We recently received the opportunity to work for a customer who historically has relied primarily on classic X-ray technology rather than ground penetrating radar (“GPR”). They split their project between X-ray and GPR scan areas. By the time we finished the project, the PM contact encouraged us by telling us that they were very impressed with our results and that we would receive a lot more business from them in the future.

Here, I...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a construction contractor in Dallas, Texas to locate underground utilities prior to client directional boring new electric lines for site lighting. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Dallas, Texas was able to identify and locate numerous underground utilities including fire waterlines, communication lines, electric lines, sanitary sewer lines, gas lines, and unknown lines in the ground and...

We recently scanned a large portion of a hospital in the DFW area. The scan encompassed about 15 acres and the customer requested that GPRS mark out the locations of all utilities on site as shown above. When we approach a large project like this, we use a tested GPR methodology to ensure that the scan is comprehensive. SIM (Subsurface Investigation Methodology) includes the following steps: To begin, we search the site for visible signs of...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a special services contractor in the Houston Metro area to conduct a private utility scan in an area of concern at a local ExxonMobil facility. The contractor needed to excavate around some existing water valves for some underground maintenance on the water lines coming from these valves. Part of the facilities ground disturbance regulations...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a construction contractor in Dallas, Texas to locate post-tension cables, rebar, beams, and electrical conduits in a concrete slab at one of their projects prior to drilling, anchoring and coring into the concrete slab. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Dallas, Texas was able to identify and locate the post-tension cables, rebar, beams, and electrical conduits in the concrete slab and mark...

We were recently asked to locate utilities in an area that had previously been located. The customer was aware of a few utilities, and plans showed their basic layout, but their exact locations and depths were needed. Based upon the customers understanding that not many utilities were to be found within the scan area, we scheduled the work for two hours of scanning.

Previously...

Hospital jobs tend to be relatively difficult and high-stakes. Hospitals are large buildings, and they are often irregularly shaped, which means they have unusual configurations of reinforcing steel in their slabs. This makes concrete scanning more challenging than in a typical rectangular structure. Additionally, hospitals have critical utilities that can literally make the difference...

CLIENT PROBLEM

Client was in the process of installing bollards in a parking garage on the University of Texas campus. The bollards required to be bolted into the concrete with a penetration of three inches with a total of twenty-four penetrations. GPRS of Austin, Texas was contacted by a contractor to locate reinforcement within the concrete slab at the proposed site of the bollards. The client was looking to drill...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a construction contractor in Dallas, Texas to locate post-tension cables, rebar, and electrical conduits in a concrete foundation beam at one of their projects prior to drilling, anchoring and coring into the concrete slab. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Dallas, Texas was able to identify and locate the post-tension cables, rebar, and...

Prior to drilling and installing over 100 anchor and concrete core locations for new plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, a local general contractor subcontracted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC to scan and locate post tensioned cables throughout the entire store. The contractor knew that the concrete slab on the floor and ceiling contained post tensioned cables and wanted to avoid...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a construction contractor in Dallas, Texas to locate post-tension cables, rebar, and electrical conduits in a concrete parking structure slab at one of their projects prior to drilling, anchoring and coring into the concrete slab. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Dallas, Texas was able to identify and locate the post-tension cables, rebar, and electrical conduits in the concrete slab and...

We often get asked whether we went to school to learn GPR/ utility locating. Our technology and industry remain somewhat novel to most casual observers, who want to know what it takes to become an expert in GPR. The answer to the school question is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’.

No, the utility locating industry is not large enough to warrant degree programs. But, yes, GPRS has a world-class...

Prior to excavating and trenching for over 100 wind turbine foundations, 17 miles of access roads and 51 miles of collection lines, a major wind energy contractor subcontracted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC to locate active and abandoned underground utilities throughout the entire project area. The contractor knew of multiple oil and gas pipelines running throughout the project and needed GPRS to confirm the known utilities and...

It has been a busy and cold winter, and we have encountered a few recent challenges, which we have taken as opportunities to go above and beyond for our customers. Sometimes challenges are really just opportunities in disguise—opportunities to grow, to serve others, to innovate. Here are a few recent challenges (opportunities) that our team has encountered.

