Past Project Archive

GPRS Locates Underground Using Video Pipe Inspection, North Carolina

GPRS has recently been able to expand our services outside of using GPR. Recently, GPRS has invested into the VPI (video pipe inspection) sector for utilities. The image below shows a large sink hole that formed on the property in Charlotte, North Carolina from a recent issue with a storm drain. The customer was not able to identify the issue from visual clues in the area. GPRS was called out to the site to do an in depth investigation of the project, using non-destructive testing methods. With VPI, we have multiple cameras we can use depending on the specific application. Robotic crawlers are used for larger pipes over 6” in diameter. The remote control crawler camera can travel up to 1000’ from an access point. In this application, this is the service that we were able to provide to the customer. Once GPRS was able to gain access to a local storm drain, we were able to traverse the pipe and identify the location where the pipe was defective and had failed. Another request of...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Systems - GPRS - of Greensboro/ Winston Salem area North Carolina was contacted by a general contractor to locate all reinforcement, beams, and conduits within an elevated concrete slab in order to core drill for electrical boxes for tables and desks within a building in Downtown Winston Salem. The general contractor needed to avoid all reinforcement, as requested by the project engineer. They also wanted to avoid all conduits to ensure safe drilling. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to scan larger areas so that the contractor would have options on hole placement. Also, our findings are marked in real time so that the contractor could work directly with GPRS to solve problems and move the cores to clear locations. GPR found the slab to be approximately 5” thick waffle slab with old walker duct for conduits in the slab. When scanning, we were able to mark out the reinforcement; , we found reinforcement in both directions between 2.5’-3” deep. We also found and marked out the beams or ribs in both directions for the client to avoid. GPRS was...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Systems - GPRS - of Charlotte, North Carolina was contracted by a plumbing contractor to locate all reinforcement, post tension, and conduits within a concrete slab in order to advance a core for a plumbing pipe. The subcontractor needed to avoid all post tension, rebar, and conduits as requested by the general contractor and project engineer. Ground penetrating radar was used to scan larger areas so that the contractor would have options on placement. Unfortunately, the client was unable to drill the wall as they wanted to due to post tension being present. We were able to communicate with the client that they were dealing with a 2-way post tension slab approximately 12” thick. We informed the client there was a bottom layer of reinforcement, usually rebar, at about 10”. The closest banded post tension bundle was about 8’ away but we were able to confirm where it was to ensure safe drilling. We were also able to confirm the uniform cables and the pattern of a cable every 30”. We did not find any conduits in this particular area. All the...

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The Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC team in Raleigh, NC was called to locate and mark out the post tension cables and conduits on the rooftop of a building in Durham, NC. The GPRS team was able to find all of the critical items in the concrete and mark them directly on the surface with the approximate depth and location in real-time. At this particular project the superintendent was in a time crunch, and needed us on site the following day. We were able to complete the request the next day with the core drillers right behind us. The entire area of concern was approximately 1400 square feet. With two project managers, we were able to complete the entire area in one full eight-hour day. We have multiple project managers in each market to make sure that your requests can be completed in a timelier fashion. With our rapid response, we are typically able to accommodate your request within 24-48 hours. We understand that time is money, and the last thing we would want is for us to hold you up on your project.

Every one of our project managers...

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The days of “let’s dig it up and repair what we damage” are over. When I first dove into this industry ten years ago I heard this phrase all too often. We would arrive on site to assist in locating the unknown subsurface obstacles the contractor would encounter during their excavation that day while the crew on site is chomping at the bit to shove that bucket into the ground. This typically is the beginning of a great relationship because we are just as excited as the contractor is to start digging, I was just as excited to find all of the utilities including the ones no one was aware of. For this particular project, we were to scan roughly 317 linear feet of a future trench in Raleigh, NC. The contractor was going to trench three and a half feet down. The contractor had the potential trench already mapped out with white spray paint prior to our arrival, which was extremely helpful and increased the communication prior to the project being completed. What is crazy is, in the event that they would have started to trench “blind”, they would have shredded through two main...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Solutions - GPRS - of Asheville, North Carolina was contacted by an environmental consultant to locate any Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and utilities on the front side of an auto repair in Asheville, NC. The client was planning on removing the possible USTs and any piping from the historic filling station expected per the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. An approximately 50 foot x 50 foot area was scanned and findings were marked with spray paint to allow the consultant to plan their excavation and avoid utilities. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was able to find 3 likely USTs about 2 feet deep and associated piping leading to a possible pump island. The information we were able to supply to the client on site was extremely valuable. GPRS was able to mark its findings in real time so that the consultant and excavator could work directly with GPRS to solve problems and plan their excavation. The consultant was able to remove the USTs and gain the necessary info to further their investigation thanks to GPRS.

