.

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?

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I get when I hire GPRS to locate utilities?

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use.

GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor.

Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

Traditionally reliant on manual processes and human expertise, the construction industry is undergoing a significant transformation as more and more firms turn to artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.

As the industry generates vast amounts of data, the challenge lies in ensuring the quality, consistency, and usability of this data. AI offers innovative solutions to these challenges, promising to enhance data quality and drive efficiency across construction projects.

The Importance of Data Quality in Construction

Data quality is critical in the construction industry for several reasons:

1. Decision-Making: High-quality data enables accurate and timely decision-making, reducing the risk of errors and project delays.
2. Cost Management: Reliable data helps in precise cost estimation and budget management, preventing cost overruns.
3. Safety: Accurate data ensures compliance with safety regulations and standards, minimizing the risk of accidents.
4. Project Efficiency: Consistent and well-organized data streamlines project management processes, enhancing overall efficiency.

Despite its importance, the construction industry often struggles with data quality issues. Data is frequently siloed, inconsistent, and unstructured, making it difficult to derive actionable insights.

AI Applications in Improving Data Quality

AI technologies can significantly enhance data quality in the construction industry through various applications:

1. Data Collection and Integration

AI-powered tools can automate the collection and integration of data from multiple sources, including sensors, drones, and construction management software. These tools ensure that data is captured consistently and accurately, reducing the likelihood of human error. For example, AI-driven drones can capture real-time images and videos of construction sites, providing up-to-date data on project progress.

2. Data Cleaning and Validation

One of the primary challenges in the construction industry is dealing with incomplete or inaccurate data. AI algorithms can automatically clean and validate data, identifying and correcting errors, and filling in missing information. This process ensures that the data used for decision-making is reliable and accurate.

3. Predictive Analytics

AI can analyze historical data to identify patterns and trends, enabling predictive analytics. This capability allows construction companies to anticipate potential issues and take proactive measures to address them. AI can predict equipment failures based on historical maintenance data, allowing for timely repairs and reducing downtime.

4. Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Natural Language Processing (NLP), a subset of AI, can be used to analyze unstructured data, such as project reports, emails, and meeting notes. NLP algorithms can extract relevant information from these documents, converting unstructured data into structured formats that are easier to analyze and use. This capability is particularly useful for managing large volumes of documentation and ensuring that critical information is not overlooked.

5. Data Standardization

AI can help standardize data formats across different systems and platforms, ensuring consistency and compatibility. This standardization is crucial for integrating data from various sources and enabling seamless data exchange between stakeholders. By standardizing data, AI facilitates better collaboration and communication within construction teams.

6. Real-Time Monitoring and Reporting

AI-powered tools can provide real-time monitoring and reporting of construction activities. These tools can track progress, identify deviations from the plan, and generate real-time reports. This real-time visibility ensures that project managers have access to the most current data, enabling them to make informed decisions quickly.

Benefits of AI-Enhanced Data Quality

The integration of AI in improving data quality offers numerous benefits to the construction industry:

1. Increased Efficiency

By automating data collection, cleaning, and validation processes, AI reduces the time and effort required to manage data. This increased efficiency allows construction teams to focus on more value-added tasks, such as project planning and execution.

2. Enhanced Accuracy

AI algorithms are capable of processing large volumes of data with high accuracy, minimizing the risk of errors. This enhanced accuracy leads to more reliable data, which is essential for effective decision-making and project management.

3. Cost Savings

Improved data quality can lead to significant cost savings by reducing rework, preventing delays, and optimizing resource allocation. Accurate data enables better budget management and cost control, ultimately improving the financial performance of construction projects.

4. Improved Safety

AI-driven data quality improvements contribute to enhanced safety on construction sites. Accurate and up-to-date data ensures compliance with safety regulations and standards, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.

5. Better Collaboration

Standardized and high-quality data facilitates better collaboration and communication among project stakeholders. AI enables seamless data exchange and integration, ensuring that all team members have access to the same information and can work together more effectively.

Challenges and Considerations

While AI offers significant potential for improving data quality in the construction industry, there are several challenges and considerations to keep in mind:

Data Privacy and Security

The use of AI in data management raises concerns about data privacy and security. Construction companies must implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

Integration with Existing Systems

Integrating AI tools with existing construction management systems can be complex and require significant investment. Companies must carefully plan and execute the integration process to ensure compatibility and minimize disruptions.

Skill Development

The successful implementation of AI requires a workforce with the necessary skills to operate and manage AI tools. Construction companies must invest in training and development programs to upskill their employees and ensure they can effectively leverage AI technologies.

Change Management

Adopting AI technologies involves significant changes to existing workflows and processes. Construction companies must manage this change effectively, ensuring that employees are engaged and supportive of the transition.

How GPRS Combines AI With Field-Verified Data to Help You Intelligently Visualize The Built World^®

GPRS utilizes artificial intelligence in conjunction with field-verified data to create accurate digital maps and models for use in AEC industries. While we believe in embracing innovative technologies, we complement those tools with our highly trained field staff and in-house Mapping and Modeling Department.

All the data we use to build the accurate 2D and 3D maps and models you need comes from our nationwide team of SIM-certified Project Managers, who utilize state-of-the-art infrastructure visualization tools such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) locating, 3D laser scanners and remote-controlled Video Pipe Inspection crawlers to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of your above and belowground infrastructure.

All this data is at your fingertips with SiteMap^® (patent pending), GPRS’ interactive infrastructure mapping software solution that provides you with accurate existing conditions documentation. Securely accessible 24/7 from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, SiteMap serves as a single source of truth for the accurate data you need to plan, design, manage, dig, 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?

Frequently Asked Questions

How is A.I. and machine learning incorporated into 3D laser scanning?

After your site or campus has been documented with 3D laser scanners, CAD technicians will take the resulting point clouds and turn them into useful deliverables. Many software packages offer automated classification, or point grouping, or de-noising to quickly turn point cloud data to useful deliverables. In the industry of laser scanning, this process is called “artificial intelligence” or “machine learning”. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to software that makes decisions or classifications that would have traditionally been made by humans, and machine learning refers to that software’s ability to get better at those tasks through repetition and training via human input and feedback.

What deliverables does GPRS provide?

We can provide 3D modeling in many formats such as:

• Point Cloud Data (Raw Data)
• 2D CAD Drawings
• 3D Non-Intelligent Models
• 3D BIM Models
• JetStream Viewer

Customizable Deliverables Upon Request

• Aerial Photogrammetry
• Comparative Analysis
• Deformation Analysis
• Digital Drawings of GPR Markings
• Floor Flatness Analysis/Contour Mapping
• New Construction Accuracy Analysis/Comparative Analysis
• Point Cloud Modeling Training Webinars
• Reconciliation of Clients 2D Design Drawings
• Reconciliation of Clients 3D Design Model
• Structural Steel Shape Probability Analysis
• Template Modeling
• Volume Calculations
• Wall Plumb Analysis

Working in construction poses many physical risks. However, the leading cause of death for construction workers is not from falls, harmful substance exposure, or other job site accidents, but from suicide.

The construction industry ranks among the highest in suicide rates compared to other professions and industries, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, over 6,000 construction workers died by suicide.

The suicide rate of male construction workers is especially troubling. Over 5,000 male construction workers die from suicide annually, which is five times more than those who die from fatal work injuries. The CDC reported that 56 of every 100,000 male construction workers died by suicide in 2021, which is more than double the national average for adult males at around 23 per 100,000.

How Did We Get Here?

The declining mental health and rising suicide rate of construction workers is an issue that can’t be remedied with protective goggles, hats, and gloves. Protecting the safety of construction workers now goes well beyond their physical well-being.

Even though one in five construction workers struggle with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, less than 5% claim to see a mental health professional. The national average of those receiving mental health care among U.S. adults is at 22%, over four times the amount that construction workers report.

The effects of depression can have an impact on a person's physical performance and cognitive function. In a profession where precautions must be met to keep everyone safe, construction workers can’t risk being impaired on the job site.

As part of a round table on mental health in construction, Cindy DePrater, Senior Vice President of Turner Construction, said, “Research shows that 60% to 70% of all safety ‘incidents’ have some type of health or wellness issue as an underlying factor. When we show up on the job, we are bringing all parts of our personal lives – our relationships, home life, health issues, financial struggles or even a reliance on substances. And all these factors may impact our ability to do our work safely.”

To understand the deteriorating mental health of construction workers, it is important to understand the challenges they face every day as a guide to help find solutions.

Some challenges construction workers face are the long workdays and the physical demands of this profession. To combat long, tiring hours on site, balancing work with necessary rest is essential for workers’ physical and mental health. So, it is important to have sustainable work schedules.

Construction workers also have to endure the immense pressure of working in such an important industry. Without the construction industry and its workers, we wouldn’t have the roadways, buildings, and other vital infrastructure that keeps us connected and shapes our communities. Recognizing the weight that can be on these workers’ shoulders and utilizing stress management techniques can help construction workers cope with the pressure and anxiety associated with the profession.

Josh Vitale, Chairman of the Board for Construction Suicide Prevention Week and one of the founders of the GUTS project, has become heavily involved in the initiatives to reverse the course of suicide in the construction industry.  

“It would be rare to find someone in the industry who hasn’t known a person that has taken their life within the last year or two,” Vitale said. “As an industry, we just keep putting more and more pressure on the worker to outperform what they’ve done before, and at some point, it’s just untenable.”

How Can We, at GPRS, Help?

As a sponsor of Construction Safety Week, GPRS is proud to support their safety initiatives which serve as an important reminder for industry leaders to highlight the critical connection between safety and mental well-being. During Construction Safety Week each year, GPRS offers complimentary safety presentations to teams of construction workers across the country. In those presentations, mental health awareness and suicide prevention are highlighted along with the importance of keeping everyone safe on a job site.

The most recent theme of Construction Safety Week was “All In Together – PLAN, OWN, COMMIT.” Not only are these great guidelines for personal and team safety plans, they are also great guidelines for mental health and suicide prevention.

Going “All In Together” for mental health awareness and suicide prevention helps construction workers realize they are not alone and don’t need to deal with their mental health struggles by themselves.

By planning out therapy appointments and time in a busy schedule for rest and activities that relieve stress, construction workers can make sure their mental health matches their physical health at the end of every day.

By owning the pressure and stress of working in the construction industry, workers can find the root of what causes them the most anxiety and can properly cope with the associated feelings.

And by committing to positive mental health practices the same way they commit to the job site protocols that protect them physically, construction workers can reverse the course of the growing issue of rising suicide rates in the construction industry.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please take advantage of these resources, phone lines, and links:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Hotline: Test HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor
• Veteran Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
• Construction Safety Week: https://www.gp-radar.com/safety/csw
• Construction Safety Week Mental Health Resources: https://www.constructionsafetyweek.com/safety-culture/mental-health-resources/
• Construction Suicide Prevention Week: https://constructionsuicideprevention.com/
• “Man Therapy” (self-screen for depression, anxiety, substance use, and anger) https://mantherapy.org/

Two states recently broke ground on multimillion-dollar projects to improve I-70.

Crews in Missouri are currently working on an I-70 extension project from Warrenton to Wentzville, while a joint venture in Kansas is overseeing the I-70 Polk-Quincy Viaduct project along a 2.5-mile stretch of the highway from Macvicar Avenue to 6th Avenue and local roadways in Topeka.

The work contract for Missouri’s project is worth $600 million: the largest single contract in the Missouri Department of Transportation’s history. This is the second project within MoDOT’s Improve I-70 Program and will see a third lane constructed in each direction from Warrenton to I-64 in Wentzville and the replacement of the existing I-70 lanes with new full-depth concrete pavement. A third lane of travel to eastbound and westbound I-64 between I-70 and Route K will also be added.

The project is expected to be completed in late 2028.

“Today marks another historic milestone in MoDOT’s efforts to Improve I-70,” Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Vice-Chairman W. Dustin Boatwright said in a MoDOT press release. “This is a once in a generation opportunity to bring this transformative improvement to communities along I-70, the citizens of Missouri and those just traveling through.”

GPRS is helping revolutionize the collection of subsurface utility data along active roadway corridors. Click here to learn more.

The I-70 Polk-Quincy Viaduct project is being overseen by Bettis Koss Construction, a JV of Topeka-based Bettis Asphalt & Construction and Koss Construction Co. This $239 million project is being funded from the Kansas DOT’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, a 10-year, nearly $10 billion investment with the goal of improving Kansas’ transportation infrastructure.

