5 Misconceptions about Ground Penetrating Radar for Utility and Ground Investigation

If you need to drill into the ground for any kind of structural activity that you wish to do underground, it is important that you are aware of what is beneath the level surface. There may be wires, pipelines, and cables which may get damaged due to unplanned or reckless drilling. This can pose not only legal and procedural hassles for you, but may be a danger to society as well as for the technicians involved.

To avoid this, there is equipment called Ground Penetrating Radar used by GPR technicians for locating underground utilities like pipes and cables. However, there are some misconceptions that people attach to the use of GPR. Let’s bust these myths.

Misconception # 1

X-Ray Equipment Do A Better Job.

X-ray equipment is no longer the preferred method for mapping utilities, especially for pipe locating.

Due to the top-only images that they give, X-ray machines have been replaced by Ground Penetrating Radars as the preferred equipment for mapping the underground utilities. Ground Penetrating Radars can provide a much more complete, comprehensive, and three-dimensional view of the network below the surface.

Misconception # 2

A Look at the Maps and Blueprints Drawn Earlier and Available with the Utility Companies can Help You to Zone into the Underground Pipelines and Other Utilities.

Nothing can be more primitive than. You never know, things might have changed after the maps are drawn out. With old drawn maps and blueprints, there is no way of being sure that what lies beneath the ground is exactly according to the maps. Ignoring this fact is a big risk.

Relying on older maps and blueprints is certainly not the right way to choose for pre-planning of utility and ground investigation. Ground Penetrating Radar services provide the best and most accurate method for mapping underground utilities, especially for locating pipes.

Misconception # 3

There is Nothing better Than Drilling Down and Seeing What Lies Beneath with Your Naked Eyes.

A very dangerous and risky proposition. This defeats the very purpose and base of the ground penetrating exercise. The entire exercise of locating the underground network of pipes and cables is to eliminate chances of damage to the pipes, pipelines, or cable wires. By drilling, you never know when you might inadvertently hit a pipeline triggering a major damage in the utilities.

Misconception # 4

Ground Penetrating Radar Services Benefit Only Those Searching For Underground Pipelines

There are numerous ways in which you can utilize Ground Penetrating Radar services. You'll be surprised to know that even if you want to dig a water-well in your premises, you can take the help of these services. Archaeologists, environmental scientists, geologists can utilize these services in their own fields of activity. A geologist or, in particular, a seismologist can make use of these for locating a landfill or a crusty area beneath the surface when studying earthquake-prone zones.

Misconception # 5

Buy the Equipment. It's Easier and Cheaper To Do It Yourself Than to Hire Someone To Do It.

This only makes sense, if you are going to use the equipment on a daily basis and extensively. Otherwise, the hundreds of dollars that you may spend on it may never give you any proper return on investment. Moreover, using specialized GPR technicians to handle the equipment means that you are getting the correct and accurate readings.

Get yourself a specialized Ground Penetrating Radar services company which can give you an accurate map and work efficiently ensuring required levels of safety.

Author Bio
Jon Armstrong is a specialist. Being a part of Geoscan : Utility and Structural Investigation, he has immense proficiency and expertise as a GPR technician. Geoscan has been providing these services in Melbourne and Geelong and has secured a highly acclaimed position for itself. Geoscan is accredited with most bodies in this field and is a reputed name in structural ground investigations.