GPRS’s office in Phoenix, AZ. was hired by a local firm to locate utilities throughout the Angels spring training facility, which is located in Tempe.  This facility is looking to install signs throughout the main parking lot of the facility.  GPRS was able to utilize a couple methods to locate all of these utilities.  We first use your traditional locating wand with a transmitter to direct connect to utilities emerging from the ground to transmit a signal along the pipe and trace it out to its entirety.  This method allows us to locate any utility that that we can physically see emerging from the ground.  Once that is completed, we then use a 400 MHz GSSI antenna to locate any unknown piping that is underground that we can’t physically see emerging from the ground (this RD utility locator in the picture above).  This equipment is very helpful to double check the area to make sure you are locating everything on your site. It was important in finding the lighting conduits, to avoid any potential hazard to personnel.

Along with marking all findings on the ground with either pin flags or paint, GPRS also offers a service of collecting all the findings with a GPS and putting it into a google earth overlay or CAD for future reference. We can typically have the google earth overlay to the customer in 3 to 4 business days.

At a warehouse located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a Contractor contacted GPRS to conduct ground penetrating radar scans of the warehouse floor to ensure the concrete depth was sufficient in areas where heavy loads of copper piping were located. As scans were performed, the depth of the concrete was written on the surface in marking paint so the client could review all of the findings. GPRS was able to perform the scans in a timely manner and found multiple locations where the concrete was less than sufficient.

GPRS was contacted by an environmental firm to clear several areas prior to drilling for soil sampling. GPRS was able to locate crucial lines including an unmapped sewer line heading directly toward one of the areas they were going to be drilling.

“Time is a primary currency traded on any given construction project. At Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, our everyday efficiency in operations allows us to respond to the immediate needs of our customers, often within 24 hours or less.” (gprsinc.com)

Scan before you plan! This ensures worker safety and saves valuable time by targeting specific areas of concern. GPRS can also provide GPS reports overlaid on Google Earth or overlay information on pre-existing CAD files for future building plans. This is all done in a safe, time efficient, non-destructive manner.

GPRS assists by giving a real-time depth view of subsurface hazards such as reinforcing, utilities, conduit, underground storage tanks, voids, etc. This reduces the likelihood of subsurface obstruction strikes during core drilling, saw cutting, trenching, soil boring, directional drilling, anchoring, and other sub-surface applications.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems uses the GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.) Sir-4000 technology in locating. GPRS also uses the RD-8100 Locator to locate live power and radio frequency (RF) signals underground. We can also detect utilities in or under concrete via induction or conduction with an exposed or known surface utility line.

For questions or quotes on any subsurface locating in the Midwest with fast response times and easy scheduling, please contact:

Zack Walter 
Project Manager – Midwest Division
Zack.Walter@gprsinc.com
Direct: 224-563-4445

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a communications company to clear a long directional boring of all utilities for approximately 1,872 feet.  The contractor had many issues in the past with striking underground utilities with the directional boring and was required to use a company to clear the directional boring path for all future projects prior to drilling.  The contractor was drilling to put in fiber optics throughout the entire apartment complex in Dallas, TX.  This created many issues because of the site’s age.  The apartment complex was so old that many lines have been tampered with, redirected, or abandoned.  This created difficult site conditions for the locators on site and added difficulty to the drilling process by raising the risk of hitting old lines that could have been overlooked since they may be dead or no longer in use.  Ground Penetrating Radar was able to come out within 48 hours and successfully located all critical lines prior to the drilling process.  This gave the contractor a successful project creating more work for both parties in the near future. 

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems used a 400 MHz antenna for this application and a Radio Detection (RD) device to detect electrical current deep in the soil.  All findings were marked with SUE marking paint directly on the surface for easy interpretation by the customer.  GPRS’ 400 MHz antenna was ideal because of its accurate, deep penetration and the open, clear area the technician had to work.  GPR was ideal for this application due to the active work site in the surrounding areas.  GPR emits no radiation and is safe for others to work in the area near the scan location.