The aging viaduct is being replaced to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve connectivity to surrounding communities, according to the project page. Construction is underway and expected to continue through late 2027.

“While the Polk-Quincy viaduct has served the community for over 60 years, we are investing in a modern and more efficient I-70 that will better serve residents, businesses, and visitors well into the future,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “This project reflects the priorities of the IKE transportation program, focusing on long-term solutions that benefit Kansans and support future economic growth in Topeka and beyond.”

“Breaking ground on the Polk-Quincy Viaduct project marks an important milestone for the State of Kansas, the City of Topeka, and the tens of thousands of motorists who travel I-70 daily,” added KDOT Secretary Calvin Reed. “Working together, KDOT and our partners are delivering a new corridor that will serve Kansans and travelers for generations to come.”

The State of America’s Transit Infrastructure

Investments such as those being made in Kansas and Missouri are playing a huge part in improving America’s road infrastructure.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recognized this in awarding America’s road infrastructure a D+ grade in its 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. While that’s by no means a stellar grade, it is an improvement from the D that the category received in the ASCE’s previous report card.

“Recent investments, including more than $591 billion since late 2021 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), are a positive step,” the ASCE wrote. “The nation’s roadways still face a $684 billion funding gap over the next 10 years. Sustained and robust infrastructure investment is needed to maintain and improve the roadway network for the future.”

Some 39% of major roads in the U.S. are in poor or mediocre condition, an improvement from the 43% recorded in 2020, according to the ASCE. Driving on deteriorated and congested roads still costs the average driver over $1,400 per year in vehicle operating costs and lost time, and the number of people dying on America’s roads remains high with 40,990 in 2023.

The ASCE also noted how extreme weather events are hampering attempts to maintain existing roads and plan future projects – and how the act of driving on these roads is exacerbating this issue.

“Transportation accounted for the most significant portion (28%) of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022,” the organization wrote. “Most of these emissions (80%) came from cars and medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Rising temperatures, fires, flooding, erosion, and severe weather strain the nation’s roadways. In addition to planning and building resiliently for the future, state departments of transportation (DOTs) need to ensure their existing infrastructure can support daily operations and facilitate the movement of people evacuating areas affected by extreme weather events.”

GPRS Helps Keep Road Improvement Projects on Time, on Budget, & Safe

GPRS offers a comprehensive suite of subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction & facilities project management services designed to help keep road improvement projects on time, on budget, and safe.

We utilize state-of-the-art technology such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners, electromagnetic (EM) locators, 3D laser scanners, and remote-controlled video pipe inspection crawlers to ensure the integrity of your buried infrastructure and help you avoid subsurface damage when breaking ground. Our in-house Mapping & Modeling Team can visualize the field-verified, accurate data collected by our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers to suit your planning, and operations & maintenance (O&M) needs.

All this information is at you and your team’s fingertips 24/7, accessible via any computer, tablet or smartphone thanks to SiteMap^® (patent pending), our project & facility management application that provides accurate existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of informational output is provided when GPRS conducts a utility locate?

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor.

Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

What types of concrete scanning does GPRS offer?

GPRS provides two specific but different scanning services: elevated concrete slab scanning and concrete slab-on-grade locating. Elevated concrete slab scanning involves detecting embedded electrical conduits, rebar, post-tension cables, and more before core drilling a hole through the slab. Performing a concrete slab-on-grade locating service typically involves scanning a trench line for conduits before conducting saw cutting and trenching to install a sanitary pipe, water line, or something similar.

Click here to learn more.

Post tension (PT) cables are used throughout the construction industry to reinforce concrete structures, providing the strength and flexibility that allows you to build bigger, build higher, and build more safely. Groupings of three to five PT cables are referred to as “banded.” Banded cables can significantly increase slab strength and are used in everything from elevator shafts to parking garages, and transfer slabs that have to bear loads over large spans.

Unfortunately, striking a single PT cable while cutting or coring can compromise structural integrity, create safety hazards, unwanted downtime for replacement and/or repair, and cost as much as $30,000 to replace. The hazards are only multiplied in a banded PT slab, where you risk cutting multiple cables.

The best way to mitigate the risk of a PT strike is to first detect all cables and bundles, conduit, and other reinforcements, and marking out all those reinforcements on the slab to ensure safe operations when you cut, core, or drill. For jobs where you need complete interior slab visualization, reality capture tools can be used to create 2D and 3D as-builts, if you have the appropriate training and technology.  

Step 1: Understand Banded PT Cable Layout

Banded PT cables are grouped together in concentrated zones, typically in slabs over columns. They follow specific patterns, usually perpendicular to the uniform cables in the slab. Identifying these locations is crucial before performing any work.

What’s the Difference Between a Uniform and Banded PT Cable Layout?

PT Cables, also known as tendons, can be used as support throughout a slab in a “uniform” layout, spaced approximately 2-3 ft. apart. They are banded in three to five cable groups when more structural reinforcement is required, around pillars, elevator shafts, in transfer slabs, and in beam-supported slabs.  

The photo below shows the complexity of a two-way post tension slab layout prior to the concrete pour. It shows both uniform and banded PT cables as well as other reinforcements.

Step 2: Gather Necessary Equipment

There are various methods of locating banded PT cables with advanced scanning technology:

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): Detects PT cables within concrete via radio waves and displays them as a series of hyperbolas on a screen. A highly trained concrete imaging professional like a GPRS SIM-certified Project Manager can interpret those hyperbolas to locate virtually every cable and other reinforcement with 99.8% accuracy.
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• Electromagnetic (EM) Locating: Identifies embedded metallic objects and is often used in concert with a GPR scanner to verify results and be certain that everything in the slab is found. Subsurface Investigation Methodology, otherwise known as SIM, requires the utilization of complementary technologies – like using both GPR and EM locating to get the most comprehensive slab imaging available. Every GPRS Project Manager is required to be SIM-certified, which is the most rigorous training and education standard available in our industry. SIM level 101 certification requires 80 hours of classroom instruction and 320 hours of mentored field work.
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• Concrete X-Ray (if applicable): Can provide precise imaging. However, it is often unwieldy to operate, requires significantly more time to develop imagery, and brings another level of risk – radiation – to an already risky job site.
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• Chalk or Paint Marking Tools: Depending on your needs, marking tools may include spray paint, paint markers, chalk, or other temporary marking tools like carpet tack, paper, and tape in areas where the markings must be removable and not permanently damage the concrete.

Other methods of interior slab visualization, like tomography, are often used to assess structural deterioration and faults in concrete. They are significantly more expensive than GPR and EM locating methodology because they provide a level of detail that is not required to find PT cables and reinforcements.

Step 3: Perform Initial Site Evaluation & Gather As-Builts

Before scanning, review structural drawings if available. Look for:

• PT cable layout diagrams, record drawings, or as-builts
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• Core locations planned near support columns
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• Any existing markings indicating prior investigations

In most cases, any existing documentation will be outdated or incomplete, so verification of as-built records will be required to ensure clearances. Verification is completed by scanning with GPR and EM locating devices, interpreting their findings and mapping/marking out the reinforcements on the slab surface.

Step 4: Scan for PT Cables Using GPR

1. Calibrate the GPR based on slab thickness and material composition. This requires understanding dielectric values for concrete, which depend on the type of slab, the maturity of the slab, and its moisture exposure.
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2. Sweep the concrete surface in a grid pattern to detect embedded cables
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3. Identify banded PT cable zones: they will show as concentrated lines/hyperbolas in scans
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4. Verify findings with secondary methods like EM locating for accurate confirmation
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5. Mark detected cables with chalk or paint and label each band clearly

Step 5: Determine Safe Coring and Cutting Zones

1. Measure distance between cables to find clear spaces for coring
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2. Mark a buffer zone: Typically a minimum of three inches away from cables
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3. Align cutting or coring locations with confirmed safe zones
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4. Cross-check scan results with structural engineers if needed

GPRS is the only concrete scanning & imaging company that offers a “Green Box Guarantee” on its work. If our Project Managers mark a green box with “CLEAR,” that means we guarantee that the area is free of obstructions. If we get it wrong, we’ll pay for the material cost of repair. You can learn more about the Green Box Guarantee, here.

Utilizing Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic (EM) Locating with Banded PT Cables

Banded post-tension (PT) cables are strategically placed in reinforced concrete structures, typically concentrated in load-bearing zones. To locate and safely work around them, professionals rely on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locating.

Understanding PT cable placement and utilizing multiple detection methods ensures accuracy in locating and marking these critical reinforcement elements before cutting or coring.

How to use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for Banded PT Cable Detection

GPR is the most effective tool for mapping PT cables within concrete. It sends high-frequency radio waves into the slab and detects variations in material density, revealing embedded structures.

How GPR Identifies Banded PT Cables:

1. Scanning in a Grid Pattern – Operators systematically move the GPR unit across the concrete surface to ensure full coverage
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2. Signal Reflections and Data Interpretation – PT cables appear as hyperbolic curves in the radar scan due to their cylindrical shape. Banded cables will show as multiple strong, parallel curves clustered together
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3. Adjusting Depth Settings – GPR settings are optimized based on slab thickness (typically between 4” and 12”) to accurately detect cables and distinguish them from other embedded materials
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4. Marking Cable Locations – Once verified, cable positions are marked on the slab using chalk or paint for reference before drilling or cutting

Electromagnetic (EM) Locating for Additional Verification

While GPR provides precise visual mapping, EM locating helps detect live electrical conductors or metallic objects within the slab. This tool is particularly useful when:

• The structure contains significant rebar interference, potentially affecting GPR readings
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• Metallic PT cable sheathing needs further confirmation
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• Locating high-voltage conduits embedded within the slab alongside PT cables

Other Locations Where Banded PT Cables Might Be Found

Although banded PT cables are primarily concentrated near columns and load-bearing walls, they may also be present in:

• Transfer Slabs – Large spanning slabs distributing loads between multiple support points
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• Parking Garage Ramps – Areas with increased stress due to traffic load require additional reinforcement
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• Cantilevered Balconies – PT cables are often grouped near support edges to resist bending forces
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• Beam-Supported Slabs – Where PT reinforcement aligns with primary structural beams
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• Elevator Shaft Surroundings – Structural areas requiring additional reinforcement around mechanical openings

You’ve Scanned the Slab, Verified the Records, and Located Your Clear “Safe Zones.” Now, It Is (Finally!) Time to Cut

Once you have cross-checked and verified your clearances, you are ready to pierce the slab surface. There are specific, safe, “best practices” that are recommended for cutting and coring concrete. One of the most important safety practices has nothing to do with cables or reinforcements, but in keeping your team safe from respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and the incurable disease of silicosis, which breathing RCS can cause. You can learn more about the dangers of pinch points, kickback and RCS exposure during Concrete Sawing & Drilling Safety Week (CSDSW), which GPRS sponsors every winter. Learn more about CSDSW, here.

GPRS does not cut or core concrete as a service, but we work to keep concrete workers and their jobsites safe, each and every day. The steps below are those commonly taken when cutting & coring concrete.

Step 6: Execute Cutting or Coring Safely

1. Use proper PPE as outlined by OSHA
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2. Use equipment with water delivery, aka “wet” systems to help tamp down on silica dust exposure
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3. Use a low-vibration coring rig to reduce stress on surrounding concrete
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4. Start with a pilot hole to verify no immediate cable interference
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5. Monitor core depth to ensure cables remain undisturbed
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6. Proceed with full core drilling or cutting in marked safe zones

Step 7: Post-Cut Inspection and Documentation

1. Inspect the core site for signs of cable proximity or tension shifts
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2. Verify slab integrity post-cut to confirm no structural compromise
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3. Update site records with marked cable locations for future reference

When you utilize a project or facility management software solution like SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, uploading, versioning, and aggregating your concrete records becomes simple.

We can provide tailor-made data solutions for even the most densely banded PT slabs, including capturing our mark-outs via 3D laser scanning or photogrammetry, and using that 2-6mm accurate data to create a full 3D BIM model of everything that is inside your slabs. Learn more about how SiteMap can help keep your concrete jobs safer, here.

