The air was filled with noise.
Cheering fans. Shrieking whistles. Crunching shoulder pads. Coaches screaming themselves hoarse.
Amid it all stood GPRS Senior Project Manager David Sansone. And he was having the time of his life.
Sansone was invited to attend the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp because of the work he does for the organization both at their training facility, known as NovaCare Complex, as well as at Lincoln Financial Field, the 69,796-seat stadium the team has called home since 2003.
GPRS – and Sansone in particular – have played a critical role in ensuring that Philly’s fervent fanbase can safely enjoy their team’s pre-season training sessions. Additionally, he has conducted numerous concrete scans at their home stadium prior to renovation projects designed to enhance fans’ game day experience.
Every year, Sansone can be found locating on-site utilities at NovaCare, so that the large tents the Eagles install to provide shade for their fans during camp are erected safely. These tents are anchored by two-foot-long stakes, which pose a serious threat to any buried utilities. GPRS’ utility locating services ensure that the Eagles can safely install the tents without risking striking any buried utilities, including the irrigation lines that keep their outdoor training fields green and healthy.
During a utility locate, GPRS Project Managers utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanning and electromagnetic (EM) locating technologies to Intelligently Visualize The Built World™ beneath the surface. Our 99.8%+ accuracy rating on over 400,000 jobs means the Eagles are hiring the best team to help them tackle the complex task of mitigating subsurface damage.
“We do this every year for them for training camp,” Sansone said. “And then we do a lot of concrete scanning inside Lincoln Financial Field. They’re always outfitting the space and changing it, bringing in different concession stands, bars or restaurants. They’re always doing stuff.”
By hiring GPRS to conduct precision concrete scanning and imaging services prior to beginning any work at “The Linc,” the Eagles ensure the safety of their workers and the integrity of their longtime home. Knowing where all the post tension cable, rebar, conduits, and other subsurface objects are located within a concrete slab means they’re not blindsided by costly and/or dangerous mistakes.
Sansone says his favorite part about working at the Eagles’ facilities has been the rare occasions when he’s gotten to interact with players.
Defensive end Brandon Graham, the Eagles’ longest-tenured player, noticed Sansone performing a utility locate for the placement of the fan tents last year as Graham stretched prior to the start of practice. The pair got to talking about just what exactly Sansone was doing, and Sansone says that Graham was genuinely interested in the process.
“I think he was truly interested in what we were doing, and it just opened this two-way conversation where I could ask him about what he does,” Sansone said. “I think that’s my favorite part, just relating and knowing that even though they are these famous people that we are working for, they are just like any other client where they need a service. They need it done reliably, and they’re no better than anyone else, but they expect a certain degree of professionalism and delivery on what we say we’re going to do for them.”
The Tools of the Trade
GPR is the premier tool for both precision concrete scanning and utility locating. When used by a properly trained technician like Sansone, this non-destructive detection and imaging technology can identify subsurface elements either underground or within a surface such as concrete.
GPR has a wide range of applications. It can detect metallic and non-metallic objects, which means it can reveal all types of utilities, including electrical conduit, steam pipes, telecommunications lines, gas & oil lines, water lines, and sewer & storm pipes. GPR can also locate all types of structural elements hidden within concrete, including rebar, conduit, and post tension cables.
GPRS Project Managers use electromagnetic (EM) locators to compliment GPR, particularly when we’re performing a utility locate.
EM locators detect electromagnetic signals created by transmitting current to the pipe, from the current flow in a live electrical cable, or from a conductive pipe acting as an antenna and re-radiating signals from stray electrical fields and communications transmissions.
Together, GPR and EM locating allow qualified utility locating companies to provide clients with a comprehensive, accurate view of their subsurface infrastructure.
First Team
Of course, the best equipment in the world is only as good as the hands holding it.
GPRS Project Managers like Sansone receive Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) training, the industry-leading certification program that requires them to complete 320 hours of field training and 80 hours of classroom training, where they encounter real-world scanning scenarios in a safe and structured environment that allows them to create consultative solutions to unique problems.
SIM training ensures that GPRS Project Managers can accurately interpret the readings provided by GPR, EM locators, and other infrastructure visualization technologies. And they deliver this same level of service no matter the client, and no matter the job.
“We have the best equipment, and we have the best trained people to do what we do,” Sansone said. “But I think, over and above that, it’s the relationship that we establish with our clients. That goes a long way. It’s trust that it’s going to get done.”
GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World™ to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.
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