The Henry B Gonzales convention center in San Antonio is undergoing multiple facility renovations. The contractor’s main concern was to protect the existing infrastructure during excavation. French drains are perforated PVC pipes the typically installed on top of the clay layer of soil underground to insure the proper movement of groundwater, thus preventing standing water and over watering to occur. Trough drains are a linear floor drain...

Prior to excavating and trenching for new electrical and communication conduit install, a local electrical contractor subcontracted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC to locate possible utility lines in select areas throughout the property. The contractor noticed multiple electrical conduits running into the ground near the area they were about to dig and needed to safely clear the area of underground utilities. After a quick internet...

GPRS recently did three jobs at the DFW International Airport. These jobs were back to back to back for different contractors. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems scanned for utilities around an underground storage tank (UST), as well as for the tank piping, then later scanned a concrete foundation to mark out footers and steel, and finally scanning for utilities in the large open area pictured above where peers will be driven 30 feet into the...

The client was contracted to install bollards in a parking garage on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Twenty-four bollards were to be installed and secured to the concrete with three-inch long concrete anchors. GPRS of Austin, Texas was hired by the client to scan and locate reinforcement within the concrete slab in the proposed bollard locations. The purpose of the scan was to identify and mark the existing post tensioned...

We have recently received an influx of major utility locate requests in Dallas, TX. Many of these have been for telecommunications companies doing directional bores to install new fiber optic cables. Others have been in the energy industry, providing utility locates at solar farms or oil refineries. Still others have been for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors installing new utilities.

Whether we get a call from a customer...

Prior to drilling and hand augering operations for environmental sampling and monitoring well installs, a local environmental agency subcontracted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC to locate possible utility lines in select areas throughout the property. Above-ground gas markers indicated the presence of three potential gas lines crossing through a future work area requiring this environmental investigation. With the help from the Ground...

Prior to installing a new 60 mile underground pipeline, an energy company subcontracted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC to locate all existing underground utilities within the proposed trench path. After completion of this project, we were able to provide our client with more than 20 unknown lines crossing pipeline right of way. With the help from the Ground Penetrating Radar Systems team, the subcontractor was able to complete the...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by Austin Commercial to locate post tension cables and nine beams at 2000 Ross Ave Dallas, TX. The contractor needed a core drilled through each of the nine beams. They contacted GPRS to locate post tensions cables due to the holes drilled in the precast not being to right size. They wanted this done so they wouldn’t hit any more post tensions cables.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems used...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by an environmental company to locate underground utilities prior to 4 soil borings that were going to be drilled through a parking lot scoped to have an addition added onto the hospital over the next 9 months. In a parking lot like the one shown to the right, the customer is concerned about striking site lighting, other unknown electrical, water lines, sewer lines, and unknown sprinkler lines....

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contractor to locate the post tension cables and conduit running through a residential slab of concrete. The general contractor was concerned of the safety issues with his contractors hitting an electrical cable or a high tension cable. GPRS was able to come on site within 24 hrs of the requested job and safely locate all of the post tension and conduit running inside the slab of...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. was contacted by a contractor that needed to know the location of utilities prior to trenching earlier this month. The client's primary concern was to determine the location of any utilities or other near-surface items within the excavation area prior to digging so that they can place directional signs. The project consisted of clearing approximately 1000’ of trench line. Utilizing the latest in GPR and...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. was contacted by a contractor that needed to know the location of utilities prior to trenching earlier this month. The client's primary concern was to determine the location of any utilities or other near-surface items within the excavation area prior to digging so that they can place directional signs. The project consisted of clearing approximately 2-500’’ of trench line. Utilizing the latest in GPR...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. was contacted by a construction company that needed to know the location of utilities prior to trenching earlier this month. The client's primary concern was to determine the location of any utilities or other near-surface items within the excavation area prior to digging. They were in the middle of the project and needed to go as soon as possible. The project consisted of clearing approximately 2000’ of...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contractor to locate the post tension cables and conduits running through a commercial slab of concrete. The general contractor was concerned about the safety issues with his contractors hitting an electrical cable or a high tension cable.