Final Considerations

• It is advisable to consult structural engineers before cutting PT slabs if you are not confident of what’s inside your concrete
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• Avoid assumptions: scan every location regardless of existing markings & documentation
  ‍
• Use multiple detection methods for accuracy in identifying banded PT cables

Safely working around post-tension cables ensures structure longevity and worker safety. Proper detection, marking, and cutting techniques prevent costly errors and hazards. Hiring a professional concrete scanning company like GPRS can help. It’s our mission to Intelligently Visualize The Built World® for our customers. What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Subsurface Investigation Methodology?

Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) is the most rigorous subsurface certification in the industry. SIM allows GPRS to ensure a standardized approach for locating underground utilities and scanning concrete structures. It combines expert training, advanced technology like ground penetrating radar (GPR), and proven field methods to ensure accurate, non-destructive investigations. SIM enhances site safety, prevents damage, and improves accountability in construction projects. Learn more here.

How can reality capture be used to create BIM models of concrete slab interiors?

GPRS can use reality capture technologies like 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry to create precise BIM models of concrete slab interiors. The technology is used to accurately capture GPRS’ 99.8% accurate concrete mark-outs, which can be converted into digital 3D models for design, analysis, and construction planning. This process minimizes errors and improves efficiency. Explore further here.

When GPRS was tasked with locating and mapping buried utilities prior to the installation of heavy equipment inside a pipeline compressor station in Ohio, we found more – and less – than what the client expected.

Project Manager Matt Higginbotham was originally tasked with locating a single water line running through a 10,000 s.f. area at the station where two heavy pieces of equipment were to be installed. Striking this plastic line while excavating to install the equipment or crushing it under the weight of the structures would have resulted in costly repairs and interruptions to the station’s operations. So, it was vital that the client knew the exact location of the line prior to beginning work.

An existing as-built drawing of the station, however, indicated the possibility of a second water line in the project area. At this point, the client realized they needed a comprehensive understanding of everything buried under the site.

“The customer asked that all potential utilities be located in the area – not just the water line,” Higginbotham said.

Higginbotham deployed both ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locating to locate and map the buried utilities.

GPR scanners emit radio waves into the ground or a surface such as concrete, then detect the interactions between those waves and any buried objects. These interactions are displayed as hyperbolas on a GPR readout, with each hyperbola varying in size, color and shape depending on what was located. GPRS Project Managers are specially trained to interpret this data to tell you what was located and its approximate depth underground.

EM locators detect the electromagnetic signals radiating from metallic pipes and cables, or from tracer wires attached to non-metallic utilities. The locator’s transmitter can apply a current to the pipe or tracer wire or, if the utility in question is a live electrical cable, detect its current flow. Signals can also result from a conductive pipe acting as an antenna and re-radiating signals from stray electrical fields.

At the compressor station, Higgenbotham was able to verify the location and depth of the plastic water line using his GPR scanner. He then verified his findings with his EM locator.

These same tools helped him locate an electrical ground line in the project area. Higginbotham marked out the location of both utilities on the ground using spray paint, and he used real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning to geo-locate his findings to create up-to-date drawings of the buried infrastructure.

“[Now] the client can safely excavate or shift the locations of the structures for their upcoming project,” Higginbotham said.

The Project Manager also confirmed that there was not a second water line within the 10,000 s.f. zone, despite what the client’s existing as-built records indicated.

“[This suggests] their as-built drawing may be incorrect,” Higginbotham said.

While accurate as-builts are vital for documenting the existing conditions of a building or site, the reality is that your existing as-built drawings are likely out of date or incomplete due to changes that occurred during the initial construction process or later renovations and repairs.

And not knowing what’s below before you dig is the quickest way to cause costly and potentially dangerous utility strikes.

That’s why it’s vital that you hire a professional utility locating company like GPRS to fully map and mark out the utilities in your project area prior to conducting any excavation activities.

Because our client at the compressor station had an accurate understanding of their buried infrastructure before digging, they were able to avoid any unwanted surprises.

From locating buried water lines and electrical cables to documenting entire skyscrapers, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What informational output do I receive when I hire GPRS to conduct a utility locate?

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

Can GPR locate PVC piping and other non-conductive utilities?

GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.

Funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is believed to have directly led to America’s infrastructure receiving its highest-ever grade in the American Society of Civil Engineer’s 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.

The country’s infrastructure received an overall grade of “C”, with eight of the 18 categories assessed by ASCE seeing grade increases. No categories were rated “D minus or lower for the first time since 1998 – the first time the ASCE issued their report card.

“For more than two decades, the message behind the unflattering grades was consistent: federal, state, and local governments, in addition to the private sector, have not been prioritizing our interdependent infrastructure systems,” the ASCE wrote in the 2025 report card’s executive summary. “In sum, the bill on our infrastructure systems was past due. We needed to reverse the nation’s growing infrastructure investment gap to remain competitive in the global marketplace, allow local businesses to thrive, and keep our families safely connected. That message grew louder with each evaluation, through our most recent Report Card release in early 2021”.

Signed into law on November 15, 2021 and known alternatively as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the IIJA is the most comprehensive federal investment in the nation’s infrastructure in U.S. history and includes billions for infrastructure projects ranging from public transit to underground wastewater.  

“Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the most comprehensive federal investment in the nation’s infrastructure in U.S. history,” the ASCE wrote. “The law included many of the solutions to raise the grades featured in ASCE’s 2021 Report Card, including robust resources for water infrastructure, transportation, and related areas. A few years later, IIJA investments and policy changes are already improving the performance of our transportation, water, energy, and waste networks.”

About the ASCE’s Grading Scale

A – Exceptional, Fit for the Future: The infrastructure in the system or network is generally in excellent condition, typically new or recently rehabilitated, and meets capacity needs for the future. A few elements show signs of general deterioration that require attention. Facilities meet modern standards for functionality and are resilient to withstand most disasters and severe weather events.

B – Good, Adequate for Now: The infrastructure in the system or network is in good to excellent condition; some elements show signs of general deterioration that require attention. A few elements exhibit significant deficiencies. Assets are generally safe and reliable, with minimal capacity issues and minimal risk.

C – Mediocre, Requires Attention: The infrastructure in the system or network is in fair to good condition; it shows general signs of deterioration and requires attention. Some elements exhibit significant deficiencies in conditions and functionality, increasing vulnerability to risk.

D – Poor, at Risk: The infrastructure is in fair to poor condition and mostly below standard, with many elements approaching the end of their service life. A large portion of the system exhibits significant deterioration. Condition and capacity are of serious concern with strong risk of failure.

F – Failing/Critical, Unfit for Purpose: The infrastructure in the system is in unacceptable condition with widespread, advanced signs of deterioration. Many of the components of the system exhibit signs of imminent failure.

Key Findings from the 2025 ASCE Report Card

Almost Half of the 18 Assessed Categories Saw Increased Grades: The categories which received improved grades included Dams (D to D+), hazardous waste (D+ to C), inland waterways (D+ to C-), levees (D to D+), ports (B- to B), public parks (D+ to C-), roads (D to D+), and transit (D- to D).

“This improvement was possible due to the government and private sector prioritizing investments in systems that historically had received little attention,” the ASCE wrote.

Not only was the “B” grade for ports the highest of any sector in the report card; the category’s grade has improved in every report card since the sector debuted with a “C” in the 2013 report card.  

Two Categories See Downgrades: Energy and rail earned grades of C- and B, respectively in the 2021 ASCE Report Card. But the sectors fell to D+ and B-, respectively, in 2025.

ASCE wrote that these sectors’ downgrades were due to “concerns related to capacity, future needs, and safety.”

Broadband Debuts at C+: Broadband was introduced as a graded category in 2025, coming in at a C+.  

“While the total amount of public spending on broadband is difficult to estimate, the private sector has invested approximately $2.2 trillion in broadband infrastructure since 1996, with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) recently providing an additional $65 billion in federal dollars,” the ASCE wrote. “Yet, broadband access and adoption continue to face several challenges. Estimates show that 10% of households (12.7 million) do not have a broadband subscription, whether at home or on a mobile device. As new investments are deployed to connect the remainder of Americans to broadband, extreme weather poses challenges to internet reliability and new technologies create a rapidly changing environment.”

More Work to Be Done: The ASCE warns that while “significant advancements are being made,” the country’s infrastructure still faces a “substantial investment gap.”

“The shortfall grows as existing infrastructure systems continue to age and demands on those systems increase,” the organization wrote. “In addition, passage of the IIJA has shed light on key issues affecting our industry. Projects should be modernized or replaced by prioritizing resilience to withstand extreme weather. Resilience-focused measures may add to upfront costs but save on sudden, less predictable, and large financial impacts from disaster-related damages.”

How GPRS Helps Support Infrastructure Improvement Projects

GPRS offers a comprehensive suite of subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction & facilities project management services designed to help keep infrastructure improvement projects on time, on budget, and safe.

We utilize state-of-the-art technology such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners, electromagnetic (EM) locators, 3D laser scanners, and remote-controlled video pipe inspection crawlers to ensure the integrity of your buried infrastructure and help you avoid subsurface damage when breaking ground. Our in-house Mapping & Modeling Team can visualize the field-verified, accurate data collected by our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers to suit your planning, and operations & maintenance (O&M) needs.

All this information is at you and your team’s fingertips 24/7, accessible via any computer, tablet or smartphone thanks to SiteMap^® (patent pending), our project & facility management application that provides accurate existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of informational output is provided when GPRS conducts a utility locate?

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

What types of concrete scanning does GPRS offer?

GPRS provides two specific but different scanning services: elevated concrete slab scanning and concrete slab-on-grade locating. Elevated concrete slab scanning involves detecting embedded electrical conduits, rebar, post-tension cables, and more before core drilling a hole through the slab. Performing a concrete slab-on-grade locating service typically involves scanning a trench line for conduits before conducting saw cutting and trenching to install a sanitary pipe, water line, or something similar.

Learn more

Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) are a critical concept in environmental due diligence, particularly within the framework of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs).  

The term "Recognized Environmental Condition" (REC) is defined by the ASTM E1527-21 standard as:

1. The presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the subject property due to a release to the environment.
2. The likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the subject property due to a release or likely release to the environment.
3. The presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the subject property under conditions that pose a material threat of a future release to the environment.

This definition is crucial for environmental professionals conducting Phase I ESAs, as it helps determine whether a property may pose environmental risks that could affect its value or usability.

Historical Context and Evolution

The concept of RECs has evolved over time, requiring significant updates in the ASTM standards. The E1527-21 standard, for instance, provides a more detailed and clearer definition compared to its predecessors (E1527-05 and E1527-13). This evolution reflects the growing complexity and importance of environmental due diligence in real estate transactions.

Types of RECs

There are three primary types of RECs:

1. Historical Recognized Environmental Condition (HREC): This refers to a past release of hazardous substances or petroleum products that has been addressed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulatory authority, meeting unrestricted use criteria without subjecting the property to any required controls.
2. Controlled Recognized Environmental Condition (CREC): This involves a past release that has been addressed, but hazardous substances or petroleum products remain in place under required controls such as property use restrictions, institutional controls, or engineering controls.
3. De Minimis Condition/Environmental Concerns: Although not classified as a REC, a de minimis condition/environmental concern refers to a situation where the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products does not pose a significant risk to human health or the environment and does not warrant further investigation or remediation.

Identification and Assessment Process

The identification of RECs is a systematic process carried out during Phase I ESAs. This process involves:

1. Records Review: Examining historical and current records related to the property, including previous environmental assessments, regulatory filings, and land use records.
2. Site Inspection: Conducting a physical inspection of the property to identify visible signs of contamination, such as stained soil, unusual odors, or abandoned containers.
3. Interviews: Engaging with property owners, occupants, and local authorities to gather information about past and present uses of the property and any known environmental issues.
4. Report Preparation: Compiling the findings into a comprehensive report that outlines the identified RECs, their potential impacts, and recommendations for further action if necessary.

Implications of RECs

Identifying RECs has several implications for property transactions:

1. Financial Impact: Properties with RECs may require costly remediation efforts, which can affect their market value and the financial viability of transactions.
2. Legal Liability: Buyers and sellers must be aware of potential legal liabilities associated with environmental contamination. Failure to address RECs can result in regulatory penalties and lawsuits.
3. Transaction Delays: The presence of RECs can delay property transactions as parties negotiate remediation responsibilities and costs.

Managing RECs

Effective management of RECs involves several steps:

1. Further Investigation: Conducting Phase II ESAs to determine the extent of contamination and the necessary remediation measures.
2. Remediation: Implementing cleanup efforts to address identified contamination, which may include soil excavation, groundwater treatment, or the installation of engineering controls.
3. Monitoring and Maintenance: Establishing ongoing monitoring and maintenance programs to ensure that remediation efforts remain effective and that the property remains compliant with regulatory standards.

