If you're planning a sizeable construction project on a piece of virgin land, the first thing you want to know is what's below the surface. After all, this could dictate the construction method based on the quality and nature of the soil beneath, but it will also help reveal any existing structures below. What is the best way to investigate this matter so you can come to a conclusion and proceed with your project?
Revealing Hidden Utility Structures
Expert contractors in your area will have access to ground-penetrating radar, which is certainly one of the best ways to explore your worksite. When you bring in these experts, they'll be able to pinpoint the location of any underground utility networks or other structures, no matter what they are made from. This means that they can pick out those utility pipes or lines with concrete, PVC, metal or plastic composition and give you a very accurate picture of where they are.
How Ground-Penetrating Radar Works
Ground-penetrating radar works by sending energy waves in a microwave band from a transmitter down below the surface. When these waves encounter an object below ground, this object will reflect and refract the signal. Those signals will then come back to the receiver, and special software will translate the readings into accurate images.
Analysing the Ground Material
This type of solution can also be used to determine the nature of the ground material itself. In this case, the software will analyse the energy pulses as they move through the soil and other material and will record how long it takes for the energy waves to travel before they dissipate. The rate at which these signals disappear will indicate the type of material that they encounter. Again, the software can determine whether you're dealing with soil, water pockets or rock and indicate how deep these materials are.
Little Disturbance
Perhaps the most important benefit of ground-penetrating radar is the fact that it is non-invasive. The technicians can gather all of these readings without digging into the ground at all. This may be advantageous if you don't want to disturb the surface around the survey area for one reason or another.
Moving Ahead
Gather as much information as you can before you finalise your plan and make sure that all of your data is comprehensive. Talk with contractors that use ground-penetrating radar equipment, and they will help to reveal all.
