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Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Ground Penetrating Radar is an NDT method which investigates and maps the sub-surface. Sandberg uses it to analyse building construction detail, identify defects and locate buried objects and much more:
Find out about the GPR surveys we undertake:
What is GPR?
Ground Penetrating Radar, commonly abbreviated to GPR, uses high-frequency radio waves to detect changes and objects in the subsurface. It is a geophysical technique, initially developed for geological mapping.
It is now widely recognised as a highly cost-effective non-intrusive testing technique. It offers a rapid means of obtaining subsurface information from not only soil but a variety of materials, including concrete, brick, masonry, wood and asphalt.
Ground Penetrating Radar can see below the surface; it detects changes in the sub-surface. However, it is not limited to the detection of just metallic objects. It will also differentiate between most materials such as plastics, clay pipes, wood, disturbed ground, layer interfaces and voids. The main requirement is that the target material has sufficiently different electrical properties to the material surrounding it.
GPR will also provide estimates of depth and layer thickness. All done non-intrusively. Sandberg uses it to determine the depth and extent of objects, the width of walls, and also the thickness of slabs, asphalt and screed.
GPR in the Construction Industry
Sandberg was amongst the first to recognise the potential of Ground Penetrating Radar as an investigative survey technique in the Civil Engineering and Construction industries. We have developed techniques and considerable expertise in the application and interpretation of Ground Penetrating Radar, including:
- Concrete imaging and rebar detection
- Concrete floor slab surveys
- Chimney flue location
- Historical building characterisation (incl. embedded steel location)
- Post-tensioned tendon location
- Locating underfloor heating pipes
- Mapping of services and conduits in concrete floor slabs
- Retaining wall surveys
- Structural investigation
- Site mark-up surveys
- Wall and slab thickness measurement
- Shallow foundation and pile-cap location
- Grave and crypt location
- Voids in construction and below slabs
- Verification of construction detail
Our surveys
Sandberg specialises in GPR surveys for the construction industry. Our most popular non-destructive GPR surveys include:
Rebar mapping
High-resolution rebar mapping, far superior to that offered my other techniques.
Concrete floor slab surveys.
Determine reinforcement detail, slab thickness and changes in construction.
Chimney flue location surveys.
Locate and map chimney flues within walls quickly and efficiently. 100% NDT.
Detecting embedded metal in masonry
Surveys to locate embedded beams, columns, metal dowels, pins and cramps.
Ground Penetrating Radar owes much of its rapid development due to its use on high budget and high technology projects. The Americans used it on missions to the Moon and Mars. During the 1970's Apollo missions, they used GPR to explore the Moon's near-surface geological structure. They also used it to locate potential resources for future human outposts on the Moon. More recently, a pulse radar mounted on a Mars orbiter, found evidence of liquid water, or water-rich sediments, under the southern polar ice cap.
GPR is a very flexible non-destructive survey technique. It has so many potential uses. We believe that its application is limited only by the imagination and skill of the surveyor. Their knowledge and experience in conducting the survey and interpreting the data are crucial.
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