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Using Ground Penetrating Radar

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Friday
Feb192016

Miami Concrete X-ray

Concrete x-ray scanning is used for evaluating a surface to identify areas for post tension cables and rebar reinforcments. This practice used to create markings for managing locations of embedments in slab even conduits before core drilling or similar activities are performed. Concrete x-ray Miami services provide quality non-destructive services that are safe and government aproved. 

Overview of x-ray services

Our concrete x-ray Miami services are necessary before renovation or repairs at all site. When in the process of planning for a major construction project, scanning concrete will cut risk tremendosuly on your site. During the process, substantial data is collected. The surface is marked as it is collected, which reduces the wait time for customers. Xray concrete Miami solutions identifies any potential issues beneath the surface that could interfere with the progress of the renovation project or cause a range of safety risks. X-ray services are non-invasive and won’t disturb the site. Electromagnetic radar technology offers the highest resolution and most accurate data.

How it is used

Concrete x-ray services detect any objects or obstructions beneath the surface. The data provided is used to navigate the site accurately so that no wiring is disturbed when drilling. This is done prior to any cutting, excavating or drilling. 

X-ray services can detect the following objects:

• Wiring and electrical conduits
• Storage tanks
• Post tension cables 
• Underground utilities

Understanding the process

The x-ray methodology using gpr is used to analyze the subsurface area for concrete surfaces. Sending Singals into the concrete through an antenna and bouncing back when hitting an obstuction, letting our concrete x-ray technincians know where the rebar, post tension cables or conduits are, 

How it is used in Miami buildings

X-ray services are used to detect and reinforce steel for major renovation projects that may include electrical outfitting, fire protection, plumbing services, duct work or installation. Any drilling required can be done with accuracy, minimizing the need for added costs associated with extra repairs. This process is used to detect voids in an area. . It is also used to detect any embedded electrical services. In being able to accurately identify any conduits, the excavation or renovation project can be completed with minimal safety risks. In order to protect the design and integrity of structure, any vulnerabilities like deterioration or corrosion need to be identified. X-raying accomplishes these goals.

These services expedite the renovation and reduce potential safety risks. If planning any type of renovation, excavation or extension project, contact our team of experts today to schedule an assessment.

Sunday
Jun192011

Concrete Imaging


Technology is continuously breaking new ground, revolutionizing and upgrading automation on a daily basis. Jobs that require working with concrete now has an easy, safe, quick, and effective way to find any type of obstruction that is buried in the concrete before attempting to core, cut or drill. This process is termed as concrete imaging concrete scanning.

What is Concrete Imaging?

Concrete imaging concrete scanning is an application used to x-ray concrete to locate the position or depth of any object that is embedded within a concrete structure such as steel bars also known as rebars. More and more companies today are requiring this detection process before starting to work on projects that involves concrete projects.

How does it work?

In order for the equipment to work properly, concrete should be completely set in advance of scanning and imaging. During the x-ray concrete process, ground penetrating sonar sends out waves through the concrete to scan for any matter that may be embedded. Once the waves come into contact with an object, metal will reflect the waves back to the imaging machine, pinpointing location of the object. The areas are marked to alert the workers so that they can work around them.

Benefits of Concrete Imaging 

• Concrete imaging concrete scanning requires shorter wavelengths and lower frequencies which allow the usage of scanners that have smaller transmitters and antennas.

• Using concrete imaging concrete scanning during the construction phase of a project will prevent unnecessary damages and accidents.

• This process takes all of the guess work out of the equation, allowing the engineer or the contractor to obtain precise information that alleviates the unnecessary cost of change orders.

• Due to the speed of concrete imaging, one person or a team of people can scan hundreds of square feet in a day yielding quicker and dependable results.

• Another benefit of concrete imaging is that it can view 3D results on screen while working on the project.

Usages of Concrete Imaging

• Concrete imaging can be used in the design and construction phase of a project during a disruption of services. 

