industry insights

What happens when the as-builts are wrong, the utility markings are off, and the potholes don’t reveal any utilities?

In the worst-case scenario, damages occur.

The best-case scenario? You call for a second opinion and have the lines accurately located before digging or drilling by a private utility locator near you, like the team at GPRS.

Not All Utility Locates & Sewer Lateral Inspections are Created Equal

This exact scenario occurred in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, where the local township was tasked with locating private water lines and sanitary laterals connected to the main storm lines to residents’ homes before a directional drilling project could begin.

However, when the sanitary lateral line marks that the township made were potholed, the test holes displayed no laterals.

GPRS To The Rescue

As a result of this incident, the customer called out the SIM-certified utility locating and sewer lateral mapping team at GPRS. While on site, GPRS Project Manager Jarred Trice provided a solution to the issue. He did this by employing multiple forms of cutting-edge technology, ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) utility locators, and the Envirosight lateral launch robotic sewer crawler to accurately locate the water lines and sanitary laterals that were missed. As shown in the image below, the actual laterals were 5-10 feet from where the township had marked them, which led them to believe that the paint (mark-out) was put on the ground based on inaccurate and outdated as-built records versus actually locating and inspecting the lines manually with a robotic crawler and GPR.

The Benefits of Having Accurate Sewer Lateral Mapping

By calling out the team at GPRS, the customer benefited in multiple ways.

These Included:

1. Saved Time

2. Saved Money

3. Residents Were Undisturbed

4. Eliminated The Need for A Costly Trench

5. Kept Sewer Laterals Undamaged

6. Sewer & Water Line As-Builts Were Updated Via SiteMap®

The SIM-mandated GPRS approach employed by Trice saved time and prevented the need for a wide and costly trench in the middle of the road. Trenching on a public street would have been disruptive to residents’ lives and proved costly to the municipality. Using CCTV robotic crawlers, EM utility locators, and ground penetrating radar, GPRS was able to prevent residents from having unnecessary damage to their water and lateral lines, all while providing the municipality NASSCO-certified reports of each lateral line with defects and video feedback included.

The GPRS team mapped and digitally stored the geolocated data of the true location of the water and sewer laterals on site, providing the municipality and the customer with accurate and up-to-date as-built documentation of their lines to reference 24/7 on any tablet, smart phone, or other mobile device via SiteMap® (patent pending). SiteMap® houses all of GPRS’ 99.8% accurate utility maps and other data captured to provide a one-stop-shop and single source of truth for utility data, thus helping eliminate communication and information siloes among key stakeholders.

Why You Should Map Utilities & Sewer Lateral Lines to Prevent Utility Damages

Whether a project involves mapping laterals for a township or a private facility, anytime work is being performed around sewer lines and laterals, it is highly recommended by the Cross Bore Safety Association that pre and post-lateral mapping inspections are performed to ensure no damage occurs to existing lines. This best practice is recommended because it helps ensure with certainty that any lines in the zone of work were not negatively impacted during groundbreaking activities, including but not limited to: directional drilling, excavation, hand digging, or soil boring. By inspecting lines, as-builts can be updated, condition assessments can be completed, and NASSCO-certified reports can be provided for key stakeholders to review and provide critical data points to community or facility leadership. These inspections provide key information on the condition of the lines being inspected, with areas of concern such as root intrusion and blockage, cracks, cross bores, illicit flows, and joint offsets being identified during assessments.

Cost of Sewer Lateral Mapping Service

When it comes to determining the cost of a sewer lateral mapping service, you have multiple options to choose from. Renting or buying VPI equipment to either conduct the inspection yourself, or have one of your workers do it, seems like a natural way to keep a project budget and schedule under control.  A closer look at the situation, however, reveals that the cost of paying for the rental or purchase, the amount of time and money you’d have to invest in proper training, and the risks involved in incorrectly identifying faults or damages within your sewer system, make hiring a professional the best option.

The Cost of Rental

A standard sewer lateral mapping robotic crawler system can cost upwards of $1,000 a day to rent. You also need to know how to operate the system. One-day sewer lateral mapping inspection training courses cost around $400 per person. These courses usually occur in a classroom setting, meaning your first actual field work will likely be on the job while you’re trying to complete a project. You also need to know how to interpret the data you receive and present it in a way that allows you or your client to craft a mitigation or repair plan. This can cost you upwards of $925 for a single two-day certification course through NASSCO depending on the type of training required for your project needs. So, even if you went through training and rented a crawler system for a single project, it could cost you upwards of $2,300 for equipment and training, not including time in the field that was lost to receive the proper training needed to operate the system.

The Cost Of Purchase

To purchase a sewer lateral mapping system, it could cost you upwards of $70,000. The technology behind sewer lateral mapping systems is constantly changing, so that expensive system will likely be out-of-date within a couple of years. There will, of course, be additional costs for maintenance and upkeep of the equipment. And you still need to get yourself or one of your employees trained and certified to conduct an inspection. That puts your cost to purchase equipment at approximately $73,000-$75,000 and a minimum of three days of training.

To avoid these additional costs, you can hire a sewer lateral mapping service company like GPRS who quotes on a per-jib basis because every system and project is different.

GPRS Provides Sewer Lateral Mapping Services

To mitigate the risk of cross bores and other issues wreaking havoc on our nation’s water and sewer infrastructure, the GPRS team provides non-destructive testing (NDT) through sewer lateral mapping services to view and gather information from the interiors of pipelines.

Our National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO)-certified Project Managers utilize the ROVVER X SAT II lateral launch camera to inspect lateral lines. Since sewer laterals are the pipes responsible for transporting wastewater from residences or businesses to the main public sanitary sewer, it is crucial that they remain clear and undamaged to prevent potential backups and sewer overflows that could lead to inconvenient or dangerous situations for businesses, municipalities, and facility managers alike.

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The ROVVER X SAT II lateral launch system provides the GPRS team with extensive capabilities to map sewer laterals anywhere in the United States. It boasts a maximum crawl capability of 984 feet and can travel at speeds up to 98 feet per minute. Its array of onboard cameras and sensors transmits data to a control system, empowering our Project Managers to review video footage via WinCan Web while also marking out the location of the lateral on the surface with (EM) utility locators and GPR. This assists in the determination and identification of the exact location of underground cross bores, unauthorized flows, construction defects, and other issues potentially affecting the system's integrity.

Key Applications:

1 Inspection, Locating, and Mapping of Sewer Laterals  

GPRS offers video inspections for sewer lateral interiors: assessing conditions and pinpointing lateral locations at the surface level.

2 Verification of Lateral Depths  

Utilizing complementary technologies alongside sewer lateral mapping cameras, GPRS collaborates with municipalities, as well as excavation and boring companies to confirm pipe depths before construction begins. The pipe camera's sonde aids in surface location approximation, while ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) utility locators ensure precise depth and location determination.

3 Inspections of New and Existing Lateral Installations  

Conducting inspections of newly installed lateral pipes as stated earlier in the article, is standard practice, ensuring proper installation and mitigation of damage to existing utilities. GPRS deploys its sewer lateral mapping services to evaluate the condition of pipes, particularly shallow drains, sewers, or plastic pipes, which are vulnerable to damage from heavy construction traffic.

4 Cross Bore Inspection Services  

GPRS performs pre and post-inspection of pipes using lateral launch camera technology to locate cross bores. This approach, increasingly adopted by various states and municipalities, serves as an effective video inspection method before and after the boring process.

From towering buildings to underground sewer systems, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World® to ensure your water and wastewater projects remain on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GPRS Just Map Sewer Laterals?

GPRS's team of Project Managers are accredited by NASSCO in video pipe inspection (VPI), lateral sewer, and MACP manhole inspections. Not only can we provide inspection of sewer laterals, we can locate and assess all other sewer lines with the capability to provide NASSCO-certified pipe inspection services for pipes 4 inches in diameter or larger, with up to 1,500 feet of inspection length, and, dependent on location, as deep as 40 feet with our super sonde.

Can I Have an Educational Water & Wastewater Presentation for My Team On How To Prevent Damages?

Yes, you can! Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week, is a GPRS-sponsored safety initiative designed to help water and wastewater system operators take a more proactive approach to maintaining their infrastructure. From October 21-25, 2024, GPRS safety experts will travel across the country delivering free safety presentations to municipalities, engineers, facility managers, property management groups, and anyone else who is ready to regain control of their water and wastewater infrastructure. While these presentations are currently only for one main week of the year, we are willing to accommodate teams based off interest.  Click here to schedule your free WSDAW presentation today!

What Deliverables Does GPRS Offer When Providing Sewer Lateral Mapping Services?

GPRS is proud to offer WinCan reporting to our sewer lateral mapping clients. Maintaining sewers starts with understanding sewer condition, and WinCan allows GPRS Project Managers to collect detailed, NASSCO-compliant inspection data. This data is accessible via SiteMap® after GPRS Project Managers upload the line location data to the system. This is so you not only are provided with the inspection data of the interior condition of your sewer pipes, laterals, and manholes – but also an accurate and up to date as-built map of your sewer and lateral lines for future design, digging, and maintenance purposes.

When Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) completed the Mario Cuomo Bridge project, they anticipated the bridge would have a lifespan of 100 years.

Instead, the $4 billion bridge that replaced the Tappan Zee Bridge in 2017 is allegedly experiencing structural issues related to its stay cables and anchor pipes. According to the New York State Thruway Authority (NYTSA), 61 of the bridge’s 192 stay cables and anchor pipes need retrofitting with steel sleeves to make them durable enough to withstand the load of the 50 million vehicles that traverse it annually.

It is important to note that there is “no immediate danger to users” of the bridge. However, for the cable-stayed bridge to meet its 100-year lifespan, according to NYSTA, the cables and anchor pipes need to be strengthened. On August 22, 2024, the NYSTA filed a $6 million lawsuit to require TZC to pay for the required retrofitting, claiming that TZC is in breach of contract for refusing to complete the retrofit after the initial anchoring & cable work was deemed unsuitable following an independent safety review of the bridge. The NYSTA has already begun preparations for the retrofitting process, which is expected to take three years.

What is a Cable-Stayed Bridge?

In a cable-stayed bridge, the weight of the deck is supported by diagonal cables, in tension, attached to vertical towers (one or more). The towers allow the force of the cables’ tension to travel through the tower foundations into the river, lake, or seabed below using vertical compression, while the cables’ tensile force hold the deck via horizontal compression.

Cable-stayed bridges have gained popularity in recent years due to their affordability and speed of construction. They require “much less steel cable and use more precast concrete sections, which accelerates construction,” according to municipal bridge sources like the Port of Long Beach, home of the Gerald Desmond Bridge.

“Cable-stayed bridges are far less costly for road-deck lengths of 500 to 3,000 feet and they can be built in far less time.” – The Port of Long Beach

What is the Difference Between a Cable-Stayed and Suspension Bridge?

The main differences between cable-stayed and suspension bridges are how the cables and towers work to transfer tension to bear/transmit loads and the deck span range they can support.

In a suspension bridge, like the Golden Gate Bridge, for instance, transmission starts at the deck and travels to the suspender cables, which transfer the load to the main cable. The main sends it to the tower(s), and then through the foundation. The suspension structure can support bridge spans up to 6,651 feet (2,000m) with a deck span to deck length ration of 1:40 to 1:200.

In a cable-stayed bridge, like the Mario Cuomo Bridge, the transmission path is different: the load starts at the deck, then onto the suspension cables, to the tower(s), and the foundation. The cable-stayed structure can support bridge spans up to 3,280 ft. (1,000m) with a deck span to deck length ratio of 1:100 to 1:200.

Anchoring Bridge Cables Safely

In both cases, if a cable or anchor needs to be replaced or repaired, a concrete scan of the bridge deck and tower must be completed before cutting and coring concrete, or affixing new anchors, to be sure that any cuts will not impact structural reinforcements like conduit or rebar. The tension on a single cable in a cable-stayed bridge can vary from hundreds to several thousand tons, depending on the specific bridge geometry and engineering. Cables are usually designed to bear far more weight than the everyday conditions they will experience, in case of failure.

