FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.

In most circumstances, we can have a Project Manager on your site within 24 hours of contact. Click here for an online quote form.

GPRS robotic crawler cameras have a reel length of 1,000 linear feet. We typically inspect miles of the pipeline but can check 1,000 linear feet from any point continuously.

Yes, ground penetrating radar can be used to determine the location of unmarked graves for site planning purposes. We are able to locate most grave sites, even those that have experienced material decomposition.

GPR is used to identify the location of subsurface materials. GPRS uses this radar for utility locating and concrete scanning applications. Varying antenna strengths are used for different applications, depending on the type of material being scanned and how deep objects are buried.

Our nationwide team of Project Managers can meet your scheduling needs. We are willing to work nights and weekends, in addition to regular working hours, to help you accomplish the goals of your project. Contact your local GPRS representative to learn more about our rates and availability.

We regularly use GPR equipment to scan for the location of rebar in concrete columns and walls. GPR can also examine the underside of a floor to mark out the reinforcing steel and any embedded conduits.

The Green Box Guarantee is simple: when a GPRS Project Manager places a Green Box within a layout prior to anchoring or coring concrete, we guarantee the area will be free of obstructions. If we’re wrong, we’ll pay the material cost of the damage.

GPR is extremely effective at locating subsurface utilities and other materials, however it does have certain limitations. Ground and soil conditions, weather, and the type of material being located are just a few of the potential limiting factors. In the event that conditions are not suitable for GPR scanning, an alternative recommendation can be made.

Ground penetrating radar can accurately differentiate between rebar and electrical conduit in most cases. We have an extremely high success rate in identifying electrical lines in supported slabs or slabs-on-grade before saw cutting or core drilling.

Additionally, GPRS can use EM locators to determine the location of conduits in the concrete. If we can transmit a signal onto the metal conduit, we can locate it with pinpoint accuracy. We can also find the conduit passively if a live electrical current runs through it.

The combined use of GPR and EM induction allows us to provide one of the most comprehensive and accurate conduits locating services available.

Yes, our professional Project Managers can respond rapidly to emergency same-day private utility locating service calls on your job site.

GPRS uses paint, flags, markers, and other methods to mark locations depending on the surface. We can also use specified methods upon request.

The GPRS Green Box Guarantee emphasizes four critical project factors: safety, efficiency, cost savings, and clear communication. Each benefit comes together to enhance our 99.8%+ accuracy rating and allows clients to join in our fight to eliminate subsurface damage.

When you break ground on a new project before doing a private utility locate, you’re playing Russian Roulette. You may be lucky the first time, but what about the next time?

According to a report published by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the direct and indirect costs of damage caused by strikes totaled around $40 billion in 2021 alone, with the privately funded Infrastructure Protection Coalition putting the figure closer to $61 billion.

Over 60% of all buried utility lines are private, meaning they’re owned by individuals or businesses. If you don’t hire a private underground utility locator to identify these lines in your project area prior to digging, you run the risk of knocking out power to an entire neighborhood, creating a water emergency for a municipality, or causing serious injury or death with a gas line explosion or electrical line strike.

GPR is exceptionally accurate! While accuracy depends on various external factors such as ground and soil conditions, the GPRS standard ensures that we can obtain the best results possible in each situation. Through experience, we've found that when using a concrete antenna for scanning, the accuracy is typically +/- ¼" to the center of the object and +/- ½" to the actual depth. When locating an object using a utility locating antenna for scanning, the accuracy is +/- 6" to the center and +/- 10% to the actual depth.

The results of the concrete antenna are generally higher resolution and therefore considered to produce better quality results. However, the concrete antenna cannot penetrate the ground as deeply as the utility locating antenna. It is critical to understand the benefits and limitations of both when performing scanning work.

We are able to use GPR to cross-check the measured depth and location of a located utility with existing as-built plans in order to verify the accuracy of plans.

In post-tensioned structures, we typically find one mat of support rebar near the base of the slab. This mat is generally consistently spaced and remains at a constant elevation. Post-tension cables are generally found above this support mat and “draped” throughout the rest of the structure. The elevation of the cable is usually high near the beams and column lines and drapes lower through the span between beams and column lines. Knowledge of these structural differences allows us to accurately differentiate between components. Our Project Managers will leave you feeling confident in our findings and in your ability to drill or cut without issue.