• This technology makes it possible to x-ray concrete and locate rebar, tension cables, conduits, voids and even measure slab thickness; therefore, it is able to map out the structure of the concrete for future references. 

• The system can very accurately locate and identify objects during the x-ray concrete course of action that are located at a depth of up to 24 inches beneath concrete structures.

This new technology has made construction safer for companies’ employees across the United States, such as in Miami, Florida. In the past, Florida building constructors have had to dig new ground blindly. They would be exposed to working environments where digging was done without knowledge of what was embedded beneath the surface, hiding dangerous situations. 

This new technology has offered Florida construction industries a safer and better way to get the jobs done throughout Florida including major cities like Miami. Constructions workers in Miami can now work fully aware of the underground dangers and where they are located. Concrete imaging equipment is making its mark as technology continues to take it to the next level of safety in Miami as well as across the nation.

Sunday
Jun192011

Ground Penetrating Radar


Ground penetrating radar, or GPR, has come a long way from dragging a cumbersome box across the ground to send electromagnetic pulses into the earth to scan the tomography. Florida geophysical research within the atmospheres of seismology, geomagnetism, volcanology and oceanography has been an active force behind GPR advances. 

Applications for ground penetrating radar include:

• Earth sciences – studying soils and bedrock, ice and groundwater
• Environmental remediation – used to define contaminant plumes and landfills
• Archaeology – for mapping features and locating cemeteries
• Nondestructive testing (NDT) – for existing structures and paved surfaces, for locating underground utilities in the form of pipes, sewage, power and water mains, and for studying bedrock soils
• Law Enforcement – locating buried evidence and clandestine graves
• Military – mine detection, tunnels, unexploded ordinance

In Florida and particularly in Orlando, GPR has been useful in the latest applications of ground xray to obtain critical information on potential elements or obstructions that are contained underground or within existing structures. With the capability that ground penetrating radar has to capture two- and three-dimensional images of the areas being scanned, this technology has allowed for truly non-destructive testing in a host of environments. Ultimately, this makes for a safe working environment, reduces risk and costs previously related to locating materials within such surfaces as pavement, rock, concrete, metal, plastic, steel, soil, and even ice. 

Ground-based detection in Orlando looks for lines that are in place for water, gas, electrical, fiber optic and cable lines prior to the excavation work to be performed in the process of building. The goal is to prevent damage to existing underground lines and the surrounding environment in addition to establishing safety for job site workers. These ground-based services are performed simultaneously with the Florida state one-call utility detection agency and any other utility data available. Prospective clients can be of great support in providing whatever information they can obtain about a given project area. 

Orlando has seen testing further advanced with the use of GRP Inspection, which allows for the detection of deterioration within a project area’s hidden environment. Glass-fibre Reinforced Plastic materials have been recently introduced in onshore and offshore environments and, as with other materials, flaws can be found in GRP during different stages of production. GRP Inspection is particularly useful in identifying deviations from functional requirements as soon as is possible.

GRP pipelines have advantages over their steel counterparts, specifically, ease of manufacture, lower installation costs, resistance to corrosion and fire, and low weight. GRP inspection procedures have been developed to test the adhesion bonds in GRP pipelines. Suitable NDT techniques include visual inspection, measuring and surveying equipment, pressure testing, acoustic emission, ultrasonics, radiography, thermography, and microradiology. GRP Inspection can detect flaws due to incorrect dimensions, impact or wear damage, incorrect lay-up in lamination, incorrect curing, misaligned joints, voids, improper treatment of joint adherends or excess adhesive.

The use of ground penetrating radar in and around Orlando, Florida continues to bring this technology to advanced stages as methods continue to be applied. Making the industrial workplace safer and protecting existing subsurface strata through GPR is working smarter, not harder and has advantages that are useful to the industry as a whole.

Sunday
Jun192011

Why You Should X-Ray Your Concrete Slabs


Cutting, drilling, or coring concrete is not only difficult, but it can also be a dangerous endeavor. With post tension cables, re-bar, and conduits, there are many obstacles you need to avoid or you will have a very expensive mistake on your hands. You will be glad to know that South Florida boasts a number of companies that offer concrete imaging concrete scanning. 