Mitigating the risk of accident or injury while working with cables of this size is vital to the success of a project. GPRS offers 99.8% accurate concrete scanning and is home of the industry’s only Green Box Guarantee. That means if we mark an area on your slab “clear” inside a green box and you hit a reinforcement inside that area, we will pay the material costs to repair the damage. Period.

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GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World® for customers nationwide. What can we help you visualize?

GPRS sponsors Concrete Sawing & Drilling Safety Week each January. To learn best practices about concrete cutting, coring, and drilling – on bridges, in high-rises, or in post-tensioned slabs – register your team for a free CSDSW talk today.

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In September 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of a $7.5 billion fund under its Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, aiming to transform the nation’s water infrastructure. The fund is set to address the pressing needs of aging water systems, promote sustainability, and ensure access to clean water. The importance of robust water infrastructure cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts public health, environmental protection, and economic stability.

The Significance of Water and Sewer Infrastructure

Water infrastructure in the U.S. is comprised of a vast network of pipes, treatment plants, storage facilities, and other elements responsible for delivering safe drinking water and managing wastewater. Estimates put the labyrinth of water lines crisscrossing the nation at 2.2 million miles. Much of this infrastructure is decades old, with some systems exceeding a century in service. Aging pipes, frequent leaks, and outdated treatment facilities have led to water contamination and service disruptions, posing risks to public health and safety.

One of the most significant public health risks is related to drinking water contamination. Lead and other pollutants can infiltrate drinking water due to corroded pipes and inadequate treatment processes. Sewer systems also face challenges, as leaks and overflows result in untreated wastewater seeping into rivers and lakes, causing pollution that harms aquatic life and human health.

These concerns highlight the urgency of investing in water infrastructure upgrades, which not only protect public health but also conserve water resources and prevent costly emergency repairs.

How Does WIFIA Address Water Infrastructure Needs?

The WIFIA program, initially established in 2014, offers low-interest loans to help communities finance large-scale water infrastructure projects. The new $7.5 billion fund will play a pivotal role in supporting various projects, including drinking water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and water recycling.

This fund is particularly timely, as many local governments struggle to secure the necessary resources to replace outdated infrastructure. By leveraging federal loans, communities can undertake projects they would otherwise be unable to afford. Moreover, WIFIA loans often cover up to 49% of project costs, making them a powerful tool for municipalities to bridge the funding gap

The broader economic benefits of these investments include job creation, as infrastructure projects employ local workers and stimulate related industries. Additionally, improved water systems reduce operational costs by minimizing leaks and system failures, ultimately lowering water rates for consumers.

GPRS: Enhancing Infrastructure with Leak Detection and Video Pipe Inspection Services

Maintaining water infrastructure requires not only construction and upgrades but also ongoing monitoring to detect problems before they escalate. GPRS, the nation’s largest company in subsurface investigation, offers essential services such as leak detection and video pipe inspection, which play a critical role in preserving water and sewer systems.

Leak Detection

Water loss due to leaks is a significant issue in aging water systems. On average, utilities lose about 14% of their water annually, with some systems reporting losses of up to 30%. GPRS’s pinpoint leak detection services use advanced acoustic and leak correlation technology to pinpoint leaks quickly and accurately. This proactive approach helps municipalities and utilities conserve water, reduce operational costs, and prevent structural damage caused by undetected leaks.

By identifying and repairing leaks early, communities can extend the life of their water infrastructure and avoid costly emergency repairs. Furthermore, reducing water loss is critical in regions experiencing water scarcity, ensuring that this vital resource is preserved for future generations.

Video Pipe Inspection

In addition to leak detection, GPRS offers video pipe inspection services to assess the condition of pipes and detect potential issues such as blockages, cracks, or corrosion. This technology involves inserting high-resolution cameras into pipes to provide real-time visuals, allowing for precise identification of problem areas.

Video inspections are invaluable for both preventive maintenance and targeted repairs. They provide a detailed view of the internal condition of pipes, helping utilities prioritize repairs based on the severity of the issue. This data-driven approach enables more efficient use of resources, reducing the likelihood of system failures and service interruptions.

For municipalities considering WIFIA-funded projects, GPRS’s services complement infrastructure upgrades by ensuring that existing systems are properly maintained and any underlying issues are addressed. By combining advanced monitoring techniques with infrastructure improvements, communities can achieve more sustainable and resilient water systems.

Leak detection and video pipe inspection services are crucial in extending the life of new and existing infrastructure. By detecting problems early and addressing them before they worsen, these services help prevent water loss, reduce repair costs, and ensure the reliability of water systems. This proactive maintenance approach aligns perfectly with the goals of the WIFIA program, which seeks to build resilient water infrastructure for the future.

As the country faces increasing challenges from climate change, population growth, and aging infrastructure, investing in water systems is no longer an option but a necessity. The WIFIA fund provides a critical lifeline to communities in need of financial support, while GPRS’s cutting-edge services offer the technical expertise required to maintain these systems effectively. Together, these efforts ensure that clean, safe, and reliable water services are available to all Americans, now and in the years to come.

The EPA’s $7.5 billion WIFIA fund is a bold and necessary investment in the future of America’s water infrastructure. As municipalities take advantage of this financing to improve water and sewer systems, companies like GPRS will play an essential role in ensuring these projects are built to last. GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World® to help safeguard water resources and extend the longevity of critical infrastructure, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

What can we help you visualize?

GPRS sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW) – an education and safety initiative for water and wastewater professionals in municipalities, organizations, and large facilities. The 2024 event is October 21-25, and you can register for your free WSDAW talk by clicking below.

Water Main Break & Power Outage

On May 7, 2022, operators at the Lake Belton Water Treatment Plant observed a significant loss of pressure on a portion of the outgoing treated water system. Upon further investigation, a 48-inch concrete steel cylinder water main was found to be leaking and losing a significant amount of water. The Water Control and Improvement Districts (WCID-1) crew isolated and dewatered the damaged segment to complete repairs of the water main. During this time, due to the significant water loss and the 48-inch water main being out of service, WCID-1 asked all its customers to reduce water use by 50%.

Also in May 2022, an Oncor fuse blew at the Lake Belton Water Treatment Plant, and a lack of back-up power caused the plant to lose power for three hours, forcing 200,000 people and businesses across the area to be placed under boil-water notices for days.

In aging water treatment facilities, pipes and pumps are more likely to leak or break, which can lead to service disruptions and water contamination.

CDM Smith Engineering & Construction Firm Plans Upgrades

The Belton Lake Water Treatment Plant reached out to CDM Smith, a Texas-based engineering and construction firm, to recommend necessary upgrades for maintenance and capacity. Recommendations included replacement of a 5,000-foot stretch of the 48-inch transmission line due to the amount of breaks it has experienced, replacement of two surge tanks, upgrades to the raw water pump station, and recoating of a storage tank at Plant 3. The upgrades for the Belton Lake Water Treatment Plant are estimated at $118 million for the 70-year-old facility.

When Ricky Garrett, WCID-1 General Manager, was interviewed by the Killeen Daily Herald regarding the maintenance needs at the Belton Lake Water Treatment Plant, he said:

“I can’t go another year and not do anything with these maintenance issues. The problem is that much of the current treatment capacity is relying on dated electrical equipment to run the plant, which is why there is a sense of urgency for maintenance upgrades.

Sixty million gallons of the 90 million gallons a day of pumping capacity we have relies on 1979 switchgear. That gear is no longer supported, it’s at the end of its useful life, and replacement time for that gear is about a year; so we’re kind of on borrowed time.

My concern is if we don’t stake our claim to the water that we think we’re going to need down the road, it will not be there. When we finally decide that we want some more water, then it will be more expensive, and we’ll have to go through a lot more headaches.”

GPRS 3D Laser Scanning Delivers Data of Raw Water Pump Station

To plan for maintenance and capacity upgrades to the Belton Lake Water Treatment Plant, CDM Smith required 3D laser scanning of the facility to capture accurate point cloud data and generate a 3D BIM model.  

GPRS partnered with CDM Smith to 3D laser scan approximately 5,000 sq. ft. of interior and exterior existing conditions of the Raw Water Pump Station. Raw water pump stations move untreated water from the lake to the water treatment plant. Pump station components include wet well, pumps, piping with associated valves and strainers, motors, power supply systems, equipment control and alarm systems, odor control systems, and ventilation systems. These stations are essential to maintain adequate water pressure and supply reliable water to communities and facilities.

Garrett also commented, “When you see some of the really big components are severely corroded and at the end of their useful life, and you learn that a majority of the pumping capacity is relying on electric service and switch gear that’s 46 years old, it removes any question about the need for the maintenance upgrade.”

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CDM Smith made the following recommendations to upgrade the Raw Water Pump Station:

• Replace two pumps (No. 9 & No. 11)
• Build new raw water electrical building
• Install new underground duct bank to the existing main electrical building
• Repower existing raw water electrical buildings
• Replace raw water line, specifically replace 1,530 FL of 35-inch pipe with 45-inch pipe
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GPRS Project Manager Kevin Riley used the Leica RTC360 laser scanner to capture comprehensive existing conditions data of the interior and exterior building and piping in color, along with three survey control points, used to create a consistent coordinate system.

The Leica RTC360 laser scanner captured 2-4mm accurate dimensions and layout of the exterior pumps and interior electric room, including all architectural elements, such as floors, walls, windows, doors, ceilings, stairs, roof, curtain wall; and all mechanical elements, such as conduit and pipe 2” and above, ducts, valves, joints, flanges, electrical panels, cable tray, pumps and motors, electrical transformers, HVAC equipment, busbar, couplings, and junction boxes.

The point cloud data captured was used to create a 3D BIM model of the Raw Water Pump Station, delivering critical as-built data for CDM Smith to design upgrades, prefabricate components, and perform clash detection.

Documenting control points allowed the surveyed conditions to be accurately aligned with the BIM model, reducing design inaccuracies that could lead to costly mistakes and project delays.

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How Can 3D Laser Scanning Aid Water Treatment Plant Upgrades?

Laser scanning can capture existing conditions of water treatment plants with precise detail. The resulting point cloud data can be used to create accurate as-built drawings and models, delivering the actual layout of equipment, pipes, tanks, and infrastructure.

When a plant undergoes renovations or expansion, 3D scans provide designers and engineers with precise measurements of the existing structure. This minimizes errors and reduces the likelihood of clashes between new and existing systems.

All departments, from design to operations to maintenance, can use the 3D laser scan data as a single source of truth, reducing miscommunication and ensuring that all teams work from the same accurate information.

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How Can We Help? The GPRS Difference.

GPRS 3D laser scanning services document the exact architectural, structural, and MEP system layout and dimensions of existing buildings, facilities, and sites. We have captured as built site conditions for water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants from 40 MGD to 1 BGD, documenting the interior and exterior of buildings; foundations; structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing features; equipment, motors, conduit and piping down to ½ inch diameter.

GPRS Project Managers use industry-leading Leica survey-grade laser scanners to capture 2–4-millimeter accurate existing site conditions in the form of a point cloud. Our in-house Mapping & Modeling Team can transform those point clouds into customized 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, 3D mesh models, TruViews, and 3D virtual tours at any level of detail for visualization, analysis, design, construction, renovation, prefabrication, and facility modifications. We work directly with municipalities, engineering firms, and privately owned facilities.

Our 3D Laser Scanning Experience in Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants Include:

• Water Treatment Plants
• Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Water Distribution Systems
• Pumping Stations
• Elevated and Digester Tanks
• Pipe Galleries
• Filter Pump Rooms
• Sedimentary Basins
• Flocculation Basins
• Large Format Pipe Runs
• Water Purification Systems
• Polymer Rooms

With GPRS, clients can rest assured that our rigorously trained Project Managers use state-of-the-art technology to deliver the accurate as built information you need to do the job right. GPRS leads the industry to deliver precise as built information to enhance communication and collaboration among your project teams.

What can we help you visualize?

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Lean construction practices have been gaining traction as an effective strategy to reduce labor inefficiencies in the construction industry.

