Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Radar pulses that image subsurface conditions to map buried pipes, identify voids, and detect soil saturation zones indicating underground leaks.
How Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) Works
Ground-penetrating radar transmits high-frequency electromagnetic pulses into the ground or concrete and measures the reflected signals to create a cross-sectional image of subsurface conditions. GPR can identify buried pipe locations, depth, and material; detect voids and sinkholes forming around leaking pipes; identify soil saturation zones caused by underground water loss; map rebar and post-tension cables in concrete structures; and locate buried tanks and other underground infrastructure. Modern multi-frequency GPR systems can simultaneously image both shallow features (5 cm depth) and deep utilities (5+ metres depth) in a single pass.
Applications in BC
- Concrete slab scanning for embedded pipes and cables
- Underground utility locating before excavation
- Void and sinkhole detection around leaking pipes
- Buried pipe and tank location for leak investigations
- Structural concrete evaluation for rebar and PT cables
Advantages
- Sees through concrete, pavement, and soil
- Maps pipe locations with depth measurement
- Detects voids and soil saturation
- Works on all pipe materials including plastic
- Non-invasive — no excavation required
Limitations
- Requires skilled data interpretation
- Limited penetration in conductive clay soils
- Slower than acoustic for long pipe runs
- Higher equipment and training cost
Equipment Used
- • GSSI SIR 4000 with 1.6 GHz and 400 MHz antennas
- • Leica DS2000 GPR system
- • MALA ProEx GPR system
- • IDS GeoRadar RIS system
- • Sensors & Software Noggin system
Professional Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) in BC
LeakInspections.ca — a division of Anyleak.ca and Leak.ca. Call 604-239-9934.