How GPRS Supports the Environmental Sector

As a trusted leader in damage prevention within the environmental sector, GPRS provides dependable results that support REC assessments from initial investigation through delineation, remediation, and project coordination.

With a nationwide network of Project Managers, we are prepared to mobilize quickly for projects across the United States. Utilizing state-of-the-art ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners, electromagnetic (EM) locators, remote-controlled video pipe inspection (VPI) crawlers and push-fed sewer scopes, acoustic leak detection and leak noise correlators, and more, we Intelligently Visualize The Built World^® to keep your environmental projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment?

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a preliminary, non-intrusive investigation to identify potential environmental risks or recognized environmental conditions (RECs) through records reviews, site inspections, and interviews. If RECs are identified, a Phase II ESA is conducted as a more detailed, intrusive investigation involving soil, groundwater, or air sampling to confirm and characterize contamination. While Phase I focuses on identifying potential risks, Phase II provides concrete data to guide remediation or determine the extent of contamination.

Why do I need to hire a professional utility locating company to locate and mark out all buried utilities prior to beginning an ESA?

Locating buried utilities is essential prior to a Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessment to ensure the safety of field personnel and prevent damage to underground infrastructure during site activities. It minimizes the risk of striking utilities, which could result in costly repairs, project delays, or hazardous situations like gas leaks or electrical incidents. Additionally, accurate utility mapping helps guide subsurface investigations, ensuring that drilling or sampling locations are appropriately cleared and positioned for reliable environmental data collection.

A restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, was dealing with a sewer backing up in multiple places. Because they didn’t have maps of the existing sewer system, they couldn’t troubleshoot the issue without help. Having a sewer back up into a restaurant is a problem that could lead to health and safety issues, and ultimately having the restaurant shut down by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. They needed solutions, and fast, so they called GPRS for help.

GPRS Video Pipe Inspection Project Manager Alec Bacon worked with the restaurant owners to begin inspecting the system beginning with the cleanouts inside the restaurant.

“They were having issues with the sewer backing up in different spots, and actually suspected that during the building process, someone decided to tie the sewer into the storm drain,” Alec Bacon said.

Bacon deployed a push camera inside the sewer lines, mapping the lines as well as performing a visual inspection to locate the cause of the backup. The push camera is necessary when the line is too small for the CCTV crawler camera so that the Project Manager can get an accurate picture of what’s inside the sewer pipes.

No blockages or anomalies were observed in the dishwasher room cleanout, so Bacon moved on to inspect the sewer lines near the office area.

“There were no issues with the dishwasher cleanout or the parking garage. It got interesting when we go into the office and check the cleanout in there,” the Project Manager shared.

As the push camera moved through the PVC line originating in the office, Bacon observed that the line fed into what appeared to be a concrete storm drain line located outside the restaurant. A sanitary sewer line feeding into a storm drain is not a common discovery, so Bacon wanted to get further confirmation.

The Project Manager deployed the CCTV crawler camera inside the storm drain to see if he could see the push camera, which was in the sewer line, entering the storm drain.

Bacon explained, “I was able to go in to the storm line with the crawler camera, and yep, there’s the push camera hanging out into the storm line.”

Even though Bacon could see the push camera in the storm line, he wanted to use yet another test to confirm his findings, so he performed a dye test.

A dye test is a method where colored dye is introduced into the cleanout in question, and then when the colored dye is observed in another part of the system, it is confirmed the systems are connected.

The CCTV crawler was stationed in the storm drain inlet so Bacon could see if the green dye introduced into the office cleanout would dump into the storm drain.

The clear water on the CCTV video feed turned green as it dumped into the storm drain, confirming the sanitary sewer was illegally tied in to the storm drain. Even Bacon, who has been a GPRS VPI Project Manager for over five years, had this to say about that moment:

“It was a really cool example of our services working exactly as they needed to, and the customer was thrilled.”

Even with no as-builts available and multiple cleanouts to investigate, GPRS was able to quickly and efficiently provide the restaurant owners with a map of their sewer system, and the information they needed to remedy the cause of the backups.

This job wasn’t just about telling the customer their sewer was illegally tied in to the storm drain. GPRS put markings on the ground showing the route of each sewer cleanout, and also provided a digital map so those findings could be shared with members of their team via SiteMap®.

Whether you need your sewer system mapped so you can perform inspections efficiently, or you need to find the source of a bad smell, GPRS has the experience, expertise, and leading-edge equipment to provide you with the answers you need.

From locating buried utilities to fully visualizing new construction, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize?

The number of serious injuries and fatalities in construction declined 17% in 2023 compared to 2022 – but fatalities have flatlined for the last 10 years across all industries, according to a recently released white paper.

Dallas-based contractor and supplier management consulting firm, ISN, released its latest Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) Insights White Paper, which incorporates 2023 data into its expanded seven-year analysis with a focus on ASTM E2920-19’s Level One Injury Recording criteria.

The white paper examines incidents from 2017 to 2023, identifying 19,900 potential SIF incidents. According to a summary of the white paper published on Construction Dive, the number of SIF incidents in construction declined 17% in 2023 compared to the previous year. But the industry’s fatality rate has hovered around 10 jobsite deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers for over a decade, reflecting a larger trend across all industries.

“The bad news is on a macrolevel across all industries, even though lagging measures such as recordable rates and lost time rates have steadily come down from where they historically have been, fatalities have flatlined for the last 10 years,” said ISN Director of Health, Safety and Sustainability, Duane Duhamel. “The construction industry is what we would term a high-hazard industry in general because it has many moving parts of staffing and overlap with contractors and subcontractors all the way down. That introduces a great deal of complexity when it comes to safety culture.”

Duhamel told Construction Dive that organizations that employ a solid safety assessment program usually have lower SIFs numbers, adding that those with a program in place to assess hazards allow influencers within their companies to turn those assessments into measurable actions that create change for the better.

Duhamel recommends construction companies conduct a safety culture assessment to establish a baseline of where there are potential gaps in their organizations.

“There is a direct correlation with a strong health and safety culture that leads to the likelihood of SIFs being lessened,” he said. “Employees will tell you what they see and believe and how things really are. Additionally, really focusing on these high-consequence events and ensuring there are adequate controls in place to protect them and looking at the human performance side of why people make mistakes and what can be improved.”

While the construction industry has seen a decline in the number of SIFs cases since 2022, Duhamel said that more needs to be done to keep workers safe.

“There’s a lot of hurdles and struggles with workplace safety in the construction industry as a whole, and I think technology can help with this,” he said. “There are things that can allow humans to error and fail safely, such as crash detection in vehicles, enhanced barriers and protection systems that prevent an employee from falling and introducing wearable technology and drones to detect hazardous conditions. Capturing some of those is really vital for the next iteration of SIFs prevention.”

How GPRS Supports a Safe Jobsite

At GPRS, our entire team is committed to your safety and the safety of your job site so that you and your team can go home at the end of the day. Safety is always on our radar, which is why we are proud sponsors of Construction Safety Week.

During this event, our team members will visit job sites across the country to share best practices for a variety of workplace-related safety topics, including fall protection, confined spaces, heat stroke, and mental health. The focus of these safety meetings is on how each individual can make their space a safe space to work.

Together, we can reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on your job site.

Click here to schedule your Construction Safety Week presentation today.

Oncor is the largest electricity delivery company in Texas.

And they had a major problem.

Inaccurate as-builts were impeding their ability to provide safe, reliable power to their over 3.9 million customers. The Dallas-based company had even experienced a large utility strike due to their inaccurate data.

When Oncor needed to quickly and safely conduct repairs and upgrades to some of their high-voltage electrical lines within the Dallas-Fort Worth area, they knew they couldn’t afford a costly and potentially dangerous mistake. They called GPRS, who provided them with the accurate and complete infrastructure data they needed to stay on time, on budget, and safe.

Business Development Manager Boon Bowling was part of the team from GPRS who met with representatives from Oncor to discuss their utility locating needs.

“Dallas is growing so rapidly,” Bowling said. “Some of these lines are old, some of them have been replaced and not always tracked, and even some of the locations where they were initially run, where it was an empty lot, now it’s places like Victory Plaza in downtown Dallas near the American Airlines Center. So, now there’s big, multi-story structures on top of what was an empty lot when those lines were installed, and their maps all still say it’s an empty lot.”

Bowling, along with GPRS Area Manager Zachary Walter, conducted a demo for the Oncor team at and around one of their substations, to show them GPRS’ industry-leading subsurface investigation process.

At the core of this process is the Subsurface Investigation Methodology, or SIM.  

What is SIM?

SIM is a standard operating procedure and set of professional specifications that work as a guide for utility locating experts when scanning for buried utilities and conducting concrete imaging. All GPRS field team members are required to achieve SIM 101 certification, which means completing 80 hours of hands-on training in a classroom setting and 320 hours of mentorship in the field. This dwarfs the American Society for Nondestructive Testing’s (ASNT) minimum recommendation of eight hours for training and 60 hours practicing GPR to achieve NDT Level 1 certification in ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanning.

SIM requires the use of multiple, complementary technologies when locating buried utilities or scanning a concrete slab. This includes GPR scanning and electromagnetic (EM) locating.

GPR scanners emit radio waves into the ground or a concrete slab, then detect the interactions between these signals and any buried utilities or other subsurface obstructions.

EM locators detect the electromagnetic signals radiating from metallic pipes and cables. These signals can be created by the locator’s transmitter applying current to the pipe or from current flow in a live electrical cable or result from a conductive pipe acting as an antenna and re-radiating signals from stray electrical fields and communications transmissions.

This practice of using complementary technologies capitalizes on each tool’s strengths to create a redundant confirmation when designating subsurface elements.

How SIM & SiteMap^® Helped Oncor Visualize its Buried Infrastructure

Bowling and Walter’s demonstration of GPRS’ SIM-certified utility locating process helped Oncor see the value of having accurate, complete as-builts of their buried infrastructure.

“They were thrilled with the accuracy and success of that, the level of documentation, especially within the substation, with additional photographs of key features and items that they really did not have an existing record of,” Bowling said.

GPRS ultimately located and mapped roughly 55 miles of high-voltage electrical lines throughout the DFW area. The Project Managers navigated everything from areas in the heart of Dallas with heavy traffic to secure locations such as around airports to obtain the information Oncor’s team needed to safely and efficiently complete their line repairs and upgrades.

“We had two outstanding Project Managers on the project full-time, basically,” Bowling said. “They’re killing it… [Oncor] is very pleased with the quality of the data we provided.”

All this accurate, field-verified data was uploaded into SiteMap^® (patent pending), GPRS’ intuitive, interactive infrastructure mapping software solution designed to provide existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

With their SiteMap Team access, Oncor had 24/7, secure access to their critical infrastructure data from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, enabling them to plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately, build better.

With GPRS’ SIM-certified utility locating data at their fingertips thanks to SiteMap, Oncor was able to ensure they can continue bringing safe, reliable power to their millions of customers.

From locating buried utilities to fully visualizing new construction, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World^® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I get when I hire GPRS to conduct utility locating services?

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor.

Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

Can GPRS locate PVC piping and other non-conductive utilities?

GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.

Accurately mapping underground utilities in active roadway corridors, rights-of-way, and dense urban environments remains one of the most challenging aspects of civil and infrastructure projects. Traditional utility locating methods, while effective for isolated projects, are labor-intensive, require specialized traffic management, cause traffic disruptions, and often fall short in providing the comprehensive data necessary for large-scale roadway and infrastructure development.

Recent advancements in high-speed 3D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology are changing that reality. High-speed GPR arrays now enable subsurface utility investigations to be conducted at highway speeds without the need for lane closures, delivering high-resolution 3D imaging at previously unheard of levels of efficiency and accuracy. One such system, the Raptor^® High-Speed 3D GPR Array by ImpulseRadar, is currently being deployed by GPRS to revolutionize the collection of subsurface utility data.

Challenges of Subsurface Utility Mapping in Transportation Infrastructure

The subsurface environment beneath roadways and rights-of-way is inherently complex. Utilities often overlap, cross, and diverge at varying depths, and older, abandoned, and undocumented prior installations can complicate planning efforts. Failure to properly identify and map these utilities can result in utility strikes, project delays, increased costs, and safety hazards. According to the Common Ground Alliance, utility strikes cost the U.S. economy approximately $30 billion annually. Other figures put that number well over $61 billion.