Photo of GPR findings near 3 possible...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Solutions - GPRS - of South Carolina was contacted by a general contractor to locate any utilities within 10’ of a refreshment stand at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park. The client was updating and running new conduit to a few of the refreshment stands and needed all of the utilities marked out prior to trenching. A 10’ area around each stand was marked out and painted on the surface to assure safe digging and a safe project. We used Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and EM pipe locator to locate multiple electrical feeds, water line, and communication lines in the area. It is important to call GPRS to get any private utilities located to assure a safe project and to avoid any unnecessary costs or down time. GPRS has a greater than 99% accuracy rate around the country and prides itself in keeping projects running smoothly and safely. GPRS is able to mark any findings in real time so that the general contractor can work directly with GPRS to solve problems and investigate additional areas if needed. This project was completed with no issues and no...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina had the opportunity to team up with a very reputable general contractor to scan the concrete slab of a parking structure across the street from Bank of America Stadium. The client needed to know what lay beneath the concrete surface, whether it was rebar, post tension cables, or conduits. They were hired to build and add more support to the parking structure. The SIM 101 certified project manager was able to identify all of the critical targets inside the concrete beams and concerned areas on the elevated concrete slab. It was important for the contractor to be able to drill cores without striking those targets. Every construction project is different in its own way. There are many different types of concrete structures that have their own unique targets that cannot be struck, but they all have something in common in that the unknowns cannot be struck during drilling or saw cutting.

Having a method or procedure in place that limits your exposure and controls risk is a valuable asset. Having the...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on site at a new multifamily complex in Raleigh, North Carolina to help identify the location of post tension cables in the concrete slab. This application was to scan the slab on grade where the general contractor had used post tension cables. During the final phases of the project, GPRS was able to help identify the location of the cables using GPR. The images below will give you an idea of how we can help identify those unknowns in the slab. For this application, the customer was planning on anchoring fitness equipment and did not want to have a line strike on the cables throughout the slab.

We used a GSSI Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 1600 MHz antenna along with Radio Detection to help identify any potential live conduits that were in the slab. This antenna is useful in many different applications. This specific concrete application was on a slab that was ~6” thick with post tension cables and conduits present in the slab....

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Ground Penetrating Radar Solutions - GPRS - of Charlotte, North Carolina was contracted by a general contractor to locate all reinforcement, post tension, and conduits within a concrete slab in order to anchor a trash compactor into the slab. The general contractor needed to avoid all reinforcement as requested by the project engineer. They also wanted to avoid all conduits and post tension to ensure safe drilling. Ground penetrating radar was used to scan larger areas so that the contractor would have options on placement. We were able to tell the client they were dealing with a 2- way post tension slab approximately 12” thick. We informed the client there was a bottom layer of reinforcement, usually rebar, at about 10”, and a banded post tension bundle, near the wall, that we advised the client not to drill any anchor near. There were also uniform post tension cables every 24”-36” in the other direction. We were also able to identify 2 conduits in the area. All the findings were marked on the slab and depths were provided if they were within 5” (max embedment depth)....

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Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on site at a train terminal in Charlotte, NC to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was to determine the location of any possible utilities prior to removal of Asphalt for repair.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 400 MHz antenna. This antenna is beneficial when locating Utilities, UST, and other various anomalies below grade level.

Curtis Hoag

Project Manager | Charlotte, NC

704-582-3219

curtis.hoag@gprsinc.com

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GPRS was called out to a local power plant in Charlotte that dates back to the late 1920s. The purpose for our trip was to locate the underground utilities around the building and the railroad tracks leading to it. We used the 400 MHz antenna along with the RD 7000 to do so. After the survey the client was able to safely move forward with updating the railroad tracks and other construction around the site.

