Hiring a GPR scanning service is something you probably don’t do every day. Unless you’re in the construction industry, where a scan of a concrete slab, block wall, or piece of land is necessary on occasion prior to the start of a new project, you likely have never worked with a service that provides scanning using ground penetrating radar (GPR) before. So what do you do? Should you just hire the first company that pops up on a Google search that appears legitimate? Go with the cheapest service provider? After all, they all pretty much provide the same service, right? Not necessarily.
The reason you decide to hire GPR scanning services in the first place is to get a good idea of what hazards are below the surface of the ground or embedded in concrete so you don’t hit them when digging, drilling, coring, or trenching. Therefore, you want to get the best information possible, and that means not just hiring anyone for GPR scanning services. You need to do a bit of research to find one that will meet your needs.
Here are some important things to look for in a GPR scanning service:
GPR Scanning Expertise
Getting an accurate GPR scan isn’t just about hiring a company with good GPR scanning tools. The company must also have experienced technicians on their team who know how to properly interpret scans. The readings that come from GPR are not like the images you get from an X-ray, where it’s fairly clear what you’re looking at. Instead, GPR provides images that look more like a series of waves. The technician then needs to use his or her training, experience, and intuition to determine whatis located below the surface, and how deeply it is buried or embedded.
Other Non-Destructive Tools for Verification
In less-than-ideal circumstances, GPR may not be enough to get an accurate reading of what is hidden below the surface. For example, if you are dealing with wet or rocky soil, ground penetrating radar can struggle to provide good data. The same is true for uncured concrete. It is sometimes necessary to bring in other scanning tools to get the information you need to move forward with your project safely. Before hiring a GPR scanning service, make sure they have other non-destructive scanning tools at their disposal, should they be needed.
Referrals and/or Reviews
Just like with any other service provider you bring to your home or business, it can be very helpful to get referrals from past clients. At the very least, you should read online reviews of any companies you could potentially use. Look for companies that provide prompt service, and prioritize accuracy and safety.