According to a recent study by management consulting company, FMI Corp., labor inefficiencies cost contractors between $30 billion and $40 billion annually due to declining productivity, inefficient project management, and communication gaps.

Key Principles of Lean Construction

Lean construction integrates principles from the broader lean manufacturing philosophy, focusing on creating more value for clients with fewer resources. The core principles include:

1. Collaboration and Integrated Planning: Lean construction encourages project stakeholders—owners, designers, general contractors, and trade partners—to work collaboratively from the early stages of a project. This reduces delays caused by miscommunication or last-minute design changes, ultimately lowering labor costs.
2. Just-in-Time (JIT) Delivery: Lean construction minimizes material handling and storage by delivering resources precisely when they are needed. This reduces the labor time spent on material movement and ensures that workers can focus on productive tasks rather than logistics management.
3. Standardization of Processes: Standard work procedures and repetitive tasks are streamlined to eliminate unnecessary movements and inefficiencies, which can otherwise lead to wasted labor hours.
4. Visual Management: The use of visual tools such as charts, schedules, and status boards keeps teams aligned and reduces time lost due to confusion or misalignment of project goals and deadlines.

Lean Construction and Its Impact on Labor Productivity

The FMI report highlights that almost half (45%) of the surveyed contractors experienced declining labor productivity, with three of the top four internal factors affecting productivity being related to planning, communication, and collaboration. Lean construction practices, such as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and the Last Planner^® System, directly address these areas by fostering a collaborative planning environment that ensures everyone is on the same page.

By implementing the Last Planner^® System, project managers can enhance the reliability of work planning, leading to better coordination among crews and smoother workflow. This methodology focuses on ensuring that work is completed according to plan by involving those responsible for doing the work in the planning process, leading to better predictability and fewer project delays.

Reducing Labor Wastage and Improving Efficiency

One of the most striking findings in the FMI report is that 60% of contractors believe 11% or more of field labor costs are wasted due to poor productivity. Lean construction can mitigate these losses through various techniques:

• Elimination of Non-Value-Adding Activities: By identifying and removing activities that do not add value, such as unnecessary movements, waiting times, or over-processing, lean practices help in reallocating labor resources to more productive tasks.
• Prefabrication and Modular Construction: Lean construction encourages the use of prefabrication and modular techniques, which can significantly reduce onsite labor requirements. The FMI report mentions that prefabrication, when executed with a sound strategy, can help streamline operations and lower labor costs.
• Improved Communication and Transparency: The study notes that better communication and coordination with partners can enhance productivity, as miscommunication is a significant source of lost productivity. Lean construction practices use daily huddles, open communication channels, and shared project dashboards to keep everyone informed and aligned, reducing the chances of rework and delays.

Lean’s Financial Benefits for the Construction Industry

The FMI study shows that contractors could see up to a 6% or more improvement in labor productivity through better management practices. Lean construction’s structured approach to planning, continuous improvement, and waste elimination directly contributes to this potential gain. As labor is often the largest and riskiest cost for contractors, even small improvements in productivity can lead to substantial financial benefits.

GPRS Services Support Lean Construction

Lean construction practices offer a strategic advantage in addressing labor inefficiencies in the construction industry. By emphasizing better planning, improved communication, and waste reduction, lean methodologies help contractors mitigate many of the challenges they face today.

GPRS offers a comprehensive suite of services—from utility locating and concrete imaging to 3D laser scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, and custom solutions from our in-house mapping & modeling team—all designed to support Lean construction initiatives.

By Intelligently Visualizing the Built World^® above and below ground, we enable effective communication on site and support your project from pre-planning through O&M, ensuring timely, cost-effective and safe outcomes.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lean Construction, and how does it differ from traditional construction methods?

Lean Construction is an approach that focuses on maximizing value and minimizing waste throughout the construction process. Unlike traditional construction, which often operates in silos with separate teams working independently, Lean Construction emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and efficiency. It integrates planning, design, and execution to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and deliver higher-quality results.

How can Lean Construction benefit my project?

Implementing Lean Construction practices can lead to improved project outcomes by reducing delays, minimizing rework, and optimizing resource use. This approach fosters better communication, enhances safety, and leads to a more predictable project timeline. As a result, projects are more likely to be delivered on time, within budget, and with increased customer satisfaction.

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

Our Project Managers mark findings directly on the surface using paint and flags, ensuring the highest level of accuracy when excavation is scheduled to begin within days of our service. Additionally, GPRS utilizes a global positioning system (GPS) to capture data points, which can be used to create plans, KMZ files, satellite overlays, or CAD files, preserving the results for future reference. Please note that GPRS does not offer land surveying services. For land surveying needs, we recommend contacting a licensed professional surveyor. Contact us to discuss pricing and marking options tailored to your project’s requirements.

Drinking water systems across the country are required to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years, according to a final rule issued by the Biden-Harris Administration on October 8, 2024.

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water, according to a press release issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Additionally, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them.

“We’ve known for decades that lead exposure has serious long-term impacts for children’s health,” said EPA administrator Michael S. Regan. “…With the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and historic investments in lead pipe replacement, the Biden-Harris Administration is fulfilling its commitment that no community, regardless of race, geography, or wealth, should have to worry about lead-contaminated water in their homes.”

As many as 9 million homes are served through legacy lead pipes across the country, many of which are in lower-income communities and communities of color, creating disproportionate lead exposure burden for these families, according to the EPA.

Although the use of lead pipes for plumbing was banned in 1986, and the Safe Drinking Water Act amendments of 1991 set strict limits on lead content in drinking water, many homes still rely on outdated infrastructure.

Even a small amount of lead in drinking water can be harmful, which is why replacing LSLs has become a top priority for public health advocates and government agencies alike.

The Biden Administration had previously set a goal of replacing all lead service lines within the next decade, earmarking $15 billion specifically for lead service line replacement with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

As part of the final rule announcement on October 8, the EPA also announced the investment of an additional $2.6 billion for drinking water upgrades and lead pipe replacements which will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding will be distributed through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRFs) to support lead pipe replacement and inventory initiatives. Furthermore, 49% of these funds must be allocated to disadvantaged communities as grants or principal forgiveness that do not require repayment.

The EPA is also making $35 million in competitive grants available for efforts to reduce lead in drinking water, encouraging communities to apply directly for this funding. Additional federal resources are accessible for lead pipe replacement projects, and the EPA has created a website listing available funding opportunities.

“There is no higher priority than safety, and this announcement advances the safety of drinking water all across the country,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. “We are making progress through partnerships. And I am so pleased President Joe Biden and the Environmental Protection Agency are working with local governments to speed the replacement of lead pipes that carry drinking water into homes.”

“The EPA’s new lead rule will begin to reverse the massive public health disaster of lead-contaminated tap water that has affected generations of our children,” added Manish Bapna, president and CEO of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Every person has a right to safe and affordable drinking water, no matter their race, income, or zip code. NRDC has had the privilege of working with residents of Flint, Newark, Chicago and beyond to help secure this meaningful rule and stop the flow of toxic lead from the tap into water glasses in homes across the nation.”

In its press release, the EPA also outlined several communities across the country which have already begun to address removal of their lead pipes:

• Milwaukee Water Works is set to replace all remaining lead pipes within the EPA’s designated ten-year period. In 2024 alone, the city secured around $30 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace 3,400 lead service lines
• The Detroit Water and Sewage Department has secured $90 million from the Administration and plans to replace over 8,000 lead service lines this year, positioning the city to eliminate all lead pipes within the next decade
• The Erie, Pennsylvania Water Works has been awarded $49 million from the EPA, allowing the city to complete its lead pipe replacement in 5 years instead of the originally projected 25 years
• With $76 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Denver Water has accelerated its efforts, putting the city on pace to replace all lead pipes within the next decade

GPRS Utility Locating Services Assist with Lead Service Line Removal

The first step in removing a lead service line (LSL) is identifying its presence, which involves accurately mapping your water system infrastructure. This requires precise location and mapping of both pressurized drinking water lines and sewer lines, including sanitary and storm sewers, before exposing potential lead lines for excavation and replacement.

GPRS has achieved and maintains a 99.8%+ accuracy rate in utility locating and mapping. When you hire us to conduct a utility locate, you receive access to our first-of-its-kind SiteMap^® (patent pending) infrastructure visualization software. This tool delivers layered, interactive utility maps through a secure, cloud-based platform, enabling you to manage your buried infrastructure data quality and control user access. SiteMap^® ensures that the right information is shared with the right people at the right time.

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?

GPRS Sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week

GPRS sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW), an annual municipal water safety event held in October. If you would like to schedule a WSDAW educational event for your community or facility, click here to register.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a lead service line?

A lead service line is a pipe that connects the water main under the street to a home or building. These pipes are made of lead and were commonly used for plumbing in the early 20th century. Because lead is highly toxic, these pipes can contaminate drinking water if they corrode or break down over time.

2. How do I know if my home has a lead service line?

To determine if your home has a lead service line, check with your local water utility or health department. They may have information on the presence of lead pipes in your area. You can also hire a professional plumber to inspect your service line or look for clues such as the color and material of the pipe where it enters your home.

3. Who is responsible for replacing lead service lines?

Responsibility for replacing lead service lines varies by location. In some areas, the water utility covers the cost of replacement, while in others, homeowners may be required to share in the cost. Recent federal and state initiatives aim to reduce the financial burden on homeowners, particularly in low-income communities, by providing subsidies and grants for lead service line replacement.

The lead service line replacement program is an essential step toward ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans. As efforts continue to ramp up, the hope is that lead contamination in drinking water will soon be a thing of the past.

4. What type of information 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. 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.

At GPRS, we believe that what’s underneath matters. There could be any number of surprises hidden underground, waiting to derail your project as soon as you begin to excavate, which is why it’s vital to obtain accurate, complete utility locating and mapping data prior to breaking out the shovels and heavy machinery.

But you don’t have to take our word for it.

In Topeka, Kansas, workers excavating for an underground water line project linked to the replacement of a viaduct in the city’s downtown district recently uncovered a Topeka Fire Department cistern built in 1878.

According to an article in The Topeka Capital-Journal, the crew discovered the cistern while using heavy equipment to dig into the street to replace a water line near an intersection.

Contractor Tony Emerson, a former Topeka City Council member, told the paper that water gushed out of the cistern after the bucket from a piece of heavy equipment ripped into it while digging.

That water had been sitting in the cistern “just waiting for that fire that never came,” Emerson said.

Topeka Fire Marshal Alan Stahl told the publication that he found an online article from the Topeka Daily Commonwealth dated June 28, 1878, detailing construction of the cistern, which was intended to have a capacity of “1,000 barrels.”

“It is fortunately situated near a never-failing spring, from which it will be supplied with water,” the article reads.

Additionally, Stahl found a city report from 1907 which indicated that the cistern was still being maintained at that time for emergency use. He told the Capital-Journal that the cistern was among eight built by Topeka’s city government to be used by the fire department. Each cistern held between 40,000 and 60,000 gallons of water and were used on an emergency basis as late as the 1930s, according to the 1993 publication Impact of Water on the Development of Topeka, by Keith Krause.

According to a December 1909 Topeka State Journal article which Stahl also uncovered, natural gas accumulation inside these cisterns had resulted in three of them exploding that month. The last of those explosions occurred when a city engineer threw a lighted piece of waste into the opening of a manhole atop one of the cisterns.

The article says that explosion created a hole 40 feet in diameter while shaking buildings “all over the business portion of Topeka,” though no one was killed or hurt. A city employee reportedly died earlier that same month from burns sustained while looking for the source of gas fumes in the same cistern.

Emerson told the Capital-Journal that his crew only removed the center portion of the cistern because that’s all they needed to do to complete their water line replacement project.

GPRS Helps You Avoid Subsurface Damage

The story of what happened in Topeka ended up being an interesting footnote in an otherwise routine utility replacement job.

It could have been much worse.

According to research conducted for GPRS in 2021 by Finch, the average cost of a single utility strike is approximately $56,000.

