We talk a lot on our website and in this blog about how we offer GPR scanning services for the purposes of locating buried utility lines or finding rebar in a concrete slab. But that’s not all we do with the amazing technology that is ground penetrating radar! There are so many different applications for GPR, it would be impossible to mention them all in a single blog post, but here are several instances where GPR can be extremely useful:
GPR Scanning Services for Archaeological Sites
Ground penetrating radar can be very valuable prior to the start of an archaeological dig. When it has been determined that a certain site is likely (or certain) to have archaeological significance, a GPR technician can scan the site to help focus the efforts of archaeologists and also help them avoid damaging valuable artifacts.
GPR would not be useful in finding the areas with buried artifacts, however, since this technology is best used in focused areas. GPR technicians also rely heavily on context clues to interpret the data the GPR scanner produces. A random scan of a piece of land would not provide a technician with suitable information to determine if there were buried artifacts there or not.
Locating Voids
GPR is also a great tool for finding voids. Whether the void is under a building’s concrete slab, under a road or runway, or under the ground, a good GPR technician will have very little trouble finding it. Locating voids can keep structures or roads from collapsing. It can also find things like abandoned mines that need to be accounted for if a property is ever to be developed.
Identifying Valuable Materials in Rock Quarries
In rock quarries, knowing where to dig to unearth the highest quality materials is key! GPR can identify the areas where the materials have the fewest fractures and cavities. Then, once the material is removed from the ground, the stone block itself can be scanned for flaws and then cut up accordingly.
Finding Anomalies in Roads and Runways
In the past, when a road or runway needed to be analyzed, you had to take core samples of the road at random locations or regular intervals to try to gather a representative data set. Unfortunately, this method is time consuming, expensive, and it can be easy to miss problems—not to mention, coring is a destructive locating method.
With GPR, large sections of a road or runway can be scanned, and anomalies can be easily detected without any destruction. Then, only those sections of the road or runway where anomalies were revealed will need to be cored to discover exactly what the issue is and the best way to remedy it. This method saves time, money, and reduces the destruction that needs to be done to a road or runway prior to making any repairs or conducting maintenance.
Forensics Investigations
While metal detectors can be useful in investigations to find things like weapons, sometimes important evidence is non-metallic. GPR can be very useful for finding non-metallic buried items, such as bodies in unmarked graves, or drugs or cash stored in plastic containers.
Measuring Water Depth
Did you know that GPR technology can even be used in water—specifically fresh water? GPR can tell you the depth of a body of fresh water and can also locate items at the bottom. While it can be difficult to differentiate between rocks and other items, if you’re looking for a submerged item, GPR might prove useful in helping you find it.
Geology
Ground penetrating radar is great tool for differentiating between different layers of materials beneath the surface of the ground. Locating the depth of bedrock is a common use of GPR technology. Or if you’re looking for gold, locating buried river channels using GPR can help you focus your efforts. No matter what you’re looking for, GPR can help you determine what is underneath the surface, without having to spend the time and money drilling or excavating.
Contact Enhanced Scanning for Your Unconventional GPR Scanning Project
Not all companies offering GPR scanning services are open to unconventional projects, but the team at Enhanced Scanning is up for just about anything! While we will never stop taking on more standard utility locating projects, you can also contact us to help you with something more out of the ordinary—even if doesn’t fall into any of the categories above.
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