Traditional methods – such as electromagnetic locating and traditional pushcart GPR scanning – require lane closures, manual scanning, and detailed manual interpretation of collected data, increasing time, cost, and risk. For large projects covering many miles of roadway, the traditional approach poses a host of logistical challenges.

Introduction to High-Speed 3D GPR Arrays

High-speed 3D GPR arrays address these challenges by collecting dense, accurate subsurface data at speeds of up to 80mph, reducing the need for traffic interruptions or additional traffic control measures while increasing safety and efficiency.

The Raptor 3D GPR array, for example, utilizes 18 synchronized antenna channels capable of capturing continuous 3D images of subsurface conditions at speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) with a 5 cm trace interval. This technology allows for comprehensive mapping in real time while maintaining traffic flow.

Key technical specifications include:

• Speed: Up to 80 mph (130 km/h) without data degradation

• Trace Interval: 5 centimeters

• Data Channels: 18 GPR antennas (450 MHz or 800 MHz configuration)

• Positioning: Real-Time Kinematic (RTK,) GPS, or Robotic Total Station (RTS)

• Software: Real-time visualization and post-processing with Condor^® 3D and Osprey^® for detailed tomography

How High-Speed 3D GPR Arrays Improve Accuracy

Accuracy in subsurface utility mapping depends on both the quality of the signal data and the precision of its geolocation. High-speed 3D GPR arrays excel in both areas.

1. Dense Sampling: The 5 cm trace interval allows for extremely dense data collection, minimizing the gaps and interpolation errors common in lower-resolution surveys.

2. Positioning Precision: By utilizing RTS and RTK GPS, high-speed GPR arrays achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy, significantly surpassing standard GPS methodologies which have positional errors up to several meters

3. Real-Time Quality Control: Onboard visualization capabilities allow operators to assess data quality immediately, enabling rescans if necessary while still on site.

4. Advanced Data Processing: Post-processing with software such as Condor 3D and Osprey provides detailed 3D volumetric imaging of subsurface features, allowing civil engineers to model underground environments with confidence.

And for GPRS, field validation utilizing the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) framework has resulted in a reported utility locating accuracy rate of 99.8% when using high-speed arrays combined with professional verification.

Primary Applications for High-Speed 3D GPR Arrays

High-speed 3D GPR arrays are transforming numerous sectors within the civil and infrastructure fields:

Roadway and Right-of-Way Utility Mapping

Civil engineers, surveyors, and utility managers tasked with roadway expansions, resurfacing, and maintenance require accurate mapping of buried infrastructure. High-speed GPR arrays deliver full-corridor scans quickly and without disrupting traffic.

Bridge and Pavement Condition Assessment

GPR arrays can be utilized to assess pavement thickness, layer interfaces, potential voids beneath roadways, and even moisture intrusion. These insights can inform maintenance planning and extend asset life.

Rights-of-Way (ROW) Engineering

ROW engineers benefit from full-coverage subsurface mapping that can identify utility encroachments, validate clearances, and support legal documentation for infrastructure development.

Environmental and Geotechnical Investigations

3D GPR data supports Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) by identifying potential underground storage tanks (USTs), voids, and preferential contaminant pathways without intrusive digging.

Urban Infrastructure Development

For projects in congested urban environments, where overlapping utilities and complex subsurface conditions prevail, high-speed arrays offer a non-disruptive, comprehensive method to model subsurface utilities prior to construction.

Other Specialized Applications

• Mining: Mapping tunnels, voids, and mineral seams

• Archaeology: Non-invasive surveys for buried structures

• Defense: Detection of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and subsurface threats

Technology Deployment: GPRS and the Raptor^® High-Speed 3D GPR

GPRS’ deployment of high speed GPR arrays represents a significant step forward in roadway and utility locating services.

Notable capabilities include:

• Zero Lane Closures Required: Survey vehicles operate at normal traffic speeds

• Nationwide Mobilization: SIM-certified Project Managers in every major U.S. market

• Data Deliverables: CAD files, PDFs, GIS-ready exports (KML, KMZ, shapefiles), and full access via SiteMap^® cloud portal are available depending on your needs

SiteMap^® (patent pending) provides 24/7 access to survey data through an interactive, layered map view, improving collaboration between project stakeholders.

The safety and efficiency benefits alone justify consideration of high-speed GPR arrays for large or critical projects.

Technical Limitations

While high-speed GPR arrays offer significant advantages, they are not without limitations:

• Soil Conductivity: High conductivity soils (e.g., clays, wet environments) can impact GPR signals.

• Obstructions: Metallic objects, reinforced concrete, and subsurface debris may cause data clutter.

• Depth Penetration: Higher frequency antennas (e.g., 800 MHz) provide greater resolution but shallower penetration, whereas lower frequency (e.g., 450 MHz) antennas penetrate deeper with reduced resolution.

We recently found abandoned tunnels at 11 ft. under a roadway using the high-speed array. You can learn more here.

What does a High-Speed 3D GPR Array Cost to Operate?

With the many benefits of high-speed 3D GPR scanning, you might wonder if it is cost-effective for a utility, municipality, or facilities manager to purchase one for their use.

The cost to purchase a high-speed 3D GPR array is approximately $160,000 per unit and does not include additional tools like tablets, or processing hardware/software.

You can rent a high-speed unit for about $1,500 per day with a $750 set up fee. However, the level of accuracy you will achieve rests on the abilities of highly trained specialists in ground penetrating radar, CAD design, data registration, and modeling to interpret the GPR findings and turn them into useable maps and models for project use.

Understanding these factors is critical for selecting the correct survey parameters and interpreting results.

GPRS provides tailored RFPs, RFQs, and quotes for customers throughout the U.S. To learn more about our pricing for high-speed GPR array services, click below.

Future Outlook

The adoption of high-speed 3D GPR is poised to increase dramatically. As more municipal agencies, departments of transportation, and private developers recognize the cost savings, risk mitigation, and safety improvements it offers, high-speed GPR arrays will likely become a new standard for large-scale infrastructure projects.

Emerging developments in antenna design, real-time data analytics, and AI-assisted interpretation promise to make high-speed GPR even more effective in the near future.

High-speed 3D GPR arrays represent a transformative advance in subsurface utility mapping, roadway condition assessment, and infrastructure project management. With the ability to safely, rapidly, and accurately collect vast amounts of subsurface data, they deliver tangible benefits for civil engineers, municipal managers, utility owners, and general contractors tasked with maintaining and expanding critical infrastructure.

By combining state-of-the-art hardware with rigorous methodology and professional expertise, GPRS is setting new standards for accuracy, safety, and efficiency in subsurface investigations.

For engineers and project managers facing the demands of complex roadway and right-of-way projects, high-speed 3D GPR arrays are not just an innovation—they are rapidly becoming an essential tool for success when it comes to Intelligently Visualizing The Built World^®.

What can we help you visualize?

What Are Some Architectural Project Examples?

Architects work on a wide variety of projects across all industries. Their expertise covers everything from designing commercial buildings and preserving historic landmarks to planning large-scale mixed-use developments.

Designs must balance aesthetics, functionality, safety, and sustainability. The goal is to create buildings that not only look appealing but also perform well with their local communities, comply with safety standards, and incorporate environmentally responsible materials and systems for long-term durability. This includes thoughtful space planning, attention to user experience, code compliance, energy efficiency, and adaptability to future needs.

The architectural project team includes engineers, contractors, and clients, who rely on accurate as-built data to avoid costly errors, rework, or delays, and ultimately focus on what they do best. The architect’s role begins at the conception stage of each project’s lifecycle. By creating design concepts based on detailed as-built drawings and 3D BIM models, they provide the technical foundation needed to guide construction and ensure precision at every stage of the project.

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Specific Types of Architectural Projects

Here are a few examples of the widely varied work architects may be called on to do:

1. Commercial Buildings

Office Buildings

‍Architects develop design plans for new, renovated, and office-to-residential conversion buildings – ranging from single-story structures to high-rise towers – with a focus on optimizing layout, enhancing energy efficiency, and meeting all regulatory requirements. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend of office-to-residential conversions (adaptive reuse) has experienced significant growth due to remote work. Major metropolitan areas like New York City, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles are at the forefront of this movement, implementing a range of strategic initiatives and policy-driven programs to facilitate and accelerate these conversions.
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Retail Stores

When working on retail spaces – whether shopping centers, boutiques, or large malls – architects design layouts that attract customers, enhance the shopping experience, and reflect brand identity. During the COVID-19 lockdown, many retail businesses were forced to close and there was a large push for online shopping, led in part by technically savvy Gen Z-ers. In response to the accelerating evolution of retail demands, project teams are prioritizing flexible, open-plan layouts that support rapid adaptation. Webber Studio states that highly versatile spaces enable seamless transitions between functions, like shifts from traditional in-store shopping to curbside pickup, that can be reconfigured as market conditions and consumer behaviors continue to evolve. According to Miller Zell, Inc., current retail design trends are:

• Sustainable Design
• Technological Integration
• Multi-functional Spaces
• Personalization

Hospitality Projects

For hotels, resorts, spas, restaurants, and bars, architects design spaces that are visually appealing, practical, and welcoming. They create layouts that improve guest comfort, support efficient staff operations, and comply with building and health codes. Contemporary hotel design, for example, is undergoing a strategic shift from compartmentalized, single-use configurations toward integrated, multifunctional spatial planning. Areas previously considered underutilized, which include oversized lobbies and redundant amenity zones, are now being reprogrammed to support diverse operational needs. Lobbies are evolving into multifunctional environments that accommodate food and beverage service, co-working, informal meetings, and social interaction. When it comes to working on hospitality projects, there can be a strict timeline, and project teams prefer to get accurate as-built documentation during the off-season.

GPRS was selected by Studio Troika to 3D laser scan the Gibbet Hill Grill restaurant. “Many buildings are unique and not as perfectly aligned as our drawings suggest. To address this, we selected GPRS to document the imperfections with point cloud scans, ensuring our clients receive results that minimize change orders and surprises during construction. We highly value the accuracy provided by these scans.” – Jordan Bradley, Associate Principal of Studio Troika
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Mixed-Use Developments

In mixed-use projects, architects create integrated designs that integrate residential, retail, and office functions within a single structure or development. They plan the spatial layout to balance privacy, convenience, and shared amenities, while ensuring that building systems, which include HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, serve each use effectively. Their designs must also meet the distinct code and zoning requirements for each space type, all while maintaining a cohesive architectural vision.

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2. Cultural and Civic Structures

Government Buildings

Architects plan and execute the new construction and renovation of civic structures such as city halls, courthouses, post offices, and federal and state government buildings. Government projects demand strict adherence to security protocols, public accessibility standards (ADA), safety requirements, and government sustainability goals. Typically, these buildings need funding for renovations, which often happen in phases. Project teams work with stakeholders and regulatory bodies to ensure the project meets functional, symbolic, and sustainability needs, using energy-efficient systems, durable materials, and historic preservation strategies when necessary.

• Hiring a professional service provider to conduct 3D laser scanning provides precise, detailed as-built documentation of existing buildings, helping project teams to plan upgrades, ensure code compliance, minimize construction risks, and streamline coordination across agencies and contractors.
• GPRS is extensively trained and equipped to coordinate within the operational parameters of government facilities, including adherence to access restrictions and designated timeframes.

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Museums and Art Galleries

Designing or renovating museums and galleries requires a deep understanding of both visitor experience and collection preservation. Architects address climate control systems, light exposure management, and circulation flow to protect artifacts while enhancing engagement. Technical responsibilities include integrating security systems, coordinating with curators and exhibit designers, and designing flexible gallery layouts to accommodate changing exhibitions. Many times, decorative work and elements must remain untouched. Acoustic control, material selection, and lighting design all play critical roles in both conservation and user experience.

• Capturing accurate data needs to be done in the off-hours to avoid disturbing visitors.
• Digital twin reduces physical site visits and streamlines renovation processes.