But it’s not just your budget that’s at risk; severing an active electrical line or gas main could result in injury or death. The cisterns in Topeka exploded three times in a single month back when they were in active use, so there was a very real, very dangerous threat to the workers who uncovered this piece of local history.

GPRS provides 99.8%+ accurate utility locating and mapping services designed to mitigate the risk of subsurface damage when you need to break ground. Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners and electromagnetic (EM) locators, our SIM-certified Project Managers find and map the buried utilities in your project area so you know where it’s safe to dig and where putting a shovel or excavator bucket into the ground could have disastrous consequences.

Additionally, our NASSCO-certified Video Pipe Inspection Project Managers use remote-controlled sewer pipe inspection rovers and push-fed sewer scopes to locate and inspect sewer and stormwater lines.

All this data is at your fingertips thanks to SiteMap^® (patent pending), our project & facility data management application that provides accurate existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

Easily, yet securely accessible via any computer, tablet, or smartphone, SiteMap^® allows you and your team to plan, design, dig, and build better around accurate, complete infrastructure data.

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

GPRS Sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week

GPRS sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW), an annual municipal water safety event held in October. If you would like to schedule a WSDAW educational event for your community or facility, click here to register.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Can you monitor water quality from space?

One firm is giving it a shot.

German company EOMAP, which specializes in optical remote sensing of marine and freshwater environments, recently announced the launch of their cloud-based eoapp AQUA solution, which they say allows authorities and industry experts to gain comprehensive satellite-based information on coastal and inland waters with a few mouse clicks.

“Users can simply conduct data generation for a specific region on their own, after defining required parameters, observation period, area, and satellite sources according to their needs,” reads a press release issued by EOMAP. “For visualising and analysing these results the web app includes an intuitive data viewer, a long-term analysis tool enabling users to look +40 years back in time, a monitoring feature to identify both the status and recent developments in water bodies, plus an alert function based on individual thresholds.”

These features, EOMAP says, support a physics-based approach to water quality applications, such as bathing waters surveillance, environmental impact monitoring, or climate change studies.

“The new app offers a pro-active approach to water management. Clients can, for example, detect potentially harmful algae blooms, and take early actions or inform the public”, says Karin Schenk, Head of Water Quality at EOMAP.

Fabian von Trentini, EOMAP’s Innovation Manager, explained that harvesting satellite data via eoapp AQUA “also benefits users by significant time or cost savings. Thus, field campaigns can either be avoided or set-up in a far more targeted way than before.”

The Challenges of Monitoring Water Quality

Monitoring water quality is a critical aspect of ensuring the health of aquatic ecosystems and human populations. As water is essential for drinking, agriculture, and industry, maintaining its quality is paramount. However, measuring and managing water quality comes with its unique set of challenges. These challenges are not just scientific and technical but also encompass social, economic, and regulatory dimensions. In this article, we will explore some of the key difficulties faced by those involved in monitoring water quality around the world.

1. Diverse Sources of Pollution

One of the foremost challenges in water quality monitoring is dealing with the multitude of pollution sources. Contaminants can come from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, sewage treatment plants, and even natural processes like soil erosion. Each of these sources introduces different types of pollutants—nutrients, heavy metals, pathogens, and organic chemicals—that require different methods of detection and analysis.

Agricultural runoff, for example, is a significant source of nutrient pollution, leading to algal blooms and hypoxic conditions in water bodies. Meanwhile, industrial effluents often contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals that are harmful to both aquatic life and human health. Given the complexity and variety of pollutants, monitoring efforts must be tailored to each situation, demanding considerable expertise and resources.

2. Technological Limitations

Even with advancements in technology, water quality monitoring still faces limitations. Traditional methods, such as grab sampling and laboratory testing, are time-consuming and can be costly. While these methods provide accurate results, they are often not suitable for large-scale or real-time monitoring.

Emerging technologies like remote sensing, biosensors, and autonomous underwater vehicles are promising solutions, but they come with their own set of challenges. Remote sensing, for instance, is useful for detecting surface water quality parameters like chlorophyll or turbidity but may struggle with measuring subsurface parameters or detecting specific pollutants. Moreover, biosensors and autonomous vehicles, although effective in real-time monitoring, are still in developmental stages and may not yet be robust or affordable enough for widespread use.

3. Data Gaps and Inconsistencies

Data availability and consistency are significant hurdles in water quality monitoring. Many regions, especially in developing countries, lack the infrastructure and resources to carry out regular water quality assessments. This leads to data gaps that hinder the understanding of long-term water quality trends and the effectiveness of management interventions.

Even when data is available, inconsistencies in monitoring methods, sampling frequencies, and reporting standards can complicate comparisons across regions and time periods. Different agencies or organizations might employ various analytical techniques, leading to disparities in reported water quality metrics. Harmonizing these methodologies is crucial for building a comprehensive global picture of water quality but is a challenging endeavor due to varying local and national capabilities.

4. Regulatory and Policy Challenges

Water quality monitoring is closely tied to regulations and policy frameworks. In many countries, water quality standards are set by governmental bodies and must be adhered to by various sectors, including agriculture, industry, and municipalities. However, enforcing these standards can be difficult, particularly in regions with limited regulatory oversight or corruption.

The complexity of regulatory frameworks can also pose challenges. Water quality is affected by numerous factors, and comprehensive regulations must consider the interactions between surface water, groundwater, and coastal waters. Developing policies that address these interactions without overburdening stakeholders is a delicate balancing act. Furthermore, policies need to be adaptable to changing environmental conditions and emerging contaminants, making regular policy reviews essential but often neglected.

5. Emerging Contaminants

Emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics, present new challenges for water quality monitoring. These substances are not typically included in routine water quality assessments, and their long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health are still not well understood.

Detecting emerging contaminants requires specialized equipment and methodologies, which may not be readily available in many laboratories. Additionally, the rapid development of new chemicals and materials means that monitoring programs need to constantly evolve to keep up with these changes, placing a strain on already limited resources.

6. Climate Change and Environmental Variability

Climate change adds another layer of complexity to water quality monitoring. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events can all impact water quality. For instance, higher temperatures can exacerbate algal blooms, while extreme rainfall can lead to increased runoff and sedimentation.

These environmental changes can alter the distribution and concentration of pollutants, making it harder to predict and monitor water quality. Monitoring programs need to be adaptable to these shifts, requiring the integration of climate models and water quality models—a challenging task that demands interdisciplinary expertise and collaboration.

7. Funding and Resource Constraints

Monitoring water quality is resource intensive. It requires skilled personnel, sophisticated equipment, and consistent funding. However, securing financial resources for long-term monitoring programs can be difficult, especially in regions where water quality issues are not immediately visible or perceived as urgent.

Limited funding often means that monitoring programs must prioritize certain parameters or locations, leading to gaps in the data and potentially overlooking critical issues. This lack of comprehensive data can hinder effective water management and policymaking, creating a vicious cycle where inadequate monitoring leads to poor water quality, which then demands more resources to address.

GPRS Leak Detection Services Assist in Water Infrastructure Management

GPRS offers pinpoint-accurate leak detection services designed to help you efficiently maintain your drinking water infrastructure.

Our Project Managers are experts in a full range of leak detection services, covering municipal, industrial, and residential applications. Equipped with advanced tools, they can pinpoint leaks and deliver a thorough assessment of your water distribution system’s integrity. With our Project Managers strategically positioned in key markets and cities throughout the U.S., you can always count on having reliable, professional leak detection services near you.

GPRS utilizes both commercial acoustic leak detectors and leak detection correlators to locate leaks within your water system, without needing to conduct exploratory excavation.

Acoustic leak detection involves using sophisticated ground microphones to listen for leaks coming from subsurface pipes. Leak detection specialists are trained to isolate leaking pipes’ specific sounds and frequencies.

Leak detection, or leak noise correlators are specialized electronic devices that leak detection service companies use to locate leaks in water lines and water pipes quickly and accurately.

Leak detection correlators work similarly to acoustic leak detectors. However, while acoustic leak detectors rely on a human to manually listen to the frequencies emitted through sensitive audio listening equipment, leak noise correlators detect the vibrations with a computer.

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?

GPRS Sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week

GPRS sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW), an annual municipal water safety event held in October. If you would like to schedule a WSDAW educational event for your community or facility, click here to register.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

Can GPRS Project Managers determine the size of the leak that they’ve located?

After analyzing thousands of previous leaks detected, we asked clients to send us pictures of the remediation. This information has helped us compare our final leak signal detected with the results of the actual leak. We determine the size of the leak by how far the leak signal travels between contact points and the pitch of the tone received. However, we do not produce formal leak estimations.

Why don’t I see any water at the location where my Project Manager indicated there is an underground leak?

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

When fighting inflow and infiltration (I/I) in your sanitary and storm sewer systems, most municipal and large facility managers’ minds go first to an illegal/illicit tie-in, damaged cleanout covers, or pipe breaks. While all of those certainly play a large role in the efficiency and safety of sanitary and storm sewer lines, there is one cause that is often overlooked: manholes.

It has been estimated that there are more than 20 million manholes in the U.S., and according to sewer scope equipment manufacturer, Envirosight, “The sheer volume of deficit-ridden manholes that exist in our sewer infrastructure, which are failing at a rate much faster than sewer pipeline, is proof enough that manhole inspections are critical now more than ever.”

However, most municipalities skip manhole inspections altogether, or think that popping off the cover every now and then and inspecting the area from the surface with a flashlight is sufficient to confirm a node’s condition. It is not.

More than 50% of all manholes in the U.S. were installed before 1960 and have been proven to be responsible for as much as 90% of the inflow and infiltration in a sewer system, making them a far higher risk factor than piping.

The American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) states that “Effective manhole inspection and rehabilitation are necessary to remove excessive manhole infiltration and inflow, improve manhole structural integrity, address public safety issues, and implement general system maintenance requirements.”

And NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) developed the Manhole Assessment and Certification Program (MACP) to help municipalities, wastewater managers, and companies, complete thorough manhole inspections to locate, document their condition, and note defects for planning, repair, and maintenance.

Why Manhole Defects Matter

There are three main types of manhole defects: blockages, structural failures, and leaks

Blockages can be caused by a number of factors including waste from illicit tie-ins, sediment, and tree roots. When either the manhole itself is blocked, or a pipe that feeds directly into it is, sewage and debris can overflow, creating an immediate health and welfare risk. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) may then impose fines for improper wastewater management.

Structural Failure is often caused by rust/corrosion and simple erosion, which, if left unaddressed, can cause the manhole itself to fail – or collapse – creating a sinkhole. Sinkholes can cause more than contamination. They can damage property, roadways, and endanger the community, leading to expensive repairs, and in the worst cases, usually a new story splashed across the news and social media about the “sinkhole.”

Leaks do not necessarily mean the manhole is leaking due to a defect. While manhole deterioration, as mentioned earlier, can be a major source of I/I, a leaking manhole could be due to excessive flow from an overwhelmed system, indicating the need to update the sanitary or storm sewer infrastructure.

Determining the Condition of Your Manhole Infrastructure

NASSCO’s MACP is designed to help municipalities and large facilities assess the condition of their manholes and can provide detailed digital information on each node’s location, its tie-ins, overall condition, and any defects discovered. It can even rank the defects by type and severity to aid in long-range O&M planning.

There are two levels to the MACP. Level 1 is considered more cost-effective initially, but is labor intensive, and has a sizeable margin of error because it relies on individual personal inspection of each manhole. Level 2 has a higher up-front cost, but provides detailed digital and video data capture, is quicker, and has a lower error rate.

Level 1: The MACP Level 1 inspection is essentially a physical inspection. A sewer inspection professional near you will open the manhole, shine a flashlight down it for an initial assessment, and may climb down into the manhole to visually inspect its condition. There are usually no photos taken and a basic report created to map each node and its condition, unless a major defect is found.

“Level one is very basic,” says GPRS Director of Pipe Inspection Services, Kyle Humphreys. “It’s a written report just really giving you the basics like manhole material structure, depth information, and things like that. Just very basic according to NASSCO level one standards.”