Many homeowners and businesses in South Florida think that it is a hassle to x-ray concrete and it is not worth the time or money. The people who believe this are very wrong. In fact, there are a number of reasons that justify spending the money to x-ray concrete slabs before beginning any demolition work. Through this process, you are able to find out the thickness of the slab, check for spots that have been compromised, as well as find the exact location of both structural and non-structural items embedded in the concrete. Some concrete imaging concrete scanning businesses also offer condition assessments on constructions such as bridge decks that may corrode overtime.

While some businesses have their own way of doing things, most x-ray concrete by following the same procedures. The first thing the workers will do is complete a thorough walkthrough of the location to gather the necessary data, such as how many shots they will need to take. Once they know where the film should be placed, they evacuate the area and put up radiation barriers for protection. After the x-rays are taken, many companies have a mobile darkroom to develop the film on-site. The time this entire production will take varies with each job, but you can expect to pay for at least half a day’s work.

Before setting up an appointment with a company that specializes in concrete imaging concrete scanning, there are a few things that every home or business owner should do. You need to make sure you have the area you want to cut, drill, or core marked off. This will keep you from paying for x-raying areas that will not be affected by the demolition. You also need to clear the area so the workers can set up and have room to move around. If they will be working on a suspended concrete slab, they will need to access to both the top and bottom. You also need to check to see that gamma radiography is allowed at your location. Because of the risk of radiation poisoning, some areas in South Florida do not allow x-raying.

Most concrete imaging concrete scanning companies offer their services on slabs up to 16” thick, although it really depends on the density of the concrete. You can use the x-ray process on a variety of structures from concrete walls to CMUs. If you are in the market for a business to x-ray concrete slabs, many South Florida companies would be interested in working with you. Some may even offer free estimates, so call to set up an appointment today.

Tuesday
Mar012011

Ground Penetrating Radar

Ground penetrating radar, also know as GPR, is the use of radio waves to create images of underground features. Energy is released into the ground in short pulses and the reflected signal is used to create the image. When the pulses pass through objects or the boundaries between areas with different dielectric constants, it causes variations in the return signal that can be analyzed to show the presence of buried features. 

Differing types of soil and rock have varying degrees of conductivity which can greatly influence the quality of the signal and limit the effectiveness of the technique. Soils with large amounts of clay or salt are a poor medium for GPR because they are highly conductive and tend to diffuse the radio waves before they can penetrate very deeply. In these cases, deeper features may be missed. This is a problem in parts of Florida, for instance, where the soil is rich in clay and has a high salt content. Other areas of Florida also have a problem with soil heterogeneity, in which chunks of rock tend to scatter the signal and limit its range and resolution.

However, in areas where conditions are favorable, GPR has a long list of uses. Utility companies can use it to create three-dimensional pictures of buried pipes, wires and other objects. Workers repairing dams and tunnels can locate flaws without costly digging. 

In the field of law enforcement, GPR can be used to locate any sort of buried evidence. Ground penetrating radar is capable of finding hollow cavities in soil, rock or concrete and revealing the presence of objects there, including human remains. In many cases it may not be possible to get a clear image of the buried objects, but the GPR image will show that there is some sort of anomaly present, giving investigators an indication of where to look.

For archaeologists, ground penetrating radar presents an exciting range of possibilities. It allows the detection of buried structures, human burial sites, signs of ancient flood and earthquake activity and excavated features such as ditches, pits and tunnels. This is another application that is particularly relevant to Florida, where archaeology is revealing much about the region's ancient cultures.

In cases of environmental damage, this technology can be used to detect old landfills and areas of chemical contamination. Buried objects such as old electronic equipment that can leach harmful substances into the ground can be found and eliminated.

Another application with particular relevance in Florida is the use of ground penetrating radar to find places with loose, sandy soil. Such areas are not suitable for large buildings, and builders know to avoid them.