In most situations, we can identify the utility in question without any problems, although it is not always possible to determine what type of utility is present. When this happens, we attempt to trace the utility to a valve, meter, control box, or other signifying markers to determine the type of utility buried.

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) reduces the risk and improves the accuracy of subsurface utility readings. It is broken down into four levels of quality, governed by ASCE Standard 38-02. GPRS provides private utility locating services but does not currently provide a fully comprehensive in-house SUE service. GPRS does not provide engineering services. If you need professional engineering services, please contact a professional engineer.

GPRS Project Mangers undergo a rigorous training program to ensure you have the most reliable and accurate infrastructure visualization services at your disposal. This includes the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM), which consists of 320 hours of field training and 80 hours of classroom training during which Project Managers tackle real-world scenarios in a safe and structured environment.

The 811 service is a public service invented to locate public utility lines. However, 811 does not perform locates on private utilities meaning that private owners will typically need to call in a private locator such as GPRS. GPRS locates both public and private utilities.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a safe, non-invasive tool used to identify subsurface objects. GPR does not emit any harmful radiation or other byproducts. The scanning process does not create any noise, and the area can remain undisturbed during the scan. Contact us with any questions regarding the safety of GPR usage. We are happy to provide you with additional documentation.

Each of Project Managers completes a three-month training process which includes two weeks at our Training Center in Sylvania, Ohio. The highlight of the state-of-the-art GPRS Training Center is its roughly 6,000-square-feet of dedicated test slab created to simulate most conditions encountered in the field. This test slab is riddled with buried utilities designed to provide an immersive test experience for our Project Managers-in-training. As part of the GPRS training regimen, each Project Manager is trained per the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM), which consists of 320 hours of field training and 80 hours of classroom training.

When you’re excavating for a new structure or renovating an old building, there are countless subsurface hazards that need to be accounted for prior to excavation, core drilling or saw cutting.

If you choose not to schedule Utility Locating services, the result could be detrimental to your job site or company. There are compounding effects that could impact safety performance, project schedules, and job site financials that could delay or cancel the entire project.

We are the best at what we do because it is all we do. When you are faced with the need to know what lies below the surface, contact the nation’s best utility and concrete scanning company. Your project’s success could depend on it.

GPRS uses a variety of ground penetrating radar and scanning tools according to a project's needs. Our two most used pieces of equipment are the concrete scanning antenna and the utility locating antenna. Read more about the different types of equipment we use here.

No, GPRS will locate and mark all utilities for you. We have a variety of tools and markers we can use to highlight the locations of utilities, underground storage tanks and whatever else may be hiding.

There are many benefits to utilizing concrete scanning services in your next project. Taking precautions like concrete scanning or utility locating can help keep your project on time, on budget, and safe.

If you fail to schedule a concrete scan and damage an unknown utility during an excavation, this is often costly to fix. The expense of these unnecessary repairs results in a loss of time and budget.

After analyzing thousands of previous leaks detected, we asked clients to send us pictures of the remediation. This information has helped us compare our final leak signal detected with the results of the actual leak. We determine the size of the leak by how far the leak signal travels between contact points and the pitch of the tone received. However, we do not produce formal leak estimations.

No. GPR equipment can identify the area where a void is occurring and the boundaries of that void. It cannot measure the void’s depth.

Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.

GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.

GPR is highly effective at locating subsurface utilities and other materials. However, it does have certain limitations. Performing locating services on suboptimal ground and soil conditions, inclement weather, and the material of the object being located are just a few potential limiting factors. We can provide alternative recommendations if conditions are unsuitable for GPR scanning.

Please visit our sales page to request a quote.

We can use ground penetrating radar equipment on concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls and structures. GPR can also determine the presence or absence of grout, bond beams, vertical rebar, horizontal rebar, and joint reinforcing within the CMU structure.

GPRS's leak detection service is used to help municipalities and facilities maintain safe, efficient water distribution within a pressurized domestic supply network and fire protection systems. Often, water can leak from aging or broken infrastructure, creating unnecessary costs for clients. GPRS locates these water leaks, allowing our clients to reduce the number of costly excavations required for remediation.

