How much does a GPR survey cost on average?

2. Employees behind the equipment

The price you pay for a GPR survey does not just cover the cost of the equipment used. You are also paying for expertise gathered over many years, in some cases, by the operators of the equipment.

Construction companies can hire GPR equipment and operate it themselves. But as indicated above, the raw results gathered by GPR equipment do not tell the whole story, nor are they presented in an easy-to-understand picture of what lies where. Expert GPR surveyors must then correctly interpret the findings of the GPR equipment.

It is always best, then, to work with a GPR survey provider that offers a complete package with all of the hardware, software, and human resources needed to see through a GPR survey from start to finish.

Here at KB Surveys, we aim to be transparent about the cost of our services in our dealings with all clients and can provide a detailed cost breakdown if you request a quote from us. If you are interested in finding out more, please fill in our online quote form on the website. With just a few details, such as the survey location, the type of survey you need, and your basic information and contact details, we will be able to get back to you with a precise quote.

We work on GPR surveys for both commercial and domestic clients, and we offer a variety of different surveys suitable for a range of applications. Whether you are in construction and want to map the site before work begins, a team of archaeologists planning your next excavation or a homeowner looking to build an extension, we are confident we can recommend and provide the expert services you need.

The acronym GPR stands for Ground-Penetrating Radar, a technique that employs an electromagnetic signal to create images of what is below the earth’s surface. GPR equipment usually includes a transmitter, receiver, and signal encoder. Standard GPR utility mapping has a penetration depth of approximately 2-3 metres. The GPR survey costs will vary depending on the size of the area being surveyed.

Ground Penetrating Radar can penetrate depths of up to 100 feet (30 metres) in materials with low conductivity, such as dry sand or granite. GPR signals can be attenuated or absorbed by moist clays, shale, and other high-conductivity rocks, reducing penetration depth to 3 feet (1 metre) or less.

A GPR survey can locate PVC and plastic pipes utilised for utilities and other applications. Although a stronger signal is returned by metal pipes, GPR (unlike metal detection) can locate objects made of most materials. Whether or not a pipe is full of water makes no difference to the survey results.

GPR can penetrate through ordinary and even reinforced concrete. GPR is often used for the non-destructive testing and mapping of objects within concrete, such as rebars, pipes, ducts, cables, and other items, and as part of an infrastructure assessment for bridges, roads, and buildings. The concrete scanning cost will depend on the extent of the area being surveyed.

Ground Penetrating Radar can offer precise results but not necessarily reach 100% accuracy. Factors affecting the quality of the findings include soil conditions, the conductivity of materials and the depth of objects beneath the surface. The surveyor’s expertise and sophistication of their equipment also play a part, something to bear in mind when evaluating a company’s quoted GPR inspection price.

GPR transmitters send pulses of electromagnetic radiation into the subsurface to detect objects and variations in the subsurface composition. When the pulses hit an object or variation, the signal is reflected and creates an echo which is recorded when it returns to the surface by a receiver. Specialist GPR software then interprets the echoes to create images of the object.

Ground Penetrating Radar explained

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a method for detecting subsurface features and anomalies such as pipes, voids, cracks, and alterations in soil composition. GPR transmits energy waves and then interprets the reflected signals.

A GPR uses microwave band radiation for detection. The reflected and refracted signals collected by the GPR’s receiving antenna are used to map objects, voids, material changes, and other anomalies. By providing a clear picture of the difficulties and items that may be encountered when digging or drilling, for instance, construction experts can avoid damaging existing utility pipes and otherwise draw up a strategy for locating, avoiding, or otherwise dealing with such variances. This can save a great deal of time and money over the course of a construction project.

However, to create, conduct, and interpret the resulting images, GPR must be conducted by highly-trained specialists. Although GPR can identify items subsurface, it cannot distinguish between various materials – only a skilled operator can do that.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) works by sending low-level pulses of RADAR energy into the ground and recording how long it takes for any reflections to return to the antenna. Hundreds of thousands of pulses are sent hundreds of thousands of times per second to display a real-time image on the screen for the operator. The emissions from GPR systems have been evaluated and certified to be safe even when used in close proximity to people and equipment. An operator can often determine where an obstruction, void or other object is located, its depth, and sometimes its type.

Because the typical GPR evaluation rate for such services has proved to be cost-effective, GPR is now being used at all stages of many construction projects, from estimating building costs to identifying pre-existing utilities and other objects; from offering detailed advice during the excavation phase through to offering quality assurance and documentation after work is completed on a project. GPR offers added value at each of these stages.

For best results, GPR surveys should be carried out by a specialist, experienced team that has invested in the most up-to-date equipment available.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a technique to examine what lies below the subsurface in a particular area. GPR tends to function well on land or in freshwater, but not in saltwater, because the high conductivity of this disperses the radio energy.

GPR equipment detects changes in the dielectric constant of subsurface features as the EM waves move from one material to another; the change in the dielectric constant causes some of that energy to be reflected toward the radar antennas. The depth is determined by two-way travel time, but instead of water speed through sound, it’s electromagnetic propagation through a variety of media (which can vary considerably depending on what material is being imaged). Professionals can identify the stratigraphic sequence’s nature without breaking ground using this two-way travel time.

If you are looking for an affordable, high-quality ‘GPR survey near me’, you can trust our specialists here at KB Surveys. We are an independent and innovative multi-disciplinary team of professionals who can advise on and carry out GPR surveys for a range of applications, including construction, archaeology, and more. Contact us to discuss your project today.