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“I think we've all done hand measuring, but we needed the level of detail that was provided in the point cloud. The laser scan really created the foundation of all our documentation that we were able to supplement and do targeted assessments at the Rough Point Museum.” - Nealia Morrison, Senior Associate at DBVW Architects

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Stadiums, Theatres, and Event Spaces

For stadiums, arenas, theatres, and performance venues, architects develop comprehensive designs that prioritize functionality, safety, and immersive experience. This can include designing seating capacity, layout, acoustics, sightlines, accessibility, and environmental considerations, to create a memorable experience for the athletes, performers, and audience. Coordination with structural and mechanical engineers is critical to achieving large-span roof systems and complex lighting rigs.

• Traditional documentation methods are difficult for stadiums, theatres, and event spaces because of their complex geometry, large scale, hard-to-reach areas, and intricate architectural details that are time-consuming and challenging to measure accurately by hand.
• Whether upgrading aging stadium infrastructure or integrating advanced technologies, precise building dimensions and accurate site data are essential for informed decision-making and successful project execution.
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Libraries

Architects design modern libraries to include quiet study areas, collaborative spaces, and community zones like computer labs and multipurpose rooms. They create flexible layouts, support advanced technology, and use sustainable features such as natural lighting and ventilation. Project teams also ensure the building meets safety codes and reflects the library’s role as both a learning space and a community center.

• A dense layout with many bookshelves can present challenges and more manual measuring.
• Design teams often leverage cutting-edge 3D laser scanning services to document interiors much faster to keep the project on schedule.
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Community Centers

Designing community centers involves creating versatile, multi-use spaces that support recreation, education, social services, and events. Architects focus on modular spatial design, energy-efficient systems, and durable finishes that withstand high public use. Project teams also help manage budgets and construction planning to make sure the center meets the needs of people of all ages.
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“We need a dedicated space for K-12 students to be in. We don’t want to interrupt them, and we need to continue doing our work and activities in the space.” – Rebecca Johnson, Executive Director of AIA Philadelphia

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Religious Buildings

For churches, mosques, temples, and other houses of worship, architects ensure the space is inviting, functional, and reflects the church's ministry vision, while also managing the project's financial resources and timelines. Many of these structures are historic and lack original as-built documentation, presenting significant challenges for accurate planning.

For example, the First Parish Church built in 1836 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, standing 138 feet tall lacked original as-built drawings, making accurate documentation essential yet difficult to achieve with traditional methods. Without digital documentation delivered by GPRS, scaffolding and manual measurements would have been time-consuming and posed safety risks, adding complexity to the restoration process.

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3. Schools and Universities

Schools

Architects design and upgrade K-12 campuses, including elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as public and parochial institutions – with a focus on safety, adaptability, and student-centered environments. They create flexible classrooms, improve natural lighting, control acoustics, and ensure safe student circulation with separated vehicle and pedestrian zones.

• LLB Architects and Pragmaticam engaged GPRS for our expertise in architecture-grade 3D laser scanning and modeling to support the Dexter Southfield Preparatory School. Leveraging our precise documentation services allowed LLB to concentrate fully on design, architectural development, and planning while relying on accurate, high-resolution spatial data as the foundation for their work.
• Ever since our first engagement occurred with Existing Conditions/GPRS back in 2011, we've consistently found that involving their services early in the planning, analysis, and study phases adds a crucial level of resource efficiency and fluidity in project trajectory. This approach has been essential for meeting client timeframe expectations and ensuring accuracy for the entire project team, especially when a project moves into design and construction. – Neal Bijlani, Principal of Pragmaticam

Colleges and Universities

Architects lead the design of academic and student facilities in higher education, including classrooms, research labs, libraries, dining facilities, residence halls, and student unions. They focus on accessibility, sustainability, and long-term adaptability, aligning new buildings with campus growth strategies.

• Getting accurate measurements over the summer is crucial since there will be fewer students on campus.
• Many times, measurements are completed from each building based on priority level.

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4. Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals

Architects help design hospitals with specialized areas like operating rooms, emergency departments, and patient wards. Their work focuses on creating efficient, code-compliant layouts that support patient care, staff workflow, and infection control. They coordinate complex systems such as HVAC, medical gas, and backup power, all while meeting strict health codes like FGI Guidelines. Designs also consider accessibility, durable materials for hygiene, and construction phasing to minimize disruptions during renovations or expansions.

• As-built drawings support clash detection for new system installations.
• Accurate building measurements aid ongoing facilities management in these active environments.

Medical Offices and Clinics

For outpatient centers, doctor’s offices, and urgent care clinics, architects design layouts that improve patient flow, protect privacy, and support staff efficiency. They ensure the spaces meet ADA requirements, healthcare codes, and infection control standards – while remaining functional, safe, and welcoming for patients and staff.

Specialized Facilities

Architects plan and design specialized healthcare spaces such as labs, imaging centers, mental health clinics, addiction treatment facilities, and hospice facilities. Biophilic design is increasingly being integrated into the renovation of specialized facilities. Transforming an outdated building into a modern, patient-centered environment requires more than aesthetic upgrades, it demands a comprehensive approach to enhance functionality and performance. By incorporating advanced heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, the facility can achieve improved energy efficiency and superior indoor air quality. This design strategy not only supports the delivery of high-quality care and extensive services but also creates a more welcoming and therapeutic environment for occupants.

Nursing Homes and Senior Living Communities

In senior care settings, architects design environments that prioritize resident comfort, accessibility, and safety. Projects follow healthcare and residential care codes, incorporating features like nurse call systems, ADA-compliant layouts, and efficient HVAC and lighting. Designs often include social areas, private or semi-private rooms, and flexibility to adapt to changing care needs – all while supporting a home-like atmosphere.

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5. Industrial Projects

Facilities and Warehouses

Architects and engineers design manufacturing plants, warehouses, storage facilities, and distribution centers with efficient layouts that improve workflow, streamline production lines, and ensure employee safety. They plan for clear circulation paths, loading docks, equipment zones, and emergency egress while integrating lighting, ventilation, and fire safety systems to meet industrial code requirements.

• 3D laser scanning provides accurate, detailed as-built data that streamlines facility renovations by reducing measurement errors, improving design precision, and minimizing costly rework.

Data Centers

Designing a data center requires precise planning for cooling, power, and security. Architects create layouts that optimize server rack placement, airflow, and electrical distribution to prevent overheating and ensure 24/7 operation. They also incorporate structural reinforcements, backup power systems, and controlled access points to meet strict technical and security standards.

• Reliable 2D CAD drawings are crucial for asset management and space utilization.
• GPRS’ 3D laser scanning technology is safe for complex data centers and does not damage servers.

Energy Facilities

From power plants and water treatment plants to solar farms and refineries, architects support energy projects by designing scalable, safe, and durable facilities. They plan infrastructure for heavy equipment, energy storage systems, and utility access while allowing for future expansion. Their work ensures compliance with safety codes, environmental regulations, and operational needs across long facility lifespans.

• In this example, our client initiated a comprehensive mechanical rehabilitation of the water treatment plant pump station and selected GPRS to perform 3D laser scanning and develop a detailed Building Information Model (BIM) to accelerate project design and execution. Advanced, custom-built Revit families were developed with selective visibility to accurately represent the facility’s complex features, allowing the client to isolate and analyze specific systems throughout the design process.

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6. Renovation and Restoration

Historic Preservation

Preserving historic buildings is important in rural and urban areas. Architects restore and adapt historic buildings by carefully preserving their unique architectural features. They also integrate modern systems to meet safety codes, accessibility requirements, and energy efficiency standards, ensuring that the building remains functional while honoring its historical value. Historic buildings often have decades of corrosion and façade damage.

• 3D mesh models are a great option for restoring historic buildings.
• Accurate data can be communicated to a 3D printing firm to replicate historical details.

“The extensive data that GPRS gathered allowed us to collaboratively create a highly accurate digital model of The Little Building façade circa 1917, which was no easy task given the complexity of the highly ornate neo-gothic architecture. The ability to communicate the model data directly to the fabricator enabled us to have complete control over the outcome of the replicated façade elements." – Ross Cameron, Vice President of Elkus Manfredi Architects

Adaptive Reuse

For adaptive reuse projects, architects transform old structures like warehouses or churches into modern spaces like offices or apartments. They assess the existing building’s structure and systems to ensure they can support the new function, complying with current building codes and safety regulations. Architects develop strategies to maintain the building’s historic or architectural value while integrating modern infrastructure like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems. They also address energy efficiency, accessibility, and safety, managing the permitting process to create a sustainable, cost-effective solution.

• 3D laser scanning captures precise existing conditions, helping architects design adaptive reuse projects that fit within complex, aging structures while minimizing surprises and costly modifications.

Building Upgrades

Architects upgrade existing buildings by improving their façades, structural layouts, and MEP systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) to meet modern codes and enhance energy efficiency. These updates help bring older buildings into compliance with the latest standards, ensuring they are safe, functional, and modern. The benefits of having MEP/FP documentation are:

• Exact layout and dimensions
• Saves time and reduces rework
• System integration and sequencing
• Plan for future maintenance

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7. Urban Design and Planning

Master Planning

Master planning involves organizing land use and designing the layout of entire neighborhoods, cities, districts, campuses, and more. Architects help transform visions into reality by creating functional, aesthetic spaces that serve the community’s needs and comply with local regulations. This includes planning for everything from housing and parks to roads and utilities, ensuring that all elements work together to create a cohesive, sustainable environment.

• When conducting a master plan for an entire campus, for example, it can be time-consuming to measure the site using manual methods or basic tools.
• Utilizing a professional service provider to deliver accurate BIM models is crucial because they are accessible on the server and can be exported into the facility’s existing database management system.

“I am happy to say that GPRS’ 3D laser scans and as-built data have been at the center of our planning and efforts for the next decade of investment. The data helps us make informed decisions based on a more comprehensive understanding of our assets." – Keenan Chenail, Project Manager, Williams College

Transportation Design

Architects design transportation hubs like airports, train stations, and bus terminals with a focus on efficiency, user experience, and safety. They plan layouts that optimize passenger flow, integrate essential systems (like check-in counters, security checkpoints, and baggage handling), and ensure that the space meets transportation codes. Project teams also consider accessibility, future expansion, and technological integration to enhance security and sustainability. They address complex building systems like HVAC, lighting, and noise control, ensuring that the environment is comfortable and functional for both travelers and staff.
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8. Residential Projects

Single-Family Homes

Architects play a crucial role in designing custom homes or home renovations that reflect the client’s personal style, spatial needs, and long-term lifestyle goals. They develop schematic designs and construction documents that define the structure’s layout, materials, and systems. Sometimes, there are strict rules and regulations depending on the neighborhood. For example, if the home is situated in a historic area, there needs to be prior approval before renovation begins.

GPRS collaborated with Emeritus to 3D laser scan the interior and exterior of the historic Monomoy Road Residence on Nantucket Island.

“When GPRS explained how their process worked, it seemed incredibly appealing to me because it is one less task our staff has to worry about. Their accurate data is a great reference for the model without having to go on-site. Not only is it a time-saver, but it also allows staff members to focus on design, project management, and client communications.” – Matthew MacEachern, Principal, and Founder of Emeritus

Multi-Family Housing

For apartments, condominiums, duplexes, and townhouses, architects are essential in creating multi-unit building layouts that balance density with livability. They address vertical and horizontal circulation, acoustic privacy between units, fire-rated separations, and shared amenities. Design teams work closely with civil, MEP, and structural engineers to coordinate core systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, elevators) that serve multiple occupants efficiently. They also manage zoning constraints, such as floor area ratio (FAR) and open space requirements. Sustainable strategies, such as passive design, stormwater management, and high-performance façades, are often integrated to meet green building certifications (e.g., LEED, ENERGY STAR).

Luxury Residences

Designing luxury villas, estates, or penthouses involves a heightened level of detail, innovation, and customization. Architects oversee custom design elements such as wine cellars, home theaters, spa facilities, and custom millwork. They coordinate with interior designers, landscape architects, and smart home consultants to deliver cohesive, high-end living environments. Technical responsibilities include designing structural spans that allow open-concept layouts, incorporating automated building systems (lighting, security, HVAC), and specifying premium finishes.

Affordable Housing

According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the U.S. faces a severe affordable housing shortage, with no state or metro area where a full-time minimum wage worker can afford a standard two-bedroom rental, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. From 2019 to 2023, rents rose by 30.4% while wages grew only 20.2%, leaving tens of millions of households cost-burdened, as reported by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and data from Zillow and StreetEasy. Architects develop cost-efficient, sustainable designs for low-income housing, public housing, subsidized housing, manufactured housing, and community housing initiatives. They utilize modular construction, standardized components, and value engineering techniques to reduce construction time and cost without compromising quality. Floor plans are designed for maximum space efficiency, incorporating shared amenities and adaptable living spaces. They also navigate funding requirements, public design review processes, and HUD/FHA design guidelines. Emphasis is placed on durability, low-maintenance materials, and energy-efficient systems to reduce long-term operating costs for residents. Many designs also pursue green building certifications, ensuring sustainability and environmental responsibility.