Level 2: The MACP Level 2 inspection is significantly more in-depth because the inspector utilizes digital technology and video to capture manhole condition data and create a NASSCO-certified report in software like WinCan that the municipal or wastewater manager can access online to view still shots from the CCTV cameras deployed into the manhole, and often, the video itself.

The level 2 MACP report, according to Humphreys, “is actually very in-depth NASSCO reporting, similar to what we do with mainline video pipe inspections. And with manhole inspections, you actually get a full 360º video of the structure. So, you get video with a written report – the MACP report – as well.”

For either inspection level, it is highly recommended that your inspectors be NASSCO-certified so that you receive the most accurate reporting available.

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In the case of GPRS’ process for Level 2 manhole inspections, our NASSCO-certified VPI (Video Pipe Inspection) Project Managers utilize either the CleverScan or the Quickview 360 to gather data for the MACP report.

CleverScan is advertised as “rapid, automated mobile inspection” and behaves like a vertical push camera that drops directly into the manhole on a line. It’s equipped with five HD cameras and four lasers to capture video, flat scans, and point cloud data that can be uploaded to WinCan for use in CAD design and viewing.

The Quickview 360 is mounted on a telescoping pole and is deployed by the Project Manager lowering it into the manhole manually. Its two HD cameras and LED lamps can capture a manhole’s dimensions and condition in under five minutes, according to information from Envirosight, and it uses an AI component to speed up reporting via its app.

The CleverScan provides more data due to its laser scanning capabilities, which could be an advantage for large infrastructure operations that have little or no existing conditions documentation on file. However, it is a more expensive piece of equipment and does require additional training to properly deploy and capture data. The Quickview 360 on the other hand is a more cost-effective investigation tool. Either one, in the hands of a SIM and NASSCO-certified GPRS Project Manager, can provide a clear picture of the state of your manholes.

For municipal or large facility systems that have outdated and/or incomplete infrastructure data, it is highly recommended that a full wastewater system VPI survey be conducted to accurately locate, map, and capture every mainline, lateral, manhole, and cleanout – detailing every pipe defect, its severity and the overall condition of the system, so that repair and replacement decisions can be made with all the data available. We can also conduct valuable inclination reporting and find illicit tie-ins and other inflow and infiltration issues via smoke testing and dye tracing to provide the most comprehensive maps, photographs, video, and digital as-builts of the entire system, as well as a full NASSCO-certified Video Pipe Inspection Report.

GPRS takes manhole inspections further by geolocating and mapping each system node inspected via GPS and/or RTK positioning technology, and delivers all manhole inspection reports, photos, and video via SiteMap® (patent pending), our proprietary existing conditions and data management software application. SiteMap® allows you to take your data with you, to securely access it 24/7 from anywhere, and to share it with those you choose via the SiteMap® mobile app.

How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Replace a Damaged Manhole?

The total cost to repair or replace a failing manhole will be somewhere between $250,000 - $500,000 according to manufacturers.

The costs will vary, depending on the level of repair needed. The higher end of the budget item ($500,000) factors in the cost of a new manhole chamber, the manhole cover, excavation and removal of the existing manhole, tying the sewer system back into the manhole, backfilling the area, and testing to make sure the tie-ins are properly installed.  

While there is no way to completely avoid the costs associated with maintaining, repairing, and replacing manholes in any sewer system, regular inspections can greatly reduce the up-front costs by cataloguing each node’s condition, ranking the severity of any defects discovered, and planning for long-term operations and maintenance costs.

How Much Does It Cost to Inspect Manholes?

According to Humphreys, a municipal sewer system can have as many as 3,400 manholes, each one a potential I/I source. The cost to properly inspect manholes is calculated on a “per manhole” basis, so the more manholes that are investigated, the lower the cost per unit. That’s why, Humphreys says, “A lot of large projects come across my desk with RFPs (request for price/quote) for hundreds of manholes at a time.”

At GPRS, our mission is to Intelligently Visualize The Built World®, above and below-ground, to provide accurate existing conditions documentation, reduce subsurface damages, and provide secure, accessible digital data management for our customers.

What can we help you visualize?

GPRS sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW), an annual municipal water safety event held in October. If you would like to schedule a WSDAW educational event for your community or facility, click below to register.

GPRS’ precision concrete scanning services were integral to the rehabilitation of a 38-story residential skyscraper in Jacksonville, Florida.

A team of GPRS Project Managers worked to ensure the contractor renovating the tower could safely install the buck hoists they needed to transport workers and materials to different levels of the building. Additionally, they scanned numerous locations throughout the building to ensure safe anchoring into its post-tensioned concrete slabs, and to locate and map rebar on the building’s pool deck that was failing and required extensive repairs.

GPRS Area Manager Will Sizemore said that while the tower is only 20-25 years old, owners of buildings like this in Florida have in recent years gone to greater lengths to ensure the structural integrity of their properties. This is due to the 2022 passing of “The Surfside Bill,” which requires engineers and architects to certify the structural integrity of every high-rise condominium building in the state by providing “Milestone Inspections” that must be completed by December of 2024, and updated every 10 years after that.

If these inspections are not completed by the end of 2024, or if necessary concrete repairs found by inspections are not completed and certified in a timely manner, the owners of these towers risk incurring fines and even jail time.

“It’s made a lot of condo owners very anxious and wanting to verify that everything is done properly,” Sizemore explained.

GPRS was not the first professional concrete scanning company hired to work on this tower in Jacksonville. Sizemore explained that firm originally hired backed out of the job.

“[The other firm] found out that it was all post tension slab, and they didn’t want the liability from [the contractor] drilling into it. So, then [the client] called us.”

Working with post-tensioned concrete does come with risks. Severing a single post tension cable with a saw or drill can lead to as much as $30,000 in repair costs – not to mention structural failure that endangers everyone on site.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is the most effective tool for locating subsurface elements like post tension cables and rebar within concrete. A GPR scanner transmits non-destructive radio waves into the surface or soil, which then interact with encountered objects, producing a readout of hyperbolas that vary in size and shape based on the detected materials.

GPRS Project Managers are specially trained to interpret these readouts to tell you where objects are located within a slab or underground and provide an estimated depth for these buried obstructions.

GPRS is so confident in the accuracy of our concrete scanning services that we introduced the Green Box Guarantee. When we place a green box within a concrete layout prior to you anchoring or coring into that slab, we guarantee the area within that box will be clear of obstructions.

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

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?

Building Better with SiteMap^®

The bigger the project, the bigger the project team. And the more people on your team means the more chances there are for miscommunications to lead to mistakes, change orders, and delays.

SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, is a project & facility management application that provides existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people. It takes the field-verified, accurate data collected by our Project Managers and puts it at your fingertips 24/7, securely accessible and shareable from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Knock down the communication siloes and help your team plan, design, manage, dig, and build better. Click below to schedule your free, live, personal SiteMap^® demo today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of concrete scanning does GPRS provide?

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

How is GPR used to identify post-tension tendons vs. rebar in a post-tensioned slab?

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

Can GPR determine the difference between rebar and electrical conduit?

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

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

What is that smell?

GPRS’ video pipe inspection services, which include remote-controlled robots and push fed sewer scopes, dye tracing and smoke testing, uncovered an illegal sewer connection that was leading to sewage buildup in a strip mall’s wastewater system.

Project Manager Dakota Stoutenger was called out to the plaza in Chappaqua, New York, by the real estate investment management firm which owns it. One of the tenants in the mall had noticed a foul smell emanating from their space and had failed to locate a source for the stink.

Stoutenger started by using smoke testing to inspect all sanitary vents from roof level to check for defects.

Smoke testing is a simple, non-invasive technique for detecting defects and blockages in sanitary and storm sewer lines, identifying potential inflow and infiltration (I/I) points, and exposing illegal (illicit) sewer connections. It’s useful for revealing that an issue is present, but further investigation is often necessary to pinpoint the exact cause.

The smoke testing process consists of three steps. An insertion point for the smoke cartridges first needs to be located. Then, a blower containing the cartridge is affixed securely to the sewer entry before the non-toxic smoke is released into the sewer line. GPRS’ Project Managers can then track where the smoke escapes from the system.

In a properly tied-in and maintained system, smoke will escape from other manhole covers and plumbing vents for buildings legally tied in. If smoke can be seen emanating from the ground or through cracks in the pavement, that’s a clear indication of a sewer defect and infiltration risk. If it can be seen coming from a cleanout, the cleanout cap is likely cracked. If it’s coming from manhole covers, plumbing vents, gutters, or downspouts from a residence or business that should not be connected to your system, that’s an indication of an illicit tie-in.

Stoutenger completed the smoke test on the strip mall but could not identify any likely sources for the foul smell.

“Because of this, I suggested [to the client] that we could perform additional services to further investigate potential issues,” he said.

Stoutenger deployed a push-fed sewer scope equipped with a CCTV camera and a sonde: an instrument probe that allows our Project Managers to locate and map buried sewer lines from the surface using an electromagnetic (EM) locator. He also performed additional smoke testing on the plaza’s sanitary sewer, and grease trap systems.

Finally, Stoutenger performed dye tracing on the mall’s stormwater system.

Also sometimes referred to as dye testing, this process involves introducing a non-toxic, brightly colored dye into a sewer system to track and identify flow patterns, locate blockages, detect leaks, and ensure proper connectivity. A dye introduced into a sewer line will travel with the wastewater flow, allowing technicians like GPRS’ Project Managers to observe the water-soluble chemical’s movement to gain insights into the condition and behavior of the system.

Flashlights or UV lights are sometimes used to enhance visibility, if necessary, and photographic evidence is captured to document the dye’s movement, and any issues detected.

Through this comprehensive sewer inspection process, Stoutenger was able to discover the likely source of the stink.

“I was able to determine that the neighboring tenants’ sanitary system was tied to the grease trap setup for a potential restaurant tenant,” he explained. “Due to this improper connection, it was theorized that the smells were emanating from the buildup of sewage in the grease trap manhole/vault directly outside the back door of the tenant that was complaining of smell issues. This allowed [the client] to properly reconnect this system to the correct sanitation point.”

Stoutenger supplied the client with a NASSCO-certified report of his findings, which included both photo and video evidence of what he discovered.

NASSCO is the National Association of Sewer Service Companies. This non-profit organization provides industry-leading training on the most advanced, non-destructive methods to detect and report subsurface anomalies within sewer lines.

All GPRS VPI Project Managers are certified in NASSCO’s Pipeline, Lateral, and Manhole Assessment Certification Programs (LACP®, PACP, and MACP®) so they can provide you with industry-leading service that keeps your wastewater infrastructure working for you.

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

What can we help you visualize?

Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week Returns Oct. 21-25

Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week, sponsored by GPRS, is a safety initiative designed to help water and wastewater system operators take a more proactive approach to maintaining their infrastructure. From October 21-25, 2024, GPRS’ safety experts will travel across the country delivering free safety presentations to municipalities, engineers, facility managers, property management groups, and anyone else who is ready to regain control of their fresh and wastewater infrastructure.

Click here to schedule your free WSDAW presentation today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What deliverables does GPRS offer when conducting video pipe inspection services?

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

Can you locate pipes in addition to evaluating their integrity?

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

Does GPRS offer lateral launch services?

Yes, we offer lateral launch capabilities as part of our standard Video Pipe Inspection services.

Q2 Stadium is marketed as Austin’s Biggest Party, and it’s also one of Texas’ most sustainability-focused facilities.

An innovative infrastructure project helped it earn that title.

The three-year-old home of Major League Soccer’s Austin FC and a host venue for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, Q2 was the first soccer-specific stadium and second sports venue in the world to earn Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) pre-certification. According to a press release issued by Austin FC, this pre-certification recognizes projects implementing the fundamental actions and policies needed to effectively pursue zero waste.

“Sustainability was an integral part of Q2 Stadium’s design and it continues to be a top priority as we strive to make the venue a home that Austinites can enjoy for years to come,” said Austin FC President Andy Loughnane. “It’s an honor to receive this recognition for the stadium’s commitment to achieving zero waste.”