There is an excessive amount of tension put on the cables and one strike of the cable could create serious damage to the property and...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by an environmental company to locate possible Underground Storage Tanks (UST’s) prior to seven soil borings that were going to be drilled. The total area that need to be covered was 4.03 acres. The customer also needed Ground Penetrating Radar Systems to clear all seven boring locations of utilities since there were buildings previously on site. In an open field like the one shown below, the...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contractor to locate all underground utilities within a pick up location at a Walmart so they could add an addition to the store. They also needed to move the parking to a different area so GPRS needed to clear all of the locations of the utilities before they excavated the locations to add the additions. In a parking lot like the one shown below, the customer is concerned about...

Inspecting the internal condition of gravity utility pipes is not a new thing in the world of underground utilities. However, it is something that has become increasingly important as many gravity utility infrastructures have become older, and the pipes have been compromised over the years. A problem with a sewer or storm drain pipe can cause major concerns, such as: sink holes, ground water contamination, soil contamination, sewage...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contracting company to locate underground utilities prior to saw cutting a 20’x30’ slab of concrete to repave the parking lot. The customer was hired to put in a dumpster bay in which they need to redo the concrete and they didn’t want to hit any critical utilities while saw cutting to remove the concrete. In a parking lot like the one shown below, the customer is concerned about...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) of the Houston, TX office was called by Lectrus Construction to locate any subsurface utilities prior to installing new solar panel field at the Texas Medical Center. Nate Loyola, technicians on site, used GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) 400 MHz antenna to locate and mark out the potential subsurface utilities such as storm drains, energized lines, natural gas lines and other telecom and fiber optics...

Renovating a bathroom can be a headache, especially if you’re trying to cut a hole in order to move a drain and you end up severing a water line in the process. Austin, Texas area general contractors know how to avoid these types of headaches: they call GPRS. In the right hands, GPR can work wonders; even locating precise locations of water lines, post-tension cables, and grade beams.

To learn how a skilled GPR technician can keep you...

When a plumber was working on a building renovation in Austin, Texas, he determined that the project required the installation of a water line which would pass through a slab of concrete. Knowing the potential risk and costly damage that could result from blindly cutting into a concrete slab, the plumber called Corey Brecht with GPRS of Central Texas to scan the area. Using cutting edge ground penetrating radar technology, Corey was able to...

A general contractor who was working on a hotel project in Austin, Texas asked our central Texas office to locate bundles of PT cables prior to drilling plates for a hand rail installation. The GPRS technician was able to locate the bundles with an accurate depth in a timely manner.

To find out how GPR can help you drill safely, contact Corey Brecht at...

During a utility relocation project in downtown Austin, TX, contractors brought Corey Brecht with GPRS out to the site to help them identify deep utilities such as sewer lines. Previous excavations to install these utilities left behind deviations in the subgrade that were identifiable with GPR. This helped the construction crew identify the precise location of the deep utilities.

To see how GPRS can help you find what’s been buried,...

Prior to drilling holes through a roof deck to install new storm drains, plumbers on site decided to contact GPRS to locate post tension cables first. Central Texas Regional Manager Corey Brecht was able to use non-destructive GPR testing to identify critical reinforcing steel and other obstructions within the concrete so that the plumbers could core through the deck safely.

To find out how GPRS can safely help you find rebar,...

When contractors in El Paso needed to dig a trench to install a new run of utilities, they knew they could possibly damage other buried utilities. For this reason, they contacted GPRS to help them identify any obstructions that might cross their path. After a thorough inspection, GPRS was able to identify a dozen buried obstructions that would likely have been struck by excavators during digging.

