Locating Utilities In Concrete

The Art Of Locating Utilities In Concrete

Ground Penetrating Radar is used to "see" through concrete to discover where the underground utilities are located. It works alongside of Electromagnetic Induction. The EI uses a hand-held device that consists of a wand that can locate metallic pipes, live electronic currents, or signals from live electrical currents.

The importance of being able to use these devices to locate underground utilities means that concrete sidewalks, parking lots, and streets do not have to be torn up in order to find these utilities, saving thousands of dollars in costs. It is safer to used these devices and less costly.

The following examples illustrate the advantages that these systems allow:

Example 1: A high voltage electric duct right in the path of excavation. Contractors who were working on the project were aware that the wire was there, but were surprised to learn that it was only four feet deep.

Example 2: Two large likes that are 3' and 4' deep. It was requested that all utilities be found and assigned a depth prior to a crane being put in the area. The weight of the crane alone would have crushed andy utility within 30" of the surface.

In these cases, the utilities were located easily and saved a lot of time and expense that would have had to been expended to dig and reroute these utilities. As it is, since it is known where these utilities are located, other arrangements can be made.

The GPR can locate reinforced concrete pipe used in underground sewer 

systems and storm drainage systems. These units usually run under roads and parking lots, so it is imperative that they be located.

By: Steve Price  

It is actually surprising how many utilities do run under roadways and parking

lots, and now how much time and money is saved by using this new technology.

Ground Penetrating Radar is used to "see" through concrete to discover where the underground utilities are located. It was requested that all utilities be found and assigned a depth prior to a crane being put in the area. The weight of the crane alone would have crushed andy utility within 30" of the surface.

C.S.I.Concrete Scanning & Investigation

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