According to an article in Waste Dive, the key to Q2 achieving zero waste designation is a custom-built, “mini materials recovery facility (MRF)” which can sort the stadium’s recyclable materials, trash and organics.

Explaining MRFs (Mini Materials Recovery Facilities)

MRFs typically come in two different types: clean and dirty. Clean MRFs take in commingled recyclable materials that have been separated from municipal solid waste, usually by individual citizens or businesses before curbside trash collection, then sort those recyclable materials and prepare them for market.

A dirty MRF, like the one at Q2, take in a broad stream of solid waste and separates out recyclable materials through manual and mechanical sorting. The recyclable materials are prepared for market, while the nonrecyclable materials are sent to a landfill or other disposal facility.

Austin FC partnered with Texas Disposal Systems (TDS), its recycling partner since 2020, who designed and built Q2’s mini MRF to process about seven tons of materials each game day.

True to its name, Q2’s mini MRF takes up significantly less space than a traditional MRF. A combination of compactors and two conveyors help move materials through the stadium and sort them into cleaner streams.

After waste is processed at the mini MRF, the material goes to TDS’s much larger 150,000 square foot facility just outside of Austin. It’s there that organics are funneled into the company’s composting operation, solid waste to a landfill, and recyclables are further sorted in a large-scale MRF.

Adam Gregory, Vice President of Business Development for TDS, said his company had never built an MRF inside a soccer stadium before, but “we’ve historically custom made a lot of our own recycling equipment, so we had the expertise and the experience to come up with this system.”

“Our partnership benefits in multiple different ways, and part of that is increasing the amount of material we’re able to divert,” Gregory added.

To achieve TRUE Certification, the highest level of certification for zero waste facilities under the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Q2 must show the facility can reach a 90% diversion rate over a year-long period. According to a Waste Diversion Tracker on Austin FC’s website, the club hit that mark for six of its nine matches from February 24, 2024 to May 29, 2024. They were over an 88% diversion rate for the other three matches.

“We’re now very, very close to that zero waste designation. That will be big for us, big for the fans,” said Nick Otte, senior director of stadium operations for Austin FC.

What has made the club’s efforts easier is the support they’ve received from their supporters, who have even suggested adding more recycling bins in more areas of the stadiums.

“It would be much, much more difficult to get the kind of diversion if the fans weren’t already doing a fantastic job of putting things in the right container,” Gregory said.

GPRS Supports Sustainability Projects

As communities across the country invest in infrastructure improvements and other innovations designed to guide us into a more sustainable future, GPRS will be there to ensure these projects stay on track.

Our subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction & facilities project management services keep you on time, on budget, and safe. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology like ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic locating, and 3D laser scanning, we can visualize your job site – and the infrastructure below it, to help you plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately build better.

All this data is at your fingertips 24/7 thanks to SiteMap^® (patent pending), our infrastructure mapping software application that allows for the secure storage and sharing of this critical information with your entire project team.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)?

A Materials Recovery Facility, commonly known as an MRF, is a specialized plant that receives, separates, and prepares recyclable materials for end-use manufacturers. MRFs sort mixed recyclables collected from households and businesses into categories like paper, plastics, metals, and glass, using a combination of manual and automated processes.

2. How do MRFs sort and process materials?

MRFs use a variety of technologies to separate recyclable materials, including conveyor belts, magnets, air classifiers, screens, and optical sorters. The materials are sorted by type and sometimes by color or grade. After sorting, they are compacted into bales or cleaned, if needed, before being shipped to manufacturers who will use them to create new products.

3. What materials can be processed at an MRF?

Most MRFs process materials like paper (cardboard, newspapers), plastics (bottles, containers), metals (aluminum cans, steel tins), and glass. Some facilities are equipped to handle more complex items such as electronic waste or hazardous materials, but this varies depending on the MRF’s capabilities and the local recycling program. It's always recommended to check with your local MRF or recycling program for a specific list of accepted materials.

The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) recently made headlines with a significant milestone in the state's broadband expansion efforts.

The board has awarded $120 million from the Idaho Capital Projects Fund (CPF) to 18 broadband projects throughout the state, aiming to connect over 30,000 homes and businesses, according to an article in Underground Infrastructure.

This investment is a testament to the ongoing commitment to improving connectivity and closing the digital divide in the United States. It also serves as an example of how similar efforts nationwide are advancing the state of fiber optic infrastructure in America.

Fiber optic infrastructure, commonly referred to as the backbone of modern telecommunications, is the medium through which data travels as pulses of light. Its key benefits include high-speed internet, low latency, and the ability to handle high volumes of data over long distances without signal degradation. Unlike traditional copper cables, which can be prone to interference and slower speeds, fiber optics support the bandwidth requirements for applications such as telehealth, telework, distance learning, and public safety systems.

While Idaho's recent funding allocation marks a significant step, it’s just one piece of a larger national puzzle. Across the United States, fiber optic infrastructure development has been accelerating in recent years, driven by a mix of public and private investments, as well as regulatory and policy initiatives.

Federal Support and the Need for Expansion

The federal government has played an active role in supporting broadband expansion projects. The Capital Projects Fund (CPF), established under the American Rescue Plan Act, is just one of several initiatives designed to stimulate infrastructure development, especially in unserved and underserved areas. In Idaho’s case, the CPF criteria ensure that projects funded under this initiative not only focus on increasing internet connectivity, but also contribute to economic development and community well-being.

Idaho Broadband Advisory Board Chair, Representative John Vander Woude, emphasized the importance of these projects in fulfilling the board’s mission.

“These awarded projects are another important step in furthering the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board’s mission of ensuring that all Idahoans have access to affordable and reliable internet,” he told Underground Infrastructure. “These projects will connect homes and businesses across the entire State.”

Similar sentiments have been echoed nationwide as states recognize the critical role of reliable broadband in economic development and quality of life. Yet, the challenges remain significant. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that as of 2023, around 14.5 million Americans still lack access to broadband at speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload—standards that are increasingly insufficient for modern use cases.

Public-Private Partnerships: A Key Driver

Public-private partnerships (P3s) are emerging as a key strategy in fiber optic expansion. These collaborations leverage the strengths of both sectors—public sector funding and policy direction paired with private sector technical expertise and efficiency. For instance, many of Idaho’s newly funded projects involve partnerships with local internet service providers (ISPs) and infrastructure companies.

“These grants are the culmination of months working together and engaging stakeholders, local communities, and internet providers all across the State,” said Idaho Broadband Program Manager, Ramón Hobdey-Sánchez.

This model is also being used elsewhere in the U.S. The state of Virginia, for example, has utilized a similar framework to bring high-speed broadband to its rural communities.

Through its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI), the state partners with ISPs and local governments to fund last-mile projects, which directly connect homes and businesses to the main fiber network. Such partnerships have proven effective in navigating the complex regulatory, logistical, and financial landscapes of broadband expansion.

Challenges and Barriers to Fiber Optic Expansion

Despite these positive developments, the path to a fully connected America is fraught with challenges. Some of the key barriers include:

1. High Deployment Costs: Building out fiber optic networks, especially in rural and remote areas, is expensive. The costs are not just limited to the fiber cables themselves but also include trenching, permitting, and labor.
2. Regulatory Hurdles: Complex and varied regulations at the federal, state, and local levels can delay projects. Navigating these regulations requires significant coordination between different agencies and stakeholders.
3. Geographical and Environmental Constraints: In states like Idaho, where the landscape includes mountains, forests, and large tracts of sparsely populated land, laying fiber optic cables can be a logistical nightmare.
4. Competition and Market Dynamics: In some regions, entrenched incumbent ISPs may be reluctant to allow new competitors access to existing infrastructure, stifling competition and slowing progress.
5. Labor Shortages: The skilled workforce required to install and maintain fiber optic networks is currently in short supply. This bottleneck not only affects timelines but also inflates costs.

The Future of Fiber Optic Infrastructure in the U.S.

Despite these challenges, the outlook for fiber optic infrastructure in the U.S. is optimistic. Technological advancements, such as microtrenching (a method that reduces the cost and disruption of laying fiber), are making deployments more feasible. Additionally, continued federal and state support, through programs like the CPF and the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), is ensuring that capital is available to support expansion.

There is also growing recognition of the need to update broadband standards. Currently, the FCC’s definition of broadband—25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload—is considered outdated by many experts. The push to redefine broadband to mean 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds would further prioritize fiber optics, which can easily meet and exceed these requirements, over older technologies like DSL and cable.

As these efforts continue, it is expected that fiber optics will become the gold standard for internet connectivity in both urban and rural areas, supporting everything from 5G backhaul to smart city applications.

Of course, it’s vital that fiber is installed without damaging existing subsurface 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 rovers, 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.

National Resilience Inc., a San Diego-based biomanufacturer, is set to invest $225 million in West Chester Township, Ohio, transforming a former AstraZeneca plant into a state-of-the-art biomedical manufacturing facility.

This investment will create 274 new full-time jobs and is expected to bolster Ohio’s life sciences sector, making it a hub for medical research and pharmaceutical production, according to an article in the Journal-News. The project, supported by a tax incentive, reflects broader trends in the U.S. healthcare infrastructure, as the demand for advanced manufacturing and research facilities continues to grow.

Overview of the Current Landscape

The construction of medical facilities in the United States is experiencing a transformative period, driven by the increasing demand for healthcare services, advancements in medical technology, and the expansion of life sciences sectors.

Medical facility construction spans a diverse range of projects, from traditional hospitals and outpatient centers to specialized research facilities and manufacturing plants for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This growth is propelled by several key factors, including an aging population, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and the need for innovation in drug development and healthcare delivery. As a result, the sector has become a significant driver of economic activity in many regions, providing jobs and stimulating local economies.

Key Trends in Medical Facility Construction

1. Increased Investment in Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Facilities:

The investment by Resilience in West Chester Township is part of a broader trend where biopharmaceutical companies are expanding their infrastructure to enhance drug development and production capabilities. The shift toward biomanufacturing facilities is evident as companies seek to strengthen the domestic supply chain and reduce dependency on foreign manufacturers.

2. Focus on Flexibility and Scalability:

Medical facility construction is no longer just about building larger spaces. Modern facilities are being designed with flexibility and scalability in mind, allowing them to adapt to changes in medical technologies and treatment protocols.

3. Emphasis on Sustainable and Efficient Design:

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies are becoming a core component of new medical facility projects. Design strategies include using energy-efficient materials, incorporating renewable energy sources, and creating layouts that optimize patient and staff flow. These elements not only reduce operational costs but also contribute to a healthier environment for patients and healthcare professionals.

4. Regional Hubs for Health Innovation:

The availability of skilled labor, proximity to research institutions, and supportive state policies make locations like the Midwest and Northeast attractive for medical facility investments. The establishment of these hubs fosters collaboration and accelerates advancements in healthcare technologies.

Challenges Facing the Industry

Despite the growth, the medical facility construction sector faces several challenges:

Rising Construction Costs:

Costs for labor and materials have been increasing, putting pressure on project budgets and timelines. The industry is adopting strategies such as prefabrication and modular construction to mitigate these expenses, but the challenge remains significant for many projects.

Regulatory Hurdles:

Medical facilities must comply with stringent regulations at both federal and state levels. Navigating these regulations can be time-consuming and costly, impacting project timelines and design flexibility. Companies must work closely with regulators to ensure compliance while maintaining their construction schedules.

Supply Chain Disruptions:

The global supply chain issues that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect medical facility construction. Delays in obtaining critical materials can slow down project completion, particularly for complex facilities that require specialized equipment and components.

The Role of Technology in Shaping Medical Facility Construction

Technology plays a pivotal role in overcoming many of the challenges in medical facility construction. Digital tools, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), are used to optimize design and construction processes, enhance collaboration among stakeholders, and reduce errors. Additionally, technologies like 3D printing and robotics are being explored to streamline construction and create more precise components.

Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring have also influenced how new medical facilities are being designed. With the increase in virtual care options, some facilities are being reimagined to support these services, incorporating telehealth suites and digital infrastructure to connect patients and healthcare providers seamlessly.