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How Can GPRS 3D Laser Scanning Services Aid Architectural Projects?

Architectural design requires a high level of detail and accuracy to prevent costly errors, rework, or delays. GPRS 3D Laser Scanning Services deliver precise, comprehensive as-built documentation of buildings and sites – far beyond the capabilities of traditional methods. From walls and windows to HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and structural elements, all visible components are captured with millimeter accuracy.

This technology supports every phase of the architectural process, including site analysis, design modeling, construction verification, and final as-built validation. GPRS' experienced team specializes in architectural scanning and model development, providing reliable point cloud data that reduces the need for repeated site visits and accelerates project timelines.

By integrating 3D laser scanning into their workflows, architects gain accurate, real-world data to inform design decisions, improve coordination, and eliminate guesswork – resulting in better outcomes for both new construction and renovations.

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What are the Benefits of 3D Laser Scanning for Architectural Projects?

3D laser scanning offers several valuable benefits for architects, helping streamline design processes and improve project accuracy.

• Captures the exact dimensions and geometry of existing buildings quickly and accurately
• Saves time and money to allow architects to focus on their designs
• Provides highly detailed 3D Revit models, 2D CAD drawings, and point clouds, streamlining the design process and enhancing project efficiency
• Enables architects to visualize spaces, assess design fit, and identify potential challenges
• Delivers precise architectural, mechanical, and electrical designs for accurate renovations
• Reduces the risk of design errors due to outdated or inaccurate plans
• Facilitates collaboration with engineers and contractors using the same reliable data via virtual site visit platforms like WalkThru3D, TruViews, and SiteMap^®
• Minimizes rework, change orders, and construction delays by ensuring accuracy
• Offers detailed, verifiable models that support planning submissions and permit approvals
• Supports building maintenance and future renovations with a valuable digital twin reference

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What Customized Deliverables Can Be Created for Architectural Projects?

For effective project planning, GPRS can provide the following as-built information to an architect:

• Point Cloud Data or Raw Scan Data
• 2D CAD Drawings – Site plans, floor plans, sections, elevations
• 3D BIM Models – For visualization, clash detection, and coordination in BIM environments
• 3D BIM MEP Systems – Existing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure, including HVAC layout, electrical panels, piping, and fixtures
• 2D CAD Floor Plans – Dimensions and layout of walls, doors, windows, and openings
• 2D CAD Elevations and Sections – Vertical relationships, building heights, façade details, and materials
• 2D CAD Structural Details – Location and dimensions of beams, columns, foundations, and load-bearing elements
• 2D CAD Roof Plans – Slope, drainage, mechanical equipment placement, and structural elements
• 2D CAD Ceiling Plans – Reflected ceiling plans (RCPs) showing ceiling height, lighting, HVAC diffusers, and soffits
• Site Conditions – Topography, landscaping, utilities, property lines, and access points
• 3D Photogrammetry – Visual reference of interior and exterior conditions
• TruViews, WalkThru3D, or SiteMap

GPRS data and deliverables ensures architects can design accurately, avoid surprises, and align the new design with existing conditions.

Learn more about GPRS 3D Laser Scanning Deliverables.

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What Modeling Software Can Be Used for Architectural Projects?

• Autodesk Recap
• Autodesk Revit
• Autodesk 3DS Max
• Autodesk Navisworks
• Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
• AutoCAD Map 3D
• Bentley MicroStation
• Bentley Descartes V8i
• ClearEdge 3D Edgewise
• PointSense Kubit
• Leica Cyclone

Learn more about GPRS Modeling Software.

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With GPRS, clients can rest assured that our rigorously trained Project Managers use state-of-the-art technology to deliver the most accurate information. GPRS leads the industry – providing outstanding service – to keep your projects on time and reduce risk.

GPRS has an unmatched nationwide service network making it easy to find an expert Project Manager in your area. Please contact your local GPRS Project Manager for information, pricing, and scheduling needs.

To request a quote from GPRS contact us here.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the theory of adaptive reuse?

Adaptive reuse in architecture is a sustainable design strategy that involves repurposing existing buildings for new functions, while retaining their historical, cultural, or architectural significance. This strategy promotes the conservation of resources, reduction of waste, and preservation of cultural heritage.

What is a Point Cloud?

A point cloud is the digital dataset captured with a 3D laser scanner. A laser scanner is equipped with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which scans an object or environment by bouncing laser beams off surfaces to record a 3D digital representation of the space. Each point, containing X, Y, and Z coordinates along with additional data such as color, intensity, or classification, is plotted within a three-dimensional coordinate system.

What is Scan-to-BIM Used For?

Scan-to-BIM is a process that uses 3D laser scanning to create a building information model of a building or site. BIM models provide a comprehensive view of a building that can be used throughout its lifecycle – during the design phase, construction phase, and operation phase of the building. The BIM model can be used during the design and planning stages of a project from design changes to material selection, and cost estimation. During the construction phase, the model can be used to coordinate and manage different trades and ensure the building is constructed according to the design intent. During the operation phase, the model can be used to manage maintenance and repairs, track the performance of the building, and plan for future improvements.

How is CAD different from BIM?

CAD is technology and software designed to produce precise technical drawings —replacing manual hand-drawn and drafting techniques with a digital process. 2D CAD drawings are used in many fields, including architecture and engineering, to create accurate and efficient representations of sites.

BIM, or Building Information Modeling, is a process of visualizing a digital representation of a physical asset via the 3D model and includes richer levels of data, including information on materials and equipment. Architects, engineers, and construction managers can track and monitor a building through its entire lifecycle, from initial design to construction, operations, and maintenance. Project teams can collaborate, share information, and monitor project costs using BIM.

GPRS provided accurate utility locating and mapping services to help a contractor stay on time, on budget, and safe while installing water lines throughout a 150-acre community college.

GPRS Project Manager James Turrentine was contacted by Arizona Pipeline Co., which was installing the water lines across Gavilan College in Gilroy, California.

A Brief History of Gavilan College

The school was originally established in 1919 as San Benito County Junior College, with instruction offered at Hollister High School. It operated under this name until 1963, when a new community college district was drawn that included both San Benito and southern Santa Clara Counties. A local bond passed in 1966 which provided the funds necessary to construct the college’s current campus at Santa Teresa Boulevard in Gilroy.

Like many historic campuses across the country, Gavilan had no accurate existing as-builts to provide to Arizona Pipeline as the latter was preparing to trench to install the new water lines.

How GPRS Located the Water Line and Other Utilities

Arizona first contacted GPRS to locate a single existing water line on the campus.

GPRS provides precision utility locating services utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locating. GPR scanners emit radio waves into a surface or underground, then detect the interactions between the signals and any buried objects such as conduit, pipelines, or underground storage tanks (USTs). These interactions are displayed as a series of hyperbolas on a GPR readout, and GPRS Project Managers interpret this data to provide accurate location and depth data for these obstructions.

EM locators detect the electromagnetic signals radiating from metallic buried utilities, and as such are a perfect complement to GPR scanning.  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.

By utilizing both GPR scanning and EM locating, Turrentine was able to locate the buried water line for Arizona Pipeline. Not only did he mark out the location of the utility on the ground using flags and paint, but he also uploaded this data into SiteMap^® (patent pending), GPRS’ intuitive, interactive utility mapping software application.

Securely accessible 24/7 from any computer, tablet or smartphone, SiteMap is the single source of truth a facility manager or general contractor needs to ensure their team can plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately build better. It eliminates the mistakes caused by inaccurate/incomplete as-built documents and replaces them with the peace of mind that comes with knowing where all buried utilities are located – and therefore knowing where you can and can’t safely dig.

How a Water Line Locate Became a Full Site Utility Survey

When Turrentine showed his site contract with Arizona Pipeline the utility locating data he obtained and uploaded into SiteMap, the contact was so impressed that he asked GPRS to locate and map all the buried infrastructure across Gavilan College’s entire campus.

“[Turrentine] showed them in SiteMap their scope of work that they called us out there to do,” said GPRS Area Manager Jake Wright. “And [the client] said ‘Oh wow, we actually have hundreds of [utility] trenches we need to do. Could we do the whole campus like that?’ And Turrentine said ‘Yeah, totally.’”

While every GPRS customer receives complimentary SiteMap Personal access to view the data we collect for them, the platform can be tailored to meet your individual needs. Arizona Pipeline received SiteMap Project access so that their entire team would have access to the accurate, field-verified data collected on-site by Turrentine throughout their project’s lifecycle.

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

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What informational output do I receive when I hire GPRS to conduct a utility locate?

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. And all this accurate-field-verified data is uploaded into SiteMap®, so you and your team have secure, 24/7 access.

GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor.

Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

Can ground penetrating radar find PVC piping and other non-conductive utilities?

GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.

A $66-million road project near Reno, Nevada hit a major speedbump when it was discovered that a high-pressure water line ran right through the project area.

Watsonville, California-based Granite Construction is the general contractor on the first phase of the six-phase Pyramid Highway Project, which is rebuilding and widening about 2.5 miles of the arterial road that serves 50,000 vehicles daily.  

Expected to be completed this summer, this project will see much of the road expand from four to six lanes, along with the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks curbs, gutters, a 10-ft shared-use path on one side of the road, smart traffic signals, sound walls, enhanced lighting, landscaping, and improved drainage infrastructure.

“These upgrades are designed to improve traffic flow, safety and accessibility for all users,” Nanette Maxwell, senior project manager for NDOT, the lead agency on the project, told Engineering News-Record. “This project will not only reduce traffic congestion and travel times, but it will also generate significant crash-cost savings for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians” because the improvements are expected to reduce accidents.

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According to ENR, the local water utility notified the construction team about the previously unidentified water line running through the project area. The line serves the nearby community of Spanish Springs, and the water utility told the construction team that it needed to be at least 2 ft below ground.

A subsequent review of subsurface utility exploration data revealed a small section of the pipe would have less than 2 ft of cover.

Revealing too much of the high-pressure line risked compromising its integrity, and shutting off the water was not feasible. To mitigate the risk, crews advanced in 50-foot sections, excavating and clearing surface material down to the subgrade. The exposed area was then graded and compacted. A temporary gravel layer was placed over the pipe for protection, which will later be replaced with an aggregate base during final roadway construction.

“Meetings were held between NDOT, Granite and the local water authority to develop a work plan allowing the contractor to continue working,” Aaron Lobato, roadway design project coordinator at NDOT, told ENR.

Amanda Callegari, commission engineering manager, told the publication that the collaborative elements of the project – including the real-time multiagency cooperation necessary to overcome the water line problem – show how important Pyramid Highway is to Reno’s present and future. The highway – designated State Route 445 – is an important commuter route for the area’s growing population, with more than 90% of the 40,000 people who live within two miles of the project working outside the area.  

“This project holds regional significance and will provide meaningful benefits to the growing community,” Callegari said. “To ensure its successful delivery, the [commission] and NDOT have joined forces to implement these vital improvements.”

How Accurate Utility Locating Protects Your Infrastructure Projects

Whether it’s a high-pressure water line, an electrical conduit, or a gas main, striking a buried utility while excavating can have costly consequences.

Subsurface damage endangers the lives of your workers and residents of the surrounding community. And the downtime and cost of repairing the damage can decimate your schedule and budget.

Calling your local 811 center should be your first step whenever you’re planning an excavation. Federal law requires you contact 811 to receive the approximate location of all registered utilities within your project area prior to breaking ground. Registered utilities can consist of both private and public lines, but it’s important to remember that not all utilities are registered with 811.

GPRS’ professional utility locating services compliment your 811 locate by providing you with accurate and complete data about the buried infrastructure on your job site. Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) locating, and other non-destructive subsurface investigation technologies, we identify where you can and can’t safely dig.

All this data is at your fingertips 24/7 thanks to SiteMap^® (patent pending), GPRS’ interactive utility mapping software application that provides accurate existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

Securely accessible from any computer, tablet or smartphone, SiteMap enables seamless communication between you and your project team. You’ll be able to plan, design, manage, dig, 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?

