Rapid Response - Nationwide Service
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With over 300 Project Managers, strategically stationed in every major market and city across the United States, GPRS has an unmatched nationwide service network that makes it quick and easy to find an expert Project Manager in any potential customer’s area. GPRS ensures they can reach your location within 24 to 48 hours of contact to solve all and any of your utility locating needs. Contact GPRS for information, pricing, and scheduling needs.
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Concrete Coring Applications
Because concrete drilling comes at a risk, GPRS Project Managers are equipped with multiple technologies to clear areas prior to core drilling and anchoring. Upon completion of the scanning process, you will have a clear layout of the vertical and horizontal position of impediments such as post tension cables, rebar, beams, and conduits. Our scanning and imaging services can be completed on any surface including concrete slabs, walls, columns, and beams.
Saw-Cutting Applications
As with concrete coring, when saw cutting in a slab-on-grade scenario, locating unseen or buried objects is crucial. The risk of severing post tension cables, rebar, conduits, pipes, grade beams, or other obstructions runs high in saw-cutting applications. In order to identify these hazards, our Project Managers follow a detailed process, which includes multiple GPR antennas and a variety of other technologies. This in-depth process results in accurate information about hazards that lie in and below the concrete slab.
pre-planning and design
There are many critical steps when planning a construction project, but one of the most crucial steps is to obtain accurate information regarding where future concrete penetrations will take place. When GPRS has the ability to scan concrete structures prior to the construction phase, we are able to reduce costly change orders and limit the redesign process. Unlike traditional concrete x-ray, our technologies have the capability to scan large areas and can provide our findings in detail via a field sketch, CAD drawing, or even a 3D model.
structural analysis
Ground penetrating radar is most commonly used to clear areas prior to saw cutting or core drilling, but our scanning equipment also has the capability to deliver much more detail. Project Managers are able to determine key slab information for Structural Engineers, including rebar and post-tension spacing and depth, concrete cover and overlay thickness, concrete thickness, and even dowel placement. With GPRS’ ability to scan complete concrete structures, we are not limited by size for structural analysis.
What Can I Expect When I Hire GPRS?
Field markings
GPRS provides constant communication on every project, from start to finish. For concrete imaging applications, it all starts with our field markings, which come in the form of paint, marker, crayon, and any other method as directed by the client. These markings provide clear, accurate displays of rebar, conduits, or post tension cables within the concrete slab, while being understandable for anyone who may view them.
GPRS provides constant communication on every project, from start to finish. For concrete imaging applications, it all starts with our field markings, which come in the form of paint, marker, crayon, and any other method as directed by the client. These markings provide clear, accurate displays of rebar, conduits, or post tension cables within the concrete slab, while being understandable for anyone who may view them.
cad drawings
Communication on a job site is the key for success. The GPRS Deliverables Department, in alignment with our 100% subsurface damage prevention goal, creates CAD drawings that document project results, and provides a permanent record of our findings. These drawings allow contractors and owners alike to update as-built drawings for preplanning, core drilling or cutting, or to document site change history.
Communication on a job site is the key for success. The GPRS Deliverables Department, in alignment with our 100% subsurface damage prevention goal, creates CAD drawings that document project results, and provides a permanent record of our findings. These drawings allow contractors and owners alike to update as-built drawings for preplanning, core drilling or cutting, or to document site change history.
3D cad files
In the effort to “widen the gap” between the industry standard and GPRS, we now offer 3D mapping and modeling to document interior findings. More importantly, our 3D CAD Drawings help provide a better visual representation of reality for clients. These realistic 3D CAD files document the vertical and horizontal elevations, providing a more accurate, easier to read visual than your standard 2D model.
In the effort to “widen the gap” between the industry standard and GPRS, we now offer 3D mapping and modeling to document interior findings. More importantly, our 3D CAD Drawings help provide a better visual representation of reality for clients. These realistic 3D CAD files document the vertical and horizontal elevations, providing a more accurate, easier to read visual than your standard 2D model.
3d modeling
The ultimate form of communication takes the shape of our modeling and walk-thru capabilities, through the use of our state-of-the-art 3D cameras.
The ultimate form of communication takes the shape of our modeling and walk-thru capabilities, through the use of our state-of-the-art 3D cameras.
When GPRS places a green box within a layout prior to cutting or coring concrete, we guarantee that area to be free of obstructions.
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CONCRETE SCANNING SAFETY & INJURY PREVENTION
Safety and injury prevention are top priorities at GPRS, as it is for our many clients. It’s at the core of all of our services.
Priority No. 1 in concrete scanning is protecting the structural integrity or strength of the concrete, making sure the integrity of the structure is safe. When we detect and mark sections of reinforcing steel embedded in the concrete, it guides concrete cutters and drillers away from the steel, helping them avoid injury and protecting the integrity of the concrete.
Of particular concern – and danger - are post-tension cables. The high tension these cables are placed under is great enough that if a post tension cable is accidentally cut, it’s possible the cable could break through the concrete and injure a worker as well as damage the integrity of the structure.
Another major safety reason for GPR concrete scanning is to detect electrical wires encased in conduits. Marking these conduits helps cutters and drillers avoid them, while also avoiding the life-threatening consequences of an electrical shock from striking one of them.
