GPR Radars – What Are They and What to Look for When Buying?
If you are managing work at a construction site that has a history of having issues with underground “leftovers” such as pipes and cables, proceeding with the construction process can be a problem. Residue assemblies of that kind can interfere with the proper plumbing and electrical connections. This is why it is always a good idea to make sure that you have thoroughly inspected your building site for any underground pipes and cables with the help of a ground penetrating radar GRR.
Source: Fprimec
How Does a GPR Work?
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) uses pulses of electromagnetic radiation to image the subsurface in a non-destructive and non-intrusive manner. It is a very useful survey technique to investigate a range of materials. The radio-wave frequency is very high, ranging up from 10MHz to 2.5GHz. Based on the return signal of these electromagnetic waves, you can determine what type of permittivities your machine has encountered. The waves can either be scattered, refracted or reflected on the surface which the antenna records.
The first time ever a system of this kind was patented was back in 1910, which means that this method has been used for quite a long time and has greatly evolved throughout the year. One of the most popular instances in which GPR technology has been used was the iconic Apollo 17 mission. The astronauts managed to gather information from 1.3 kilometres under the ground which they all recorded due to the little computer storage space available at the time.
Fast forward to today, Ground Penetrating Radar GPR equipment has greatly evolved since then and it can be found in a range of models encompassing different features. Nevertheless, a good-quality GPR device should be able to do the following.
Withstand the Elements
Durability and build quality are one of the most important things to pay attention to when buying a GPR. You can buy the most advanced device software wise but you still might end up being unable to travel with it because of its fragile hardware. Your device has to have at least an IP65 rating, which indicates an extra layer of protection against dust and water. You might have to use the device in challenging weather conditions, so you also need to make sure that your device is “weatherproof”.
Built-In WiFi Connection
Your GPR should not only be equipped with a capacitive touch screen but it should also come with a built-in WiFi sensor. With this feature, you can set the device to send you all of the information it has collected via e-mail while you’re still on the site. This is a very useful feature, especially if you’re working with clients who want to see the results as quickly as possible and can help you make important decisions in a timely manner.
Software Upgrades
It is highly recommended that you purchase a model from a brand that offers frequent software upgrades for improved user experience. This can allow you to use this device for a longer period of time without having to purchase a newer model.
Source: Marketersmedia
Built-In GPS
Every GPR device should have a GPS sensor installed as part of the hardware of the machine because this can bring a range of different capabilities, with the most important one being a map interface. The machine can use the sensor to allow you to see your location presented on a map, which can further help you with locating the root of your issue. Some machines even support KMZ (Keyhole Markup Language) files that you can open using Google Earth. If you have a huge construction project coming up, you can even send a team to scan the grounds using a ground penetrating radar GPR, which you can then monitor from your office.
Intuitive User-Interface
If the overall user interface of the device you’re considering to buy is not easily operatable, find a model that you will be able to use. If you don’t know how to approach this idea, think about the type of phone you have. Think of its user interface and how easy it is to manage it every single day. The same approach applies when looking into the software of the GPR model you’re interested in.