Regional Insights: Ohio’s Role in Medical Facility Development

The investment by Resilience in Ohio is not an isolated case but part of a broader trend of increasing medical facility development in the Midwest. Ohio has become an attractive destination for biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies due to its strong workforce, proximity to major research institutions, and supportive state policies.

The Ohio Tax Incentive Authority’s decision to approve a 1.9%, 10-year Job Creation Tax Credit for Resilience underscores the state's commitment to fostering growth in the life sciences sector. Projects like this contribute to regional economic development by creating high-paying jobs, attracting further investments, and establishing Ohio as a leader in health innovation.

Ohio’s expanding medical and research facilities, coupled with investments from both private and public sectors, have positioned it as a key player in the U.S. healthcare landscape. The development of hubs like West Chester Township signals a shift in how medical research and production are distributed across the country, potentially reducing dependency on traditional biopharmaceutical centers like Boston or San Francisco.

Future Outlook

The future of medical facility construction in the United States is promising, with several emerging trends poised to shape the industry:

Integration of AI and Robotics:

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to play a larger role in both construction processes and the operation of medical facilities. Robotics can assist in construction, while AI can help optimize the management of facilities once they are operational.

Continued Expansion of Biomanufacturing:

The demand for biopharmaceuticals is set to rise, spurring the need for more biomanufacturing facilities. Companies will continue to invest in expanding their capacities, as seen with Resilience, to meet the growing needs of the healthcare industry.

Shift Toward Outpatient and Ambulatory Care Centers:

With advancements in medical technologies and procedures, there is a shift from inpatient to outpatient care. This trend is influencing the design and construction of new facilities, which are being built to support minimally invasive procedures and shorter patient stays.

The current state of medical facility construction in the United States reflects a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector. Projects like Resilience’s investment in Ohio are emblematic of a broader push toward expanding the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, ensuring it meets future demands while supporting innovation and economic growth.

GPRS supports construction projects across industries, from hospitals to stadiums and beyond.  Our subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction & facilities project management services ensure your projects stay on time, on budget, and safe.

What can we help you visualize?

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of informational output is provided 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.

Can you 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 in multiple methods of utility locating.

America’s aviation infrastructure plays a crucial role in the efficiency and reliability of the nation’s air transportation system.

Unfortunately, a combination of aging infrastructure, limited funding, and increased passenger demand has resulted in numerous flight delays and cancellations across the country. While recent efforts have aimed to address these issues, substantial work remains to bring America’s aviation infrastructure up to par with international standards.

The Infrastructure Challenge

U.S. airports received a grade of D+ in the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting severe deficiencies in capacity and overall infrastructure quality.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger traffic was increasing steadily—from 964.7 million in 2017 to 1.2 billion in 2019. However, the capacity of airports, measured in available flights and infrastructure, did not grow at the same pace. The growth in passenger traffic, combined with aging terminals and runways, led to over 95 million minutes of flight delays for passengers in 2019 alone.

The ASCE pointed to several key factors that contribute to flight delays and cancellations:

1. Airport Capacity Limitations: The U.S. currently has over 3,300 public-use airports, but only about 520 of those handle commercial service. Of those, a large proportion are general aviation airports not designed for high volumes of commercial traffic. Terminal, gate, and runway availability often do not meet growing demand, causing congestion, delays, and disruptions.
2. Aging Infrastructure: Much of America’s airport infrastructure needs modernization. Many terminals, constructed decades ago, require extensive renovation to meet modern standards of safety, capacity, and efficiency. This lag in infrastructure updates contributes significantly to delays, especially during peak travel periods.
3. Inadequate Funding: The funding mechanisms for U.S. airports have not kept pace with the rising demand. The Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), a primary source of airport funding, has been capped at $4.50 since 2000, limiting the financial capacity of airports to invest in significant upgrades. Similarly, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) has been stagnant at $3.35 billion annually for over a decade.
4. Weather-Related Issues and Air Traffic Control: Weather is a major contributor to delays, but air traffic control inefficiencies exacerbate these disruptions. The FAA’s transition to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is meant to improve efficiency and capacity by shifting from a radar-based system to a satellite-based one. However, NextGen implementation has taken longer than expected, resulting in a continued reliance on outdated technology.

Impacts on Passengers and Airlines

The ripple effects of infrastructure limitations are felt by passengers and airlines alike. Airlines often face increased costs due to the need to reroute flights or accommodate passengers affected by cancellations and delays. Passengers, on the other hand, experience frustration and disruptions to their travel plans. The increase in delay times from 65.8 million minutes in 2017 to 95.8 million minutes in 2019 indicates that the problem has been worsening, with on-time performance dropping from 80.1% to 79.2% over the same period.

Efforts to Address the Infrastructure Gaps

To tackle these challenges, several initiatives and funding mechanisms have been proposed or implemented:

1. Increased Federal Funding: The federal government has responded by increasing airport funding through supplemental AIP funding and COVID-19 relief packages. For example, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provided an additional $12 billion in direct aid to airports, which has been crucial for maintaining operations during the pandemic downturn.
2. Raising or Eliminating the PFC Cap: Advocacy groups and some policymakers have called for raising or eliminating the PFC cap, which would allow airports to collect more revenue directly from passengers to invest in needed infrastructure improvements. This would provide a significant boost to airport development projects, particularly in terminal and runway expansion.
3. NextGen Implementation: The FAA’s NextGen program aims to modernize air traffic control systems to reduce delays and improve routing efficiency. Although implementation has been slower than expected, NextGen has already demonstrated benefits, such as reducing fuel consumption and enhancing safety through better navigation capabilities.
4. Public-Private Partnerships (P3s): Some airports have explored public-private partnerships to raise capital for infrastructure projects. For instance, the $4 billion renovation of LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B in New York was funded through a P3 arrangement, serving as a model for other airports considering similar approaches.

What’s Next?

Despite these efforts, long-term solutions require consistent investment and strategic planning. The ASCE estimates that there is a $111 billion funding shortfall for U.S. airports over the next decade. Addressing this gap is essential not only for reducing delays and cancellations but also for ensuring that the aviation sector can support economic growth and global competitiveness.

GPRS Services Support Airport Infrastructure Improvements

The state of America’s aviation infrastructure is a critical factor behind the rising number of flight delays and cancellations. With passenger demand outpacing capacity and funding levels stagnant, significant challenges remain. However, recent federal investments and ongoing modernization efforts, like the implementation of the NextGen system, offer hope that the nation’s aviation infrastructure will improve in the coming years.

Whether you're managing an airport expansion or improvement, or installing fiber optic cable in a suburban neighborhood, the most effective way to keep your projects on track is by mitigating the risk of subsurface damage during excavation and ensuring seamless communication among all stakeholders from start to finish.

GPRS offers a suite of subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction & facilities project management services designed to protect your assets and people. From precision concrete scanning and utility locating to 3D laser scanning, video pipe inspections and virtual tours, we strive to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.

To put this field-verified data at your fingertips 24/7, GPRS created SiteMap^® (patent pending), our cloud-based project & facility management application that provides accurate existing condition documentation to help you plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately build better.

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

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 are there?

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.

In the construction industry, efficiency and sustainability have become paramount.

As global demand for infrastructure rises, so does the need to optimize resource use and minimize environmental impact. One powerful tool making a significant difference in this regard is Geographic Information Systems (GIS). By integrating spatial data with traditional construction methodologies, GIS technology empowers construction professionals to build smarter, reduce waste, and promote sustainability.

Understanding GIS Technology

At its core, GIS technology involves the collection, analysis, and visualization of geographic data. It enables users to map and interpret data related to the Earth's surface. This data can include anything from soil composition and topography to infrastructure and zoning laws. By utilizing GIS, construction professionals can make informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle—from initial planning and site selection to execution and maintenance.

Enhancing Site Selection

One of the first steps in any construction project is selecting an appropriate site. GIS streamlines this process by providing detailed spatial analysis. For example, it can assess various factors such as soil stability, flood zones, and proximity to utilities.

By leveraging GIS, project managers can identify sites that minimize potential environmental impacts and reduce costs associated with site preparation. A GIS analysis might find potential voids, abandoned lines, and underground storage tanks (USTs). In contrast, an alternative site with stable soil and existing infrastructure could provide a more efficient path forward.

Optimizing Design and Planning

Once a site is selected, GIS technology plays a crucial role in the design and planning phases. Architects and engineers can use GIS tools to visualize the project in a real-world context, considering factors such as surrounding land use, transportation networks, and environmental constraints.

Moreover, GIS enables the creation of integrated models of above and belowground infrastructure that can help engineers and other professionals predict how the construction project will interact with its environment. For example, a construction team can assess potential impacts on local ecosystems or infrastructure and adjust plans accordingly. This level of foresight helps prevent costly redesigns or unexpected challenges during construction.

Improving Resource Management

Resource management is a critical aspect of any construction project. GIS technology can help AEC professionals track materials, equipment, and labor throughout the construction process, helping to ensure that resources are used efficiently.

Construction managers can analyze supply chain logistics and optimize material delivery schedules. By visualizing the locations of suppliers, construction teams can plan more efficient routes, reducing fuel consumption and transportation costs. Additionally, GIS can help track inventory levels on-site, ensuring that materials are utilized effectively and minimizing the risk of over-ordering or waste.

Streamlining Communication and Collaboration

Collaboration is essential in construction, involving multiple stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, and local authorities. GIS technology facilitates communication among these parties by providing a shared platform for data visualization.

When all stakeholders can access the same geographic data, it promotes transparency and informed decision-making. For example, if a contractor identifies a potential issue with site drainage, they can easily share this information with the design team via the GIS platform. This immediate feedback loop fosters quicker resolutions and helps avoid costly delays.

Supporting Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in the construction industry; it has become a critical focus area. GIS technology supports sustainable practices by providing tools for environmental impact assessments.

For example, GIS can help identify areas for green space, track water runoff, and monitor air quality throughout the construction process. By analyzing this data, construction teams can implement strategies to mitigate their environmental impact. This might include selecting materials that are less harmful to the environment, reducing energy consumption during construction, or ensuring proper waste management protocols are in place.

Furthermore, GIS can support post-construction sustainability by aiding in the development of smart buildings that utilize renewable energy sources, optimize energy efficiency, and minimize waste. By integrating GIS data with building information modeling (BIM), construction teams can create structures that are not only functional but also environmentally responsible.

Analyzing and Monitoring Construction Progress

Another significant advantage of GIS technology is its ability to monitor construction progress in real-time. By using drones and satellite imagery, construction managers can capture up-to-date information about site conditions and progress. This data can then be integrated into GIS platforms for analysis.

This continuous monitoring helps identify potential issues before they escalate, allowing for timely interventions. For instance, if a particular section of the project is lagging, managers can use GIS to investigate potential causes, such as resource shortages or weather impacts. This proactive approach not only helps keep projects on track but also reduces the likelihood of wasted resources.

The Future of GIS in Construction

As the construction industry continues to evolve, the role of GIS technology is likely to expand. Advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence could enhance GIS capabilities, enabling more sophisticated analyses and predictions. Furthermore, the growing emphasis on digital twins—virtual replicas of physical environments—will likely integrate GIS data for even more comprehensive project management.

The trend towards smart cities, where urban infrastructure is managed through interconnected technologies, will also bolster the importance of GIS. As cities become more complex, GIS will be essential for planning and managing sustainable development, helping to ensure that resources are used efficiently, and waste is minimized.

SiteMap^® Helps You Build Better

In an industry where efficiency and sustainability are increasingly critical, GIS technology offers construction professionals a powerful toolkit for enhancing decision-making and resource management.

SiteMap^® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, is a cloud-based infrastructure mapping application that incorporates GIS functionality and supports data portability with your preferred GIS platform. What distinguishes SiteMap^® from other GIS platforms is its foundation in precise data collected on-site by GPRS’ NASSCO and SIM-certified Project Managers. This data is then meticulously layered and modeled by our in-house Mapping & Modeling Department to meet your specific requirements.

Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced professional, SiteMap^® enhances communication across the board, helping to reduce risks and incidents on each project site.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What types of data can be analyzed using GIS technology?  