For a quote or to make an appointment for your next project, please call Project Manager Daniel Starnes of our Charlotte, NC office at (704) 497-8582

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GPRS LLC. was called to this plant to locate and map out the reinforcement in the slab to insure that it was sufficient to support the equipment pictured. We used the GSSI 1600 MHz antenna paired with the SIR-3000 to do so. In our findings we did see that there was a completely different rebar layout and footing system under the equipment separate from the surrounding area. These findings showed the customer that the structure of the floor had plenty of support for the equipment.

For a quote or to make an appointment for your next project, please call Project Manager Daniel Starnes of our Charlotte, NC office at (704) 497-8582.

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Prior to digging, trenching, and excavating, it is essential to know where underground utility lines are running. In August 2015, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Raleigh was locating a power line before trenching was preformed.

GPR is a great tool to locate underground utility lines including electrical and telecommunications conduits, water and irrigation lines, sewers, and other obstructions. GPRS technicians can help you locate underground utilities on your job site, keeping you and your crews safe and productive while safeguarding the assets of your customers.

Mitch White is the GPRS contact based in Raleigh, North Carolina and he can be reached at (919) 671 9476 or by email at Mitch.white@gp-radar.com

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On July 19th 2015 Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on an undisclosed site in North Carolina to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was to identify any possible utilities in the designated area’s prior to doing any excavating for trenching purposes. During this process we were able to mark out power, and data lines in the areas where they had planned on digging. This helped the customer tremendously saving them valuable time and money down the road.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 1600 MHz antenna. This antenna is beneficial when locating rebar, PT cables, conduit and other anomalies that may be present in the slab.

Curtis Hoag

Regional Manager | Charlotte, NC

704-582-3219

curtis.hoag@gprsinc.com

www.gp-radar.com

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On July 3, 2015 Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on site at the Duke Energy Facility in Charlotte, NC to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was to determine the location of all reinforcing steel in slab, along with any possible conduits in slab. This was very beneficial for the customer prior to core drilling so they did not strike any reinforcement or possible conduits in the slab. We were also able to mark out the existing beam locations in the slab as well.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 1600 MHz antenna. This antenna is beneficial when locating conduits or utilities in or just below the concrete slab.

Curtis Hoag

Regional Manager | Charlotte, NC

704-582-3219

curtis.hoag@gprsinc.com

www.gp-radar.com

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Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on an undisclosed site in North Carolina to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was to identify any possible utilities in the designated area’s prior to doing any excavating for trenching purposes. During this process we were able to mark out power, and data lines in the areas where they had planned on digging. This helped the customer tremendously saving them valuable time and money down the road.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 400 MHz antenna along with radio detection.

Curtis Hoag

Regional Manager | Charlotte, NC

704-582-3219

curtis.hoag@gprsinc.com

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Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on site at a cell phone tower site in Charlotte, NC to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was to help determine the location of any possible utilities in the designated area prior to drilling. This was beneficial for the customer prior to drilling so they did not strike utilities in the ground during the drilling process.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 400 MHz antenna along with radio detection to help identify utilities.

Curtis Hoag

Regional Manager | Charlotte, NC

704-582-3219

curtis.hoag@gprsinc.com

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Recently Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was to locate any existing utilities that were present in the designated path for trenching and doing a directional bore for a new utility being installed. Once the utilities in the path were identified they were marked directly on the surface. After all anomalies were located, GPRS logged the coordinates of the utilities using a Trimble GPS unit and overlaid the findings onto an existing CAD file for the customer to have as a permanent record.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC.) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 400 MHz antenna along with Radio Detection.

With the use of this equipment and the experience of GPR, we were able to help the customer avoid any conflict before trenching and boring through subsurface utilities.

Curtis Hoag Regional Manager | Charlotte, NC 704-582-3219

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. 7450 New West Rd. Toledo,...

