Whenever a construction project requires excavation, or any other sort of ground disturbance, on a previously developed property, it is prudent to have the area scanned for buried hazards before starting. The same is true for projects that require disturbing concrete slabs or concrete block walls. You never know what could be hidden beyond the surface. There could be any number of utility lines underground, and hitting them could cause major project delays and added expenses. With concrete, there could also be utility lines embedded in the slab or wall, in addition to reinforcing elements like rebar or post-tensioned cables.
Fortunately, there’s an easy and fairly affordable way to locate buried or embedded items on properties in Los Angeles using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and other non-destructive locating tools. But how accurate are they? Can you depend on the information you get from the companies that provide GPR scanning services in Los Angeles?
You probably won’t find any GPR technicians in Los Angeles who will guarantee their results, even though GPR technology is highly accurate when the proper equipment is used by an experienced technician. More than likely, what you will get is a technician who will tell you how reliable their results are, based on the conditions of the ground or concrete that was scanned. In ideal conditions, a GPR technician may tell you that their results can be considered 99% accurate. In less-than-ideal conditions, such as wet soil or a very congested concrete slab, the technician will provide a lower percentage of accuracy.
Even the best and most experienced GPR technicians operating in ideal conditions will recommend that you stay at least 1” from their markings. This is not because their markings aren’t accurate and reliable, but more likely because it can be difficult to excavate or dig with pinpoint accuracy. Allowing for a 1” buffer, it can help construction workers avoid hazards more easily.
If you have a project that requires results that contain a high degree of accuracy, a GPR scanning technician will often recommend confirming their GPR findings using other locating tools, such as an electromagnetic locating wand, X-ray, an acoustic pulse wave generator, a sewer camera, or any other number of non-destructive locating tools. This will, of course, cost you more, but it may be worth it on your project if it means avoiding all hazards and moving your project forward without delays.
Not all companies that provide GPR scanning services in Los Angeles have all of the tools listed above at their disposal, so if you anticipate needing your results confirmed, make sure you hire a company that does! One company to consider is Enhanced Scanning, which services all of Southern California.