GIS can analyze various types of data, including spatial data (such as maps and satellite imagery), demographic data, environmental data (like soil composition and water quality), and infrastructure data (like utility networks). This diverse range of data allows for comprehensive analysis in construction projects.

2. How does GIS contribute to cost savings in construction?

By optimizing site selection, improving resource management, and enhancing communication among stakeholders, GIS helps reduce costs associated with redesigns, material waste, and delays. It also aids in efficient logistics planning, which can lower transportation costs.

3. Is GIS technology difficult to implement for construction companies?

While there may be a learning curve associated with adopting GIS technology, many user-friendly software options are available. Training programs and resources can help construction companies integrate GIS into their workflows effectively. Over time, the benefits gained from using GIS far outweigh the initial implementation challenges.

7 Questions to Consider Before You Request a Quote
for 3D Laser Scanning, CAD Drawings, BIM Models, or Digital Twins

Preparing the right information before you request a quote for 3D laser scanning services can bring huge benefits.

Tell your 3D laser scanning company everything they need to know about your project up front and you will speed up the quoting process, streamline the work, and save yourself a lot of time and money.

To give you a head start on gathering information for your provider, we reached out to Nate Baker, GPRS 3D Laser Scanning Service Line Leader, who is an elite technician with years of field experience. Here are the seven things – according to Baker - that you should know (or try to figure out) about your project before requesting a quote.

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Question 1: What will be your final use application of the data, drawing and/or model?

The 3D laser scan company will need to know what goal you want to achieve by obtaining a laser scan or a 3D model. Without that information, Baker says, a provider cannot advise you on the best possible approach to the project.
If you aren’t sure of your final use application, here are a few examples for reference:

• Obtaining an accurate record of a historical building
• Gathering window measurements
• Generating 2D floor plans of an office for space management
• Creating a detailed scan to BIM model of an industrial facility
• Performing clash detection as part of planning to move a large piece of equipment

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Question 2: What is the scope of work?

To give you an accurate quote, your 3D laser scanning service provider near you will need to know the details of the space you want them to capture.
Gather information like:

• How many square feet?
• How many levels?
• Is it occupied?
• Does the project cover the interior? Exterior? The roof? All three?
• Does the space include a lot of glass or other highly reflective surfaces such as stainless-steel piping?

PRO TIP: Don’t think that requesting 2D floor plans for your five-story building is going to save you money. Most service providers will create 2D floor plans using 3D models as guides, which means they are generating the 3D model anyway.

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Question 3: What file types are needed?

“It’s not enough for you to tell us to scan the building,” says Baker. “We need to know what files you want us to provide to you on the back end. Many people don’t think about this ahead of time, and I would say it’s absolutely critical for us to know that, in order to give our clients a quick turnaround.”
Gather information like:

• Should the point cloud be colorized or intensity map?
• Do you want the provider to create a 3D model?
• Do you also need 2D floor plans, elevations or reflected ceiling plans?

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Question 4: What level of detail is required for the 3D BIM model?

If you want a 3D BIM model as your final deliverable, your provider will need to know how much of the space you want modeled and how detailed you want the modeling to be for each feature. These details may sound unimportant to know so early in the 3D laser scanning process, but Baker explains that they can have a huge effect on how the provider scans your asset—and as a result, can change the price of your project drastically.
To figure out what level of detail you require, answer these questions:

• Do you want a true as-built model or digital twin, or are you looking for a design-intent model that shows plumb walls and 90° angles?
• Are you looking for a basic 3D model, with architectural elements like columns and beams only?
• Or are you looking for something more detailed, for instance a model that includes MEP?
• How detailed do you want your model? Do you want all pipes two inches and up modeled? Or all pipes ½ inch and up?
• Do you want elements in different rooms modeled at different levels of detail?

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Question 5: How do you want the data delivered?

Once you have decided on a set of final deliverables, Baker says, your provider will need to know how to get the data over to you. Since there are a wide variety of options, you’ll need to tell the provider which ones will work best for you.
Jot down some quick information, like:

• What software are you using?
• What version is the software?
• What file format would you like your data in?
• Do you want it mailed on a hard drive? Or shared online?

PRO TIP: Baker warns that you should be extra careful to verify your software specs. His team has dealt with cases in the past where a client has asked for files in a specific format—for example, they requested a Revit format—and then found out that they couldn’t open the file because their version of the software is a previous version.

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Question 6: What is the project timeline?

Your provider will also need to understand your project timeline. This information will help them work within your schedule and avoid disruption on the job site.
Think about:

• Do you need a purchase order to begin work?
• How long will it take to get approval?
• Is your timeline strict? For example, do you need the provider to capture an industrial facility on a single day during a planned outage?
• Is your timeline flexible? If you need the provider on-site next week, does the day matter?
• What is your budget for 3D laser scanning? Does laser scanning and modeling need to be completed at once? We can execute projects in multiple stages. For instance, some clients will ask us to 3D scan and model one area of a building in an initial phase and revisit the remainder of the building at a later date.
• When do you absolutely need the deliverable by?

PRO TIP: Budget enough time for your provider to turnaround the data and deliverables after capture. After scanning, point cloud data is imported and registered. Registration is crucial to the quality of the final product. Registration errors, if not mitigated and resolved, can easily propagate and multiply further down the process. 3D modeling is a far more precise process carried out by CAD technicians. A reputable provider will clearly communicate the project timeline.

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Question 7: How will the 3D laser scan company access the site?

Are you looking to scan a site that is restricted (like a processing plant) or one that can only be scanned at night (like an airport terminal)? Your provider will need to know your site access plan to complete their work.
Record information like:

• Is there security?
• Are there areas the provider will need security’s help to access?
• Will they need a manager to let them in?
• Will the manager or an escort need to be there for the scanning?
• Will they need to scan at night? If so, during what hours is the site open for scanning?
• Are there approvals, training, drug testing or other entry requirements before being allowed on-site?
• Will we need to work around staff, customers, etc. or will the building or space be vacant?

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Answer these questions to expedite 3D laser scanning & receipt of your drawings and models

Baker says that answering these seven questions ahead of time can speed up your 3D laser scanning and 3D BIM modeling projects significantly.

“There’s always going to be some back and forth,” he says. “A reputable 3D laser scanning service like GPRS can help you determine your needs, explain the benefits of one approach versus another, and even talk you down from buying something you don’t need. Answer these questions the best you can, and this will give you a head start. You can 100% save yourself money by gathering this information before requesting a quote.”

If you’re considering laser scanning and need help answering these questions or determining if laser scanning is right for you, contact GPRS today. Our team can assess your needs and help you determine the best course of action.

18 months ago, the largely vacant Flatiron Building, the iconic triangular skyscraper designed by Daniel Burnham, was in limbo. In March of 2023, the building was auctioned off, for what was considered by some the “bloated” price of $190 million. That purchase, however, was not finalized, as the winning bidder failed to fulfill the terms of the sale.

Which left up in the air the fate of a building so unique it is as immediately recognizable as the Empire State or Chrysler buildings.

The “bizarre saga,” as it was called by The New York Times, seems to have finally come to an end, as the Brodsky Organization, a major property developer, became part of a joint venture deal that acquired a stake in the skyscraper. The joint venture, which also includes GFP Real Estate and the Sorgente Group, has filed rezoning applications with the city of New York stating that it plans a mixed-use development that includes 60 residential condominium units for the building.  

The ground floor will also include a 5,000 sq. ft. retail space. The one long-time tenant of the Flatiron Building, Macmillan Publishing, departed for new digs at the Beyer Blinder Belle restored, Ernest Graham designed Equitable Building in the Finance District in 2019. The sole remaining tenant at Flatiron, a T-Mobile store on the ground floor, will also depart. Some reporting states that there is room to expand to as many as 100 condos in the building, but current plans call for 60, which is up from the 40 units initially planned when the JV stake was announced.

What Are Brodsky’s Plans for Taking the Flatiron Building Residential?

The first, and arguably most important, thing you should know is that there “won’t be significant notable changes” to Burnham’s iconic façade. According to reporting in The Real Deal, “Façade alterations will be minor,” and “the property won’t be demolished or expanded.”

The average condo size is expected to be 2,000 s.f. However, that figure is based on a 100-unit layout, rather than the 60 currently specified in official filings.  

If the development follows most of the luxury apartments and condos in New York City, you should expect a mixed-use development with restaurants, commercial, and/or retail space on the ground floor, condos above, and amenities like a gym, common/party areas, and perhaps, even a residents-only bar. Other high-end residences in The Brodsky Portfolio include City Tower and the Enclave at the Cathedral, which include amenities like a basketball court, game room, theatre, gallery, sky deck, terrace, and lounge, along with the – now almost requisite – fitness center.

The current development plans give an expected completion date of sometime by 2026.

The History of The Flatiron Building

"Over its 121-year history, the Flatiron Building became as identified with Manhattan as the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building.”  – The New York Times

While many people think the building’s name comes from its unusual shape, the building’s name is actually taken from the neighborhood itself. The triangular piece of land bordered by Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 22nd & 23rd Streets had long been known as the Flat Iron when mining magnates, the Newhouse brothers, purchased it in 1899.

Their idea was to capitalize on and take part in the establishment of a new business district outside of the Wall Street financial sector. Sam and Mott Newhouse joined a syndicate with the George A. Fuller Company’s Harry S. Black (in a business structure not unlike the current joint venture that recently purchased the building), and filed their intentions to build a 20-story skyscraper on the triangle of land in 1901. That 20-story estimate flew in the face of the accepted wisdom that any building constructed on the Flat Iron could not physically exceed 12 stories.

The lead architect tapped to create their unusual structure was Daniel Burnham, of the well-known Chicago school of architecture. Burnham, along with his associate, Frederick P. Dinkelberg, designed a structure that was not only unusual in its overall shape, but in its foundational structure. Flying in the face of traditional wisdom for skyscraper construction, Burnham’s steel-frame design shunned the heavy block pediments that were considered essential to the base of a skyscraper. Instead, his building’s Beaux-Arts façade, inspired by French and Italian Renaissance architecture, rose straight from the street. Not only did this ensure his building would immediately gain attention, it caused many in the construction community to dub it “Burnham’s Folly,” because they were certain a steel-framed structure of such height would topple over if not supported by a thick pediment base.

Burnham was happy to prove them wrong. The building was completed in 1902, but the rest of the Flat Iron district did not build up to create that longed-for new business sector. The building housed the Fuller Company until 1929, after which it was auctioned off during The Great Depression. In 1969, a division of Macmillan Publishing leased part of the building, and the publisher eventually occupied almost all of it. In 1983, Thomas McCormack, then the president of MacMillan’s St. Martin’s Press, said of the unique structure,

“It’s the only office I know of where you can stand in one place and see the East River, the Hudson, and Central Park without moving.”

In fact, it is the unusually large number of windows – far more than most skyscrapers – that makes the Flatiron a great adaptive reuse candidate. Installing sufficient windows is often among the most expensive line items in a building conversion budget.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that the iconic building itself became such an architectural draw for the neighborhood that it spawned the development of restaurants, shopping, and tourism and the “Flatiron District” was finally born. Now, it’s considered one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city.  

And now, the new JV developing team plan to utilize adaptive reuse protocols to bring upscale housing in to match the neighborhood’s feel. Dean Amro, a principal at the Brodsky Organization, said that the project is a reflection of the organization’s belief that, “[O]ur confidence in New York coming back stronger than before.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does it Take to Convert a Historic Building via Adaptive Reuse?

Here are several articles that explain the concept of adaptive reuse, and how it’s bringing historical office and manufacturing structures back to life as residential spaces.

https://www.gp-radar.com/article/what-is-adaptive-reuse-in-architecture

https://www.gp-radar.com/article/how-one-architect-used-gprs-3d-bim-model-to-plan-retail-renovations

https://www.gp-radar.com/article/how-new-adaptive-reuse-trends-are-changing-multifamily-conversions

https://www.gp-radar.com/article/adaptive-reuse-partnership-leads-the-charge-for-la2028-olympic-games

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