These days, getting information above and beneath the earth has become much easier. Nothing is out of the sight. And that’s just because of technology, right?
Even we can find out what exactly lies behind our feet beneath the surface. Surprised to know that? Yes, that’s possible with the help of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in CA.
This mind-boggling technology captures the images beneath the specific surface by using the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS).
The best benefit of using GPR device is that it helps to spot the exact position of underground utilities (such as pipes, cables, or wires). The process doesn’t disturb the ground.
Well, in this article, I’ll discuss about how GPR works. Also, I’ll shed light on what things GPR can detect and what its major benefits are.
So, let's dive in.
How does GPR work?
Well, GPR device looks like a lawn mower. A typical GPR system generally consists on control unit, receiving antenna, and transmitter. Looking at the functionality of each part will elaborate the working process.
The transmitter emits the pulse of electromagnetic energy waves in cone shape to the specific ground location or a material. These waves range from 1 to 1000 MHz frequency.
When that electromagnetic pulse touches any object, the speed of the signal changes due to the density of the object. As a result, the signals reflect, bend (refract), or scatter.
Then, the receiving antenna captures these returning signals and renders them to the control unit. Here, the control unit has a display screen that shows the changing waves.
Thus, the data is all set to interpret the waves. The next step is to process the data into images.
Data processing
The record of the data is then taken to a suitable location like lab for the computer processing. That’s where the specialized software program comes in.
With the help of this software, the operators of Ground Penetrating Radar in CA finally distinguish the object.
For example, if software presents small white dots that are small rocks. But if there’s a linear line that’s not wide, they’re utility pipes.
So, that’s how the whole system works to reveal the clues under our feet.
What does GPR discover below the surface?
As GPR is a subsurface tool, it can pinpoint multiple things. It's done by giving the changing electromagnetic properties of the buried things and the surrounding material. But mostly, this tool helps to detect the following materials:
- Subsurface utilities (such as pipes, cables, and conduits)
- Buried archaeological artifacts or structures
- Soil moisture content
- Changes in soil composition or stratigraphy
- Bedrock depth and structure
- Voids or underground cavities
- Groundwater levels and flow patterns
- Environmental hazards (such as buried waste or contaminants)
What are the advantages of Ground Penetrating Radar in CA?
Here are the major advantages of GPR:
1. It is non-destructive
You don’t need to disturb your favorite lawns or structures to determine the underground utilities. That means GPR scans the surface to let you know.
2. It saves you time
Imagine how much time it requires to dig a hole. From an hour to hours, right? With the availability of this subsurface instrument, results are readily available, ultimately saving you time.
3. GPR measures dimensions
Plus, it provides you with the dimensional information of the target. For example, its depth and thickness.
4. It gives custom details
What really makes it useful is it offers customized results. You’ll only know what you want. That means, you can adjust the frequencies to penetrate the specific depths for exploration.
5. It provides quick results
Using GPR is all about getting quick results with no delay. You can even use these results in the future to guide yourself about what’s exactly beneath the specific surface.
Where is GPR applicable?
GPR can be used in different places. But remember, the accuracy may vary according to the conditions.
- Soil properties and ground material
GPR works by sending a small pulse of energy into the ground. Then, it measures how strong the reflected signals are and how long it takes for them to return to the receiver.
A scan involves sending many pulses of energy over a single area. Some of the energy bounces back to the antenna, while some keep going through the ground until it fades away or the scanning process stops.
So, how fast the signals fade depends on the properties of the ground materials.
Here are some ground materials where Ground Penetrating Radar in CA can be applied:
- Rock
- Soil
- Concrete structures
- Ice
- Freshwater
Also, there will be a strong reflection of the pulse when it moves from wet sand to dry sand. On the flip side, it will be weaker when moving from dry sand to limestone.
- DEPTH
GPR signals can penetrate the ground for a certain limit. Typically, they go to 100 feet (30 meters) deep. Why is that? Just because ground has electrical resistivity.
That means the ground opposes the electrical current, so it can only penetrate to some degree. The more the signal gets deeper, the less it becomes effective.
But that all depends on antenna frequency and the condition of the soil and rock under surveying.
In concrete, the signals penetrate to almost 2 feet. In moist clays, they penetrate a bit more deeper like 3 feet.
- Water content
The substrate's dielectric permittivity is another consideration. This refers to how easily materials can be polarized. The amount of water in a material has a big impact on this. Some materials can become polarized when an electric field is present.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, Ground Penetrating Radar in CA is a subsurface tool that helps to distinguish underground utilities. Using it saves you from damaging these utilities. This works by sending electromagnetic energy waves to the ground or material. If any underground material gets spotted under the radar, it reflects the signals to the receiving antenna. Each underground feature reflects the radar waves differently depending on its composition and density. Using GPR helps to save you time, avoid accidents, measure dimensions, and give quick results.