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I get when I hire GPRS to conduct a utility locate?

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor.  

Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

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.

A survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) found that 46% of Americans plan to dig without contacting 811.

Released in observance of National Safe Digging Month in April, the CGA’s national survey found that 68% of Americans plan to tackle a do-it-yourself project involving digging within the next year, but 27.2 million of them will not contact 811 before digging.

Not only is this illegal – homeowners and contractors alike are required by law to contact their local 811 before breaking ground on any size of excavation project – it's also dangerous. Digging without knowing what’s below risks damaging buried utilities, disrupting service to nearby residences and businesses and endangering anyone in the vicinity of the excavation.

"Our survey found that 46% of Americans don't plan to notify 811 before digging, with most believing their project is too shallow to merit an 811 request,” said CGA President and CEO Sarah K. Magruder Lyle. “This misconception puts homeowners and their neighbors at risk of injury and utility service interruptions. The reality is that utility lines can be buried just inches below the surface, which is why everyone must contact 811 before every digging project—whether it's installing a patio or major construction."

To keep homeowners, families and communities safe, a few days before breaking ground, make a free request to have the approximate location of underground lines marked with flags or paint by calling 811 or visiting www.811beforeyoudig.com. This National Safe Digging Month, and all year long, take the following steps when planning a digging project:

• Always contact 811 a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property
• Plan ahead. Make a free 811 request on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked
• Confirm that all lines have been marked
• Consider moving the location of the project if it is near utility line markings
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines aren't marked

Everyone who contacts 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local 811 center that collects the information and communicates it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags or both. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas.

How GPRS Complements Your 811 Locate

While you should always contact your local 811 One Call Center prior to digging, you should also hire a professional private utility locating company to locate and map all buried utilities in your intended dig area before you put a shovel or bucket in the ground.

GPRS is the nation’s largest professional private utility locating company. We’ve achieved and maintain a 99.8%+ accuracy rate when locating buried utilities, allowing us to compliment 811 services and the tools that support them.  

Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners and electromagnetic (EM) locators, our SIM-certified Project Managers collect the accurate, complete data you need to stay on time, on budget, and safe. And this information is always at you and your team’s fingertips thanks to SiteMap^®, our facility & project management application that provides existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

What can we help you visualize?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What type of informational output is provided when GPRS conducts a utility locate?

GPRS Project Managers flag and paint their findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

We also use a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

Can GPRS locate PVC piping and other non-conductive utilities?

GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.

Can GPR be used to verify known measurements?

We can use GPR to cross-check the measured depth and location of a located utility with existing as-built plans to verify the accuracy of plans.

Late one evening, GPRS Project Manager Thomas Judge received a message from Kristopher Nickerson, a Senior Project Manager for Skanska. Judge had worked Skanska often, but he wasn’t expecting to hear about a job so late in the afternoon.

Nickerson had reached out asking for some help locating electrical lines for a charity in South Florida called the Bit-By-Bit Medical Therapeutic Riding Center. Bit-By-Bit is a charity that provides healing with the help of horses to special needs children and veterans. The accredited riding center provides speech, occupational, and physical therapies, while also aspiring to empower everyone they serve and transform their lives.

When their initial local utility locator had to bow out, the charity needed a back-up and they needed it immediately. Nickerson also made sure to inform Judge that Skanska was working free of charge for the charity, so Judge would be donating his time.

Judge didn’t hesitate to agree to the job and called fellow GPRS Project Manager Cameron Church, who also agreed to help.

“It was the night before when he sent out that message and I said, ‘Yeah, I'm clear,’” Church said. “Tomorrow, throw it on me first thing in the morning and let's get this done for them.”

Church, who is a veteran of the United States Air Force, was even more honored to be able to help once he learned the charity does work with veterans.

“Being a veteran of the Air Force myself, I knew this was a chance to give back,” Church said. “Let’s do it.”

The next morning, Judge and Church arrived at Bit-By-Bit Medical Therapeutic Riding Center. Upon their arrival, they performed a site walk to analyze the area while also having the opportunity to check out the majestic horses that have helped countless people in need. The job was simple: all they had to do was locate underground electrical lines so an area of the barn could be converted into an office space. However, there were some factors that made this job more interesting and potentially difficult.

“The whole area between that barn and where the utility pole was located at, where the power was coming off, that was all sand,” Church explained.

The vast majority of where Judge and Church would be scanning was in a sanded area that served as a corral and exercise space for the horses. GPRS Project Managers are trained to mark underground utilities with spray paint or flags that symbolize different utilities depending on the color. Marking the lines was going to be difficult as the markings could be easily altered by the horses and volunteers walking around the sanded areas.

Despite any challenges Judge and Church would have faced, their extensive training and experience allowed them to find the right solutions.

“It's sand. So with the horses riding around here, how do you want this marked?” Church pondered. “I can paint this, and I can flag it, but it's not going to take long for the marks to be completely gone. So then, they just reassured me that they would do what they could to make sure that the marks were going to stay there, and we took plenty of pictures before I left that day.”

GPRS’ SIM-certified Project Managers utilize Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic (EM) locators to achieve 99.8% accurate utility scans and lower the risk of utility strikes at all stages of the project life cycle. Once the utilities are located, every GPRS customer receives their digitalized utility locates via SiteMap®, GPRS’ secure infrastructure and facility management software application.  

After Church and Judge documented and marked their findings, they presented them to Bit-By-Bit who had a different idea of where these lines were located.

“We traced out the electric and it ended up being on the opposite end of their field from where they thought it was,” Church explained. “They knew it came off the [utility] pole and they knew it crossed over, but they thought it crossed over on the east side and it actually crossed over on the west. So, they were a little surprised by that.”

Without GPRS’ help, who knows how much time and resources would have been wasted looking in the wrong place for an electrical line?

Upon the completion of the utility scan and data delivery, Bit-By-Bit and Skanska were both appreciative of the time and effort both Judge and Church donated.

“I just know that Phil Nickerson could not have been more thankful that we were able to come through for them,” Judge said.

Judge and Church were both honored to have helped out a charity that does such great work and were able to come through for a long time partner.

“Thank you to Skanska for allowing us to be a small part of the project and Bit-By-Bit Medical Therapeutic Riding Center for the amazing work they are doing,” Judge said.

Small acts can have big impacts, and whether we’re scanning an underground electrical line or an entire skyscraper, GPRS’ industry-leading 99.8% accurate utility scans help you Intelligently Visualize The Built World® by showing you what you need to see.

What can we help you visualize?

The State of California had more than 3,000 miles of “middle mile” broadband network under construction and expansion at the end of 2024, according to a press release issued by the office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

This publicly funded, owned and open-access network is set to be the nation’s largest, and will connect millions of Californians to high-speed internet, the release states.

“We are building the nation’s largest open-access broadband network of its kind to ensure all Californians have access to reliable, high-speed internet,” Newsom said. “Our historic investments not only set California on track to thrive in the digital world, it provides the foundation for our economy and our workers to flourish.”

What is Middle Mile Broadband?

As demand for reliable, high-speed internet grows, attention has increasingly shifted toward the infrastructure that makes connectivity possible—particularly in rural and underserved communities.

While “last mile” service is often the focus of public awareness and policy, the lesser known “middle mile” is just as essential. Without it, last mile connections cannot function.

In the architecture of internet infrastructure, the term “middle mile” refers to the segment that connects a local network—such as a community, neighborhood, or local Internet Service Provider (ISP)—to the broader internet backbone. It bridges the gap between high-capacity, long-haul transmission lines and the localized distribution networks that reach homes and businesses (the "last mile").

Middle mile infrastructure typically includes:

• Fiber-optic cables
• Microwave or fixed wireless links
• Regional data centers or network hubs
• Aggregation points for multiple local networks

In practical terms, imagine a rural town where a small ISP serves residents and local businesses. The ISP might have its own last mile infrastructure—wires and routers that deliver internet directly to users—but without a robust middle mile connection to a larger urban hub or data center, that service will be slow, unstable, or prohibitively expensive.

In late 2024, the California Department of Technology (CDT) sealed two more joint-build agreements with the Karuk Tribe in the northern part of the state and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments in the southern part of the state. These joint-build partnerships pave the way for 46 miles across county and tribal lands and a 73-mile stretch of network in southeast Los Angeles County, connecting 26 cities, many of them historically underserved communities.

“We are entering into an era of co-management where work together with our state partners to manage these lands which requires an adaptive process,” said Karuk Tribe Chairman Russell Attebery. “The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is an integral part of that process. Broadband is not just public safety and education, but also a life-changing instrument and we are partnering with the state to ensure that the next generations of the Karuk people can survive and have a better quality of life.”

“Low-income communities are behind technologically – and business as usual has left communities in several areas of California with a digital divide,” added Vilma Cuellar-Stallings, Board President Gateway Cities Council of Governments and Paramount City Councilwoman. “We are grateful that the California Department of Technology worked with the cities in Southeast Los Angeles County to narrow our digital divide and that of communities like ours, bringing high-speed fiber optic access to underserved Californians.”

California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is designed to ensure that the state’s residents have a resilient, open-access broadband network with high-speed internet. In addition to the 3,000 miles of middle-mile construction that is ongoing, other program highlights include:

• 10 Tribal joint-build partnerships and engagements
• All 58 counties reached
• 7,233 miles in lease/purchase partnership
• 4,000 miles under construction by Spring 2025

“We are building critical broadband infrastructure across the state to ensure a California where everyone has reliable access to the internet,” said California State Chief Information Officer and CDT Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins. “We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and our state and local partners working with us to close the digital divide.”

How the Internet Is Structured: Backbone, Middle Mile, Last Mile

To understand where middle mile fits, it’s helpful to consider the three-tier structure of internet connectivity:

1. Backbone – The internet’s global core, composed of ultra-high-capacity fiber optic networks that span continents and oceans. These are operated by large network providers and connect major cities, countries, and continents.
2. Middle Mile – The regional link that connects local ISPs, anchor institutions (like schools and hospitals), and government networks to backbone infrastructure. It includes regional transport networks and routing facilities.
3. Last Mile – The final connection to individual end users—homes, schools, libraries, and businesses. This is often where consumer-facing ISPs operate, delivering broadband via cable, DSL, fiber, or wireless.

All three segments must work together to deliver high-speed, reliable internet. Weakness in any one part limits the entire system.

Why the Middle Mile Matters

The middle mile is often a hidden barrier to broadband expansion. While many funding and development programs focus on subsidizing last mile access, local providers still need affordable, high-capacity middle mile connections to deliver competitive service. This becomes especially problematic in remote or rural areas, where middle mile infrastructure is limited or nonexistent.

Key reasons why the middle mile matters:

• Cost Efficiency: If ISPs don’t have access to open and affordable middle mile networks, they may be forced to lease capacity from private carriers at high rates—costs that are passed on to consumers.
• Network Performance: Congested or outdated middle mile networks limit bandwidth and cause latency, reducing the overall quality of service even if the last mile infrastructure is modern.
• Scalability: Robust middle mile networks allow communities to add more users and services—such as public Wi-Fi, smart grid applications, or remote learning—without overloading the system.
• Redundancy and Resilience: Middle mile investments support redundant routes, improving service uptime and disaster recovery in the event of outages.

Challenges to Implementation

While middle mile development is gaining momentum, challenges remain:

• High Capital Costs: Fiber builds, especially over long distances, are expensive and time-consuming.
• Geographic Barriers: Terrain and rights-of-way issues complicate deployment in mountainous or rural areas.
• Permitting and Coordination: Infrastructure projects often require coordination across jurisdictions and utility owners, slowing progress.

For middle-mile broadband infrastructure to truly benefit the communities in which it’s being installed, it first must be installed safely and without damaging existing buried infrastructure.

GPRS safeguards existing and new infrastructure through our subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and facility & project management services.

Our utility locating services utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) locating, remote-controlled sewer pipe inspection crawlers and push-fed sewer scopes to locate and map buried infrastructure in your project area so you can avoid it when microtrenching or directional drilling. This ensures you avoid costly and dangerous subsurface damage, including cross bores.

SiteMap^® (patent pending), GPRS’ infrastructure mapping software application, stores all this accurate, field-verified data in one secure, yet easily accessible platform. You’ll be able to view and share this information with your project team from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.

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?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can GPRS find PVC piping and other non-conductive utilities?

GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.

What size pipes can GPRS inspect?

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