Property owners, listen up! If you’ve never heard of ground penetrating radar (GPR), you would be wise to read this article, because there may come a time when you will need to call a company that provides GPR scanning services.
GPR is a technology that allows you to see beyond the surface without disturbing it using high-frequency radio waves. The waves are transmitted, and when they bounce back, they are analyzed by a GPR technician to determine what is below the surface. GPR is safer and more affordable than using X-ray technology, and provides you with almost immediate results.
Here are four instances when you might need to use GPR scanning services on your property:
You Want to Dig Safely
Before excavating on your property, it’s important to know what’s underground. That way, you can avoid hitting any utility lines or other buried infrastructure. GPR scanning services can come to your property, evaluate the areas you wish to excavate, and tell you if there are any hazards you need to avoid during the digging process.
You Want to Drill or Cut into Your Concrete Slab or CMU Wall
GPR technology also works on concrete. If you need to drill or trench into your concrete slab for a renovation project, or if you want to cut a new opening in your concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall, you need to have the area scanned to ensure that the area you want to disturb is not occupied rebar, conduit, pipes, or anything else.
You Want to Locate Buried Items
Items can get buried on your property, and over time, you can forget exactly where they are located. At some point, though, you will probably want to know where they are. Whether it’s a drum, a tank, buried waste, or anything else, a GPR scanning service can use their equipment to find what you are looking for. Once they do, they can either mark the ground with flags or spray paint, or provide you with a KMZ file or a customized CAD overlay. If you are in need of a stamped plan, you will need to work with a company that has a licensed professional land surveyor (PLS) on their team.
You Want to Assess Your Soil
Ground penetrating radar can also be used to assess sediment layers in soil. Since different soil types have different electromagnetic properties, GPR is the perfect technology for determining the depth, thickness, and extent of soil layers. It can also be used to determine the distance to the water table without digging.
Ground penetrating radar is amazing technology. It is able to find things made from a variety of materials (unlike metal detectors that can only locate metal). It is also completely safe to use, since it doesn’t emit any harmful radiation (unlike X-ray technology). Make sure you work with a GPR scanning service that employs highly trained and experienced GPR technicians for the most accurate results.