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Recently, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was to locate any existing utilities that may be present in the designated area. As a supplement to GPR, we also used radio detection to help identify live power, communication and other utilities that may have a power signal on them. Once the utilities in the path were identified they were marked directly on the surface so the customer will know where the utilities are. After all the utilities were located on this project, the customer brought in a drilling rig to take some soil samples of the ground. Because GPRS was onsite to help identify any anomalies that may be present, the customer was able to drill on the site without striking and existing utilities that may be present.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC.) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 400 MHz antenna along with Radio Detection. This antenna in NC / SC ranges in depths of up to 6’. When scanning...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested on to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan. The purpose of this scan was help identify the location of any existing conduits in the slab prior to saw cutting the concrete slab with a saw. The customer stated that they knew existing conduits may have been in the area because they had already saw cut some of the concrete before having it scanned and hit a price of conduit that resulted in loss of power in the complex. They figured it may be a good idea to have the concrete scanned just in case more conduits were present. As you can see, once I arrived onsite I was able to scan the concrete in the area where they had planned on cutting the rest of the concrete and revealed multiple conduits that were right in the path of the saw cutting they were planning to do.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC.) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. The antenna used on this project was a 1600 MHz antenna along with Radio Detection. This antenna is useful in many different applications. This...

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Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was requested to perform a utility scan at a job site in Charlotte, NC. The purpose of this scan was to locate all of the utility lines at the job site so that the contractor could perform a directional bore before installing a new utility line. Although they were aware that there were several utility lines at the site, the contractor was unsure on the exact location of these lines, and therefore, to avoid any costly and/or dangerous mistakes, the contractor decided to call GPRS prior to getting started with this project.

For this project, we scanned the area with both a 400 MHz GPR antenna, Radio Detection device. After scanning the area with GPR, by using Radio Detection (RD), we were able to locate several live power lines and RF signals that were underground. Due to the fact that Radio Detection can be used to locate electrical and telephone lines when they are below the minimum size requirements to be located with GPR, we often use a combination of both GPR and Radio Detection technologies to perform a utility scan.

After...

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GPRS was conducted by a large engineering firm to locate underground utilities prior to trenching at a Liquid Natural Gas plant. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. used a 400 MHz GPR antenna to perform the survey. The findings were marked directly on the surface with spray paint as seen in the picture above. This enabled the contractor the confidence and knowledge to continue with their excavation.

We use the latest ground penetrating technology to provide critical information on utilities, materials, and other potential obstructions within existing structures or underground. Utilizing GPR reduces risk and cost, promotes a safe work environment, and provides non-destructive testing by locating materials such as concrete, plastic, metal, steel, rock, soil, ice, and pavement. Our client base includes hospitals, universities, surveyors, engineers, homeowners, contractors, environmentalists, and excavators.

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Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was hired to perform a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey at a private residence near Charlotte, NC. The purpose of this survey was help identify the location of any utilities or anomalies on site prior to trenching in a new path for a gas line. The customer had mentioned that they were not sure of any other utilities in the area, except for the existing gas line. GPRS was able to identify the location of the existing gas line, however we also were able to identify multiple utilities in the area. All the utilities that were located with GPR were able to be identified with the depth of the anomalies for the customer prior to trenching. This was a huge asset and was able to save the customer valuable time and help prevent any possible damage to unknown utilities.

We used a GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, LLC) Ground Penetrating Radar Unit with one specific antenna. This device transmits an electromagnetic pulse through the ground and displays the reflection on a screen for interpretation. The 400 MHz antenna was used on this...

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The pictures you see below are from a local attraction in Orlando, FL. The demolition contractor was removing a curb when they unknowingly broke a main feed line for the sprinkler system. This would normally not have been something difficult to remedy. However, they did not know where the shut-off valve was for the system. With this problem hundreds of gallons of water were wasted and the ground will have to be repaired prior to work continuing.

This is not an uncommon issue on job sites today. To cut cost contractors are performing site work, demolition and excavation without having a proper utility locate performed. Most argue that it is a private property and therefore the local “one-call” services will not perform the scan. This, however, is where Ground Penetrating Radar Systems really shines. We work in all conditions providing one of the most comprehensive and accurate utility locates available.

We can ensure you that your project will be safe and more cost effective before you start digging or excavating....

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