GPR

Non-destructive Testing Using GPR

GPR, which stands for Ground Penetrating Radar, is a system that works by "seeing" what is below the surface using an antenna. The quality, durability, and safety of bridges, buildings, and highways is often ensured by the services provided by Ground Penetrating Radar Systems. GPR is innovative because it provides a definitive explanation to questions that otherwise had no easy way of determining the answer.

There are other methods of locating subsurface utilities, but nothing that is as cost effective or as convenient as GPR. A Ground Penetrating Radar survey can be conducted in an occupied building without disturbing any residents. On large surveys, several thousand square feet can be scanned in one day.

What Has Ground Penetrating Radar Changed?

X-rays have been used in the past, and are still used to a degree, for imaging structural elements within concrete slabs. The main disadvantage of using X-rays is the cost of having to pay per image. If it takes five or six pictures to find a clear area to drill, which is common, the customer would have to pay for each image.

Obviously, this is not the most cost-effective way to locate subsurface utilities. By using the radar, the antenna, is simply moved along the surface until a clear area is found. This process takes no more than a few minutes, which saves on time and therefore on money. Radar frequencies are low enough that they can be used next to sensitive equipment without any disturbance whatsoever.