If you’re planning to hire a company that provides GPR scanning services, it’s likely because you need to find something that is buried underground, or inside of a concrete slab or concrete block wall. Maybe you need to locate buried utility lines prior to excavating on your property, or perhaps you want to cut a trench in your concrete slab to add a new water or sewage line, but don’t want to cut through anything you shouldn’t (like rebar or post-tension cables).
Knowing what is beyond the surface before you disturb it is key, and the best way to find this out is by bringing in a local company that provides GPR scanning services.
GPR stands for ground penetrating radar. This amazing technology allows you to “see” the unseen by sending electromagnetic pulses into the area in question. Based on how the pulses bounce back, a GPR technician can tell you, with a high degree of accuracy, what is beneath the surface, as well as how far beyond the surface it is located. Using ground penetrating radar is completely safe for everyone involved, since the equipment doesn’t emit any harmful radiation. There’s no need to evacuate the area, or worry about any residual effects.
If you’re in Southern California and need GPR scanning services, a great company to call is Enhanced Scanning. This is a company that is equipped with the latest in scanning technology, including ground penetrating radar and other non-destructive tools, and have highly trained technicians who can locate any type of unseen hazard.
While ground penetrating radar is likely the technology that will be used to locate buried utility lines or other hazards you might come across when disturbing the ground or concrete, it’s also important to work with a scanning company that has other scanning tools at their disposal. For example, in certain circumstances, conducting a concrete X-ray could be necessary if the slab is especially congested. Other tools might also be necessary to locate PVC pipes, which aren’t always easily detectible by GPR. GPR also struggles to accurately locate items buried in saturated soil or extremely rocky ground, so other tools may need to be brought in to confirm the results of a GPR scan.
The experience of the technician who operates the scanning equipment is also important. Someone could have the best, most expensive GPR equipment available, but if he or she is not highly trained and experienced in its use, they could provide you with inaccurate results. Inaccurate results could lead to disastrous consequences, such as striking a gas line that causes an explosion or severing a post-tension cable that could compromise the structural soundness of a concrete slab. For these reasons, it’s more important to work with a reputable GPR scanning service than an inexpensive service.