A petrochemical facility in Houston, TX called GPRS to locate underground obstructions prior to expanding their rail scale complex. GPRS was able to keep the client safe, and the facility operating without issues by marking out all unknown lines in the ground. As the oil and gas industries expand in the gulf coast region, GPRS can keep your projects safe, and on or ahead of schedule by reducing the risks of line strikes in the ground.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. can identify underground anomalies such as utilities, obstructions, and subsurface voids using non-destructive testing methods. Our technicians have the ability to identify an anomaly’s depth with accuracy of 15% of the depth of the anomaly itself. This is important to note because there are often times when a customer has to excavate to a specific depth in order to install conduits, plumbing, or...

MLA Labs in Austin, Texas has a project where they need to establish an understanding of the soils for a new apartment/condo complex . Part of this is performing soil borings to determine the geology at the site. The drilling required them to clear the areas of any underground obstructions, utilities, and anomalies. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems technician, Austin/Houston Project Manager Jacob Blust, was called out to perform an...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) of the Houston, Texas office was called by a local contractor to locate electric lines in order to avoid damaging conduits or risking the safety of their employees. The contractor was planning to remove the existing pavement, excavate three feet down, and stabilize the subgrade prior to laying new pavement. Allyn Hirsch, technician on site, used GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) penetrating about four feet...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) of the College Station, Texas office was called by CLR Construction to perform a concrete analysis marking out clear locations to core and drill at the TAMU parking garage. Nate Loyola, technician on site, used GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) 1600 MHz antenna penetrating through the elevated slabs marking out the rebar, post tension and possible conduits. GPR is the safest, most accurate method for...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a landscaping contractor to scan several acres of a former explosives factory for utility lines. The contractor was planning to plant several large trees, and to rerun an irrgation line, however, because the new property owner did not have any records on the location of the utility lines, they decided to call GPRS to scan the area before the project got underway.

After we arrived to the...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems works extensively with refineries. Prior to digging up old underground utilities, Brandon Campos was contacted to locate underground utilities within the proposed excavation path in San Antonio, Texas. Multiple lines were located using Ground Penetrating Radar and the Radio Detection Device. Since GPR shows data in real time, the results were communicated to the customer with the location and depths shown...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) of the College Station, TX office was called by AEI Consultants to locate any subsurface utilities and possible UST’s prior to soil sampling in Bryan, Texas. Nate Loyola, technician on site, used GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) 400 MHz antenna to locate and mark out the potential utilities such as UST’s, storm drains, energized lines, natural gas lines and other telecom and fiber optics. He also used the...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contractor to perform a concrete scan at an commercial office building. The contractor needed all of the reinforcement, beams, and conduit located and marked onto the surface of the slab. The lead general contractor was concerned of the safety issues with his contractors hitting electrical lines, or compromising the structural integrity of the building by accidentally coring through...

This GPR scan took place on the outside face of a concrete beam in a building in downtown Dallas, Texas. The customer needed to recess the end plates after shaving a couple inches off the face of the beam in order to install the glazing correctly. Drilling into the beam to install anchors was required, and the beam is reinforced with post tensioned (PT) cables, which can cause serious injury or damage if struck in the event of a failure. The...

This winter, the engineering department at Gerdau in Beaumont, Texas had GPRS perform a utility locate along a new pipe-rack pathway. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) was there to conduct the utility locate to mark all known and unknown gas pipelines, power, communications lines, storm drain lines, water, sanitary sewer lines, and any other anomalies that may have been in the way of the foundation piers along the pipe-rack pathway. For...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. can identify underground anomalies such as utilities, obstructions, and subsurface voids using non-destructive testing methods. Our technicians have the ability to identify an anomaly’s depth with accuracy of 15% of the depth of the anomaly itself. This is important to note because there are often times when a customer has to excavate to a specific depth in order to install conduits, plumbing, or...

A metal fabrication shop in Abilene, TX was scheduled to install an additional rotating table, which would be anchored to the ground below the concrete slab. This installation process would require the contractor to saw cut the slab and drill roughly three feet down to secure the anchors. This area was thought to contain a sanitary sewer and possible conduits running through or below the slab. Prior to excavation, David Hagenmayer with Ground...

