Author Archives: Utility Survey

How Does GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) Work

So, How does GPR work? In layman’s terms, GPR works on the same principle as sonar or aerial radar (what the police use).  A radar wave is pulsed into the substrate (ground, concrete, etc.) at a certain frequency. Then, over … Continue reading

Posted in Utility Locating/GPR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Choosing a Private Utility Locate Company

It happens to almost every contractor at one time or another; he/she makes a call to the public one-call service, assuming that’s all they will need, and then seeing the majority of the one-call marks terminating at the edge of … Continue reading

Posted in Utility Locating/GPR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Site Investigation and Problem Solving with Utility Location Services

Problem solving doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with the average utility location service. Utility locating can have more applications then just protecting utilities from damage. Often, utility location can be done for purely investigative purposes alone. It’s important for any private … Continue reading

Posted in Utility Locating/GPR | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Electromagnetic Induction (EM) and Environmental Site Investigation

2000 Hz Inphase One of the best uses for electromagnetic induction (EM) is Environmental site investigation. In this post, an environmental site investigation was requested on a former 1950′s era military facility. This site is now recreational fields for a … Continue reading

Posted in Profiling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Environmental and Geological Assessments Using the GSSI EMP-400 Electromagnetic Profiler

The Profiler EMP-400 is a frequency domain, electromagnetic profiling system. It’s an extremely flexible induction tool because it allows the operator to select multiple frequencies for surveying. By acquiring multiple frequencies, the user can select the frequencies that provide the … Continue reading

Posted in Profiling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is the Water Main Leaking?

It’s a difficult thing to be a Town Water Supervisor under the stress of investigating a possible leak problem. Small to mid-sized water companies can be devastated by a single, large main break that refuses to show itself or a … Continue reading

Posted in Leak Detection | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ground Penetrating Radar Antenna Selection and Techniques for Determining Concrete Slab Thickness

Selecting the proper GPR antenna frequency is critical when scanning concrete. Resolution levels can make a difference between useful information to a client  and inconclusive data.  Utility Survey Technicians carry a range of antenna frequencies which can be switched in … Continue reading

Posted in Concrete Scanning | Leave a comment

The Concrete X Ray vs. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Decision

Concrete x ray vs. GPR As a company that’s been in the utility locate industry for over 20 years, we’ve been asked a number of times whether we “do x-ray” or not. This usually starts a conversation with the prospective … Continue reading

Posted in Concrete Scanning, Utility Locating/GPR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Essentials of a Good Utility Location Survey for Private Utility Locators

A Good Private Utility Location Survey There are many multi-step methods advocated by public one-call companies and experts, and they are all good and useful and can push a “newbie” locating professional in the right direction. But public locators often … Continue reading

Posted in Utility Locating/GPR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Locating Pipes, Conduits and Multiple Targets within AND below Concrete Slab

Is it possible to locate pipes, conduits, and other hidden targets, not only inside…, but also underneath concrete slabs? Hidden targets such as electric conduits situated inside concrete slab pose problems of a potentially dangerous nature before a client begins saw-cutting or … Continue reading

Posted in Concrete Scanning, Utility Locating/GPR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment