Ground Penetrating Radar Services
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive method that uses radar pulses to identify objects and features located beneath the surface. It can be performed over pavement, grass, stone, concrete, soil, or even ice, making it a versatile tool for subsurface investigations. Objects with a different density than the surrounding material act as reflectors, returning a different signal that allows technicians to identify what may be present below.
In addition to locating buried tanks, pipes, and utility lines, GPR can detect abandoned concrete structures and other potential hazards prior to excavation. It can also reveal changes in material, voids, cracks, and the thickness of walls, floors, slabs, and other layers within concrete and masonry.
This makes GPR especially useful for traditional applications such as locating underground pipes and tanks, identifying voids and sinkholes, and differentiating between materials. GPR can be used on soil, rock, pavement, and concrete, as well as ice, snow, and even water. Beyond mechanical integrity and non-destructive testing, GPR is widely used by archaeologists, law enforcement, the military, and other groups—and has even been used on the moon. Objects placed at regular intervals, such as rebar or concrete piles, are often easier to identify due to their predictable patterns.
Technicians are trained to look for common patterns, and with experience, will come to be able to quickly identify them. They can compare the location, shape, and length of the image to what is expected to be there, allowing them to develop an idea of what may have happened in the area.
At Encorus, we have used our GPR unit in traditional examinations, such as locating rebar within a concrete slab, pipes beneath a foundation, and utility lines underground. We have also been able to use it for some non-traditional projects, including locating a time capsule sealed within a building’s wall.
If you have any questions, or would like a quote on GPR or any other mechanical integrity services, call Keith Taylor, Director of Mechanical Integrity Services at 716.592.3980 ext. 143, or email him at ktaylor@encorus.com.