A large general contractor in the Houston area contacted GPRS to areas in a high-rise residential building to scan multiple core locations, marking out post-tension, and all other reinforcement/ obstructions in the slab before coring. GPRS was able to mark out all the reinforcement in the 8” slab, including rebar, post tension, conduits, and lower mats of rebar. We used multiple colors to better distinguish between the higher and lower...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) of the Houston, TX office was called by a large plumbing company scanning for rebar/post tension cables prior to coring for new sleeves. Nate Loyola, technician on site, used GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) penetrating through the elevated deck mapping the reinforcement in black and red crayons. Concrete scanning allows the general contractor and plumbers to know where the steel is inside the slab prior...

A large general contractor in the Houston area contacted GPRS to areas in a high-rise residential building to scan multiple core locations, marking out post-tension, and all other reinforcement/obstructions in the slab before coring. GPRS was able to mark out all the reinforcement in the 8” slab, including rebar, post tension, conduits, and lower mats of rebar. We used multiple colors to better distinguish between the higher and lower...

A large national signage company contacted GPRS to perform some concrete scanning at the rental vehicle complex at Bush Intercontinental Airport after a competitor had incorrectly scanned the wrong areas. GPRS was able to correctly determine the appropriate areas to scan and mark out all the post tension and other reinforcement in the slab prior to core drilling and installing of anchor bolts. GPRS used a black crayon to mark the...

Prior to saw cutting for a new trench, an electrical contractor contacted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. Brandon Campos mobilized to the site in San Antonio, Texas to perform a GPR scan within the suggested areas. Due to the portability of the GPR antenna, the radar imaging was performed quickly and accurately. Since the results were marked directly onto the surface, the customer was able to avoid any conduit damage to the structure...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. was contacted to clear several planned interior and exterior soil borings inside of a race facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The firm the facility hired was tasked with drilling said borings and examining the soil samples taken to look for contamination. As numerous hydraulic lifts and several oil and gas features were located on site, borings were needed near each feature to check for the...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) of the Houston, Texas office was called to locate underground utilities and obstructions prior to trenching a new communication line into the building. Mitch Halquist, GPRS technician on site, used GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) 400 MHz antenna & RadioDetection to locate and mark out the underground utilities. In this photo, GPR/RD located several high voltage transmission lines as well the existing...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems-Texas was contacted by the San Antonio Police Homicide Unit to help investigate a murder case. Brandon Campos mobilized to the site and provided knowledge of possible soil disturbances and depths. After GPRS’s process was complete, GPR was able to locate soil disturbances within the proposed investigation area. The findings were marked directly onto the surface and the customer was able to dig safely. Using...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contractor in Dallas, Texas to locate any underground utility lines that would obstruct a trench path to put in a new conduit that would be running through a very active job site. The client was extremely concerned of hitting heavy electrical due to the active hospital surrounding the job site that could be shut down if a significant line was struck. The electricians met Ground...

When saw cutting or coring, utilities like electric, water, and gas lines are embedded and/or buried to keep them safe from damage that could occur on the surface by people, equipment, weather, etc. It is extremely important that when saw cutting or coring near these buried utilities, that one takes great care in ensuring these utilities remain safe from damage. This is why contractors in North Texas tasked GPRS with tracing electrical lines...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contractor to locate the conduits running through a commercial slab of concrete and make sure there were no post tension cables running in the slab inside a hospital in Longview, Texas. The GC was concerned of the safety issues with his contractors hitting an electrical conduit while saw cutting the hundreds of feet to trench in the new piping for the new kitchen. It was crucial that...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. (GPRS) was contacted by Medco Construction to survey proposed excavation locations prior to construction. While on site, GPRS was able to identify underground pipes, conduits, waterlines, and provide the customer with the details they needed to proceed safely.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, LLC. provides GPR services nationwide and have main offices throughout the state of Texas and Oklahoma,...

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems was contacted by a general contractor to locate the conduits inside a suspended slab at the Cowboys football stadium in Dallas, Texas. The contractor needed multiple core drills and anchor locations cleared for the ventilation and piping for the new restaurant opening in the stadium. Concerned about hitting a conduit and shutting down sections of the stadium, or the entire stadium itself, the contractor called...

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...