Concrete Scanning Explained
Priority No. 1 in concrete scanning is protecting the structural integrity or strength of the concrete, making sure the integrity of the structure is safe. When we detect and mark sections of reinforcing steel embedded in the concrete, it guides concrete cutters and drillers away from the steel, helping them avoid injury and protecting the integrity of the concrete.
Of particular concern – and danger - are post-tension cables. The high tension these cables are placed under is great enough that if a post tension cable is accidentally cut, it’s possible the cable could break through the concrete and injure a worker as well as damage the integrity of the structure.
Another major safety reason for GPR concrete scanning is to detect electrical wires encased in conduits. Marking these conduits helps cutters and drillers avoid them, while also avoiding the life-threatening consequences of an electrical shock from striking one of them.
Concrete Scanning Explained
5 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GPR AND CONCRETE SCANNING
1. CAN GROUND PENETRATING RADAR SCAN CONCRETE SLAB-ON-GRADE?
Yes, we can. Usually we hear this question from someone familiar with concrete x- raying. While x-raying concrete is still a valid technique for determining the location of reinforcing steel it’s limited to elevated concrete slabs because you need to have access to both sides of the concrete. One side is for the radioactive isotope, the other for the film.
Ground penetrating radar is a completely different technology. GPR only needs access to one side of the concrete. This fact makes it ideal for scanning concrete slab-on-grade applications.
Ground penetrating radar is a completely different technology. GPR only needs access to one side of the concrete. This fact makes it ideal for scanning concrete slab-on-grade applications.
2. CAN GROUND PENETRATING RADAR IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REBAR, POST TENSION CABLES, ELECTRICAL CONDUITS AND OTHER EMBEDDED MATERIALS?
While GPR does not determine what type of object is being located, GPRS project managers are experienced at using all available data in identifying the type of reinforcing steel or electrical conduit present.
The photo to the left shows a typical post tension cable mark out. Using GPR and other data, we are able to locate all of the reinforcing steel anomalies. We then mark the findings on the concrete and, based on the pattern, are quickly able to determine what each marking indicates. Most often, when something is on an angle through a square layout it will be a conduit. You will have a typical rebar pattern with 12-to-18 inch centers. Post tension cables tend to be spaced further apart, depending on the building’s design and whether they are banded or uniform tendons.
The photo to the left shows a typical post tension cable mark out. Using GPR and other data, we are able to locate all of the reinforcing steel anomalies. We then mark the findings on the concrete and, based on the pattern, are quickly able to determine what each marking indicates. Most often, when something is on an angle through a square layout it will be a conduit. You will have a typical rebar pattern with 12-to-18 inch centers. Post tension cables tend to be spaced further apart, depending on the building’s design and whether they are banded or uniform tendons.
3. HOW ACCURATE IS GROUND PENETRATING RADAR WITH MARKING ANOMALIES IN CONCRETE?
We have found that our typical accuracy is +/- ¼” to the center of the object in concrete we locate: conduit, post tension cables, and rebar. With GPR, we can also pinpoint the depth of every object we locate in concrete with an accuracy of +/- 10-15%.
The photo below shows a typical elevated concrete slab layout after we finish scanning. The locations of all rebar, post tension cable and walker ducts are marked on this layout. Because GPR’s accuracy is so high we can offer our professional opinion to the contractor helping them know where they are able to drill without the risk of hitting any of the objects marked on the slab. For safety concerns, we always tell contractors to move one-two inches from any marked line as they prepare to cut or drill to be sure they safely miss any embedded object.
The photo below shows a typical elevated concrete slab layout after we finish scanning. The locations of all rebar, post tension cable and walker ducts are marked on this layout. Because GPR’s accuracy is so high we can offer our professional opinion to the contractor helping them know where they are able to drill without the risk of hitting any of the objects marked on the slab. For safety concerns, we always tell contractors to move one-two inches from any marked line as they prepare to cut or drill to be sure they safely miss any embedded object.
4. ARE THERE ANY HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH GROUND PENETRATING RADAR?
This concern usually comes from someone familiar with x-raying concrete since the health risk of radiation-exposure from x-rays is well known. Although x-raying remains a viable and accurate testing method for marking objects embedded in concrete, x-ray companies must ensure safety by clearing people from a large area around their x-ray location. They must create a safe and controlled environment.
In comparison, the typical power output of a GPR antenna is less than the cell phone most of us carry around. As a result, there are no health concerns with our project managers construction workers, or tenants in the building where the work is taking place.
Also, GPR is a quiet process so noise issues are not a concern.
In comparison, the typical power output of a GPR antenna is less than the cell phone most of us carry around. As a result, there are no health concerns with our project managers construction workers, or tenants in the building where the work is taking place.
Also, GPR is a quiet process so noise issues are not a concern.
5. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SCAN AN AREA FOR CORE DRILLING?
Ground penetrating radar is an extremely efficient and fast technology. Large areas can be scanned quickly with ease. Our standard layout for a typical core drilling location is 2 by 2 feet. It usually takes about 10 minutes to scan and mark an area this size.
GPRS follows the strict guidelines set in place by SIM. SIM stands for Subsurface Investigation Methodology. SIM is a standard operating procedure comprised of two specifications created specifically for subsurface investigations - one for underground utility locating and one for concrete scanning.
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