Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Private Utility Location Services

PM Environmental, Inc. owns and operates the latest Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Unit equipped with a 400 MHz antenna and a powerful datalogger/software package that detects and maps utility pipes, shallow engineering structures, and performs numerous environmental applications. PM Environmental, Inc.’s staff has received extensive training in the use of this equipment.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) services include:

Utility Detection and Mapping

  • Knowledge of existing utility location prior to subsurface work is essential in avoiding costly mistakes. Utilities that are made of metal, PVC, or any other material that has different dielectric constants than the surrounding subsurface soils or rocks can easily be located.

Environmental Assessments

  • Underground Storage Tanks (USTs), drums, hoist reservoirs can be located with the use of GPR to help pinpoint sources of contamination and aid in site remediation.

Concrete Inspection and Rebar Evaluation

  • Post tension cable and conduits can be located within concrete prior to drilling or coring.

Bridge Inspection

  • Concrete and asphalt thickness, rebar locations, and areas of deterioration can be determined to troubleshoot bridge failure or part of routine maintenance.

Archaeology/Law Enforcement/Forensics

  • Information from non-destructive GPR surveys can identify and delineate excavation limits.

GPR Data Collection

PM Environmental, Inc.’s GPR unit provides supreme image clarity, portable field-ready rugged construction that allows for real time, in-situ interpretation in both two and three dimensions. PM Environmental typically utilizes a 400MHz antennae that is best suited for detection and mapping of utility pipes as well as shallow (0-12.0 feet) engineering and environmental applications. Other antennas are available from 1.6GHz (0-18 inches) used to determine targets within concrete to 200 MHz (0-30.0 feet) used for geotechnical and archaeological applications.

GPR Post Data Processing

PM Environmental, Inc's utilizes Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI) RADAN 6.6 software, which allows for target specific applications. RADAN allow the GPR data to be filtered, viewed, and manipulated in multiple interactive 2D and 3D views.

Please call PM Environmental to determine whether Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can save you time, money, and liability on your next project.

 

What is Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)?

You may have seen Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) used on your favorite crime drama television series or read about GPR in a true crime narrative, but what really is GPR?  GPR is a geophysical method that uses the latest radar technology to image the subsurface.  Or more simply stated, GPR is like “ultra sound for the ground”.  While GPR can be used to detect shallow graves, it is most commonly used in the environmental and engineering field as a non-destructive method using electromagnetic radiation (less than today’s mobile telephones).  GPR can be used in a variety of media including soil, rock, concrete ice and other structures. It can detect objects of all composition (not just limited to metallic objects), changes in material, voids and cracks.

Please call PM Environmental to determine whether Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can save you time, money, and liability on your next project.

 

 

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