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.

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.

Safer Constuction In Florida With Concrete Imaging

In the past, Florida building constructors and ground crews had to dig new ground blindly. There was no technology to warn them that they could be digging up live wires, pipes, post tension cables and other embedded building materials. This caused high risk to the men and equipment on construction sites. Today's technology offers the Florida construction industry a safer alternative by using concrete imaging to locate post tension cables and other embedded structures.

What Is Concrete Imaging?
Imaging concrete uses a detection device to allow builders, contractors and drilling companies to know what kind of embedded structures lay beneath the construction site. Imaging technology allows construction teams to evaluate a potential building site before they put men and equipment at risk. The use of this device is becoming a requisite evaluation technique before any construction can be allowed to take place.

Imaging Can Locate Post Tension Cables
Concrete imaging can also locate post tension cables. Post tension cables are used in construction to provide support and increased strength to slabs of concrete. The great majority of post tension cables are typically made from high-strength strands of steel that are put in place before the pouring of concrete. These steel cables are normally laid out in a grid pattern that can be detected by the use of concrete imaging equipment.

Using Concrete Imaging To Find Rebar On Florida Building Sites
The Florida construction industry can also use imaging technology to locate old embedded underground rebar. Rebar is the abbreviated form of reinforcement bar. These reinforcing bars have a much longer history in the construction industry and have been used for hundreds of years in the building trade all over the world. The rebar grid pattern establishes the base for any concrete support in much the same fashion as the more modern design of post tension cables. Before the invention of imaging devices, work crews generally had no idea what they could encounter during a dig.

Imaging Allows For Safer Construction In Florida
Being able to locate post tension cables and rebar on a construction site has improved the safety of the construction industry. With today's modern underground infrastructure consisting of miles of interrelated cables, phone lines, natural gas pipes, sewer systems, electrical power lines and many other types of embedded underground structures, a construction team can begin the necessary ground work fully aware of any dangers and areas to avoid.

Welcome to the GPR Blog

Hello and welcome to MD Concrete Imaging's GPR Blog. We hope to bring you the latest information and stories about Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Concrete Imaging and locating post tension cables and rebar.