Concrete scanning with ground-penetrating radar makes working with concrete as simple as a quick scan.
If you are working with concrete, you are likely to need to cut into it or core it at some point as deterioration occurs over time. This project can be inherently dangerous, time-consuming, and costly if there are things embedded in the concrete. But how can you know if there’s something in there if you can’t see through it? Concrete scanning with ground-penetrating radar makes working with concrete as simple as a quick scan.
Detect Reinforcing Steel
Using ground-penetrating radar to scan the concrete slab, a trained technician would be able to locate and identify any rebar and post tension cables within the concrete slab. Once the reinforcing steel is located, it is marked on the surface so that anybody doing cutting or drilling can clearly see what to avoid. This allows drilling and coring to happen without hurting the integrity of the slab so that you need to do fewer if any patches or repairs.
Locate Electrical Conduits
Accurate detection of the conduits for electrical services is vital in commercial and industrial areas. When electrical conduits are cut they pose a safety hazard to the people working the area. There is also the possibility of causing power outages and widespread damage. Because of this, it is important to know exactly where all the conduits are before any cutting or drilling takes place. While concrete scanning makes your job easier and faster, it is also about safety!
Analyze the Concrete
Concrete scanning is also used to analyze the concrete structure. This includes measuring the thickness of the concrete, determining the rebar content, and gauging the spacing and elevation of the slab. Your engineers need this information and using ground penetrating radar to scan the material is fast and efficient.
Locate Voids
Scanning services can also be used to locate voids, or air pockets, between the sub-grade dirt and the concrete slab. These voids can appear over time as they form when the sub-grade dirt erodes, but they are undetectable from the surface. Over time they could lead to a collapse of the slab, so it is incredibly important to locate them early and repair them.
Choose Concrete Visions for All Your GPR Needs!
Concrete Visions has over 12 years of experience and expertise in concrete scanning and we know how to detect any problems lurking beneath the surface. We use ground penetrating radar accurately and expertly and are familiar with many other methods that can be used when appropriate like concrete x-ray and electromagnetic conductivity. We are also very familiar with the latest construction safety techniques and train all of our workers to do their work quickly, accurately, and safely. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, give us a call at (410) 766-2210 or visit us online. For more articles and tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.