This answer depends on the type of application. The antenna can typically penetrate 18”-24” into the ground for concrete scanning. For private utility locating needs on grass, asphalt, or concrete, the antenna can generally penetrate up to 8' but this can vary greatly depending on site conditions.

In certain situations, a larger antenna can be used for greater penetration. Please contact your local GPRS representative for more information on selecting the right GPR service for your project.

GPRS provides two specific but different scanning services: elevated concrete slab scanning and concrete slab-on-grade locating. Elevated concrete slab scanning involves detecting embedded electrical conduits, rebar, post-tension cables, and more before core drilling a hole through the slab. Performing a concrete slab-on-grade locating service typically involves scanning a trench line for conduits before conducting saw cutting and trenching to install a sanitary pipe, water line, or something similar.

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GPRS uses various methods and equipment to locate utilities due to soil composition, geographical location, and other factors. These methods include EM Locators, Electromagnetic Induction, Push Cameras, Robotic CCTV Crawlers, Magnetometers, Acoustic Leak Detectors, Sondes, and more.

Our acoustic listening equipment is highly sensitive and amplifies leaks and other noises which mask leak signals during the day. If we work in city environments, there is often a significant amount of ambient noise. This noise includes airplanes, traffic, mowers, machinery, and most importantly, people using water. It is up to the Leak Detector to determine if night work should be utilized to minimize all other noise to focus on the leak signal.

The Green Box Guarantee is designed explicitly for elevated concrete slabs, indicating areas free of obstructions such as rebar, post-tension cables, and electrical conduits. While the Green Box Guarantee does not apply to all concrete, utility, and video pipe inspection jobs – we stand by our work. We have a 99.8%+ accuracy rate on over 400,000 projects completed, and we continue to pursue 100% subsurface damage prevention.

The GPRS difference goes much deeper than a simple FAQ. Please, read our Statement of Qualifications document to learn about all the attributes that make GPRS the industry leader.

GPR is used to identify the location of subsurface materials. GPRS uses this technology for utility locating and precision concrete scanning applications. We utilize varying antenna strengths for different applications, depending on the scanned material and how deep objects are buried.

Locates is a term used in the utility locating industry meant to describe a locating service. Utility locates are services where a utility locating company will use ground penetrating radar and other methodologies to reveal subsurface hazards and obstructions.

GPRS is an industry leading private utility locator. Please contact us to schedule a service.

No. Our green boxes communicate to our clients that all critical targets such as rebar reinforcement, electrical conduits, and post tension cables are absent, and no obstruction is present. We place green boxes on elevated concrete slab locations that we’re confident are clear to core, cut, or drill through. If we aren’t confident that you won’t hit anything, we won’t place a green box on the slab.

We can typically differentiate between tendons versus rebar in post-tension slabs due to the expertise of our Project Managers. Their rigorous training helps them recognize the differences in patterns, depth, spacing, and GPR reflections. Because all of our Project Managers are SIM-certified, they’re experts with their equipment, professionally trained, and up-to-date on the most effective GPR methodologies.

GPRS strongly believes that our team members are the key to our sustained success over our 20+ years in business. We look for certain qualities that set us apart from the competition when hiring new team members, because we only want the best representing our brand and helping you keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe. Our strong sense of integrity, proven competency in our field, and commitment to our customers are just a few of the qualities that make GPRS a cut above the rest.

Our nationwide team of Project Managers is strategically placed in every major market in the country, so you always have precision concrete scanning, utility locating, 3D laser scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, and mapping & modeling services near you.

No, the Green Box Guarantee is an industry-leading, proprietary program GPRS created to help prevent injuries and damages. We want to provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing you and your team can safely core and drill into concrete without worrying about subsurface damage. GPRS offers this program as part of our pursuit of 100% subsurface damage prevention. We are the only company that can provide the Green Box Guarantee, because we’re the only company that can lean on our industry-leading 99.8%+ accuracy rate for concrete scanning projects.

We have developed a rigorous leak detection methodology. We are confident in our leak location markings if all criteria are met using our available technologies.

Ground penetrating radar is a detection method that uses radio waves to identify buried or hidden objects within a structure or beneath the surface. This non-destructive method uses antennas of varying strengths to transmit a signal into a surface. As the signal encounters different components within that surface, it is bounced back to a receiver at the surface. This action helps determine the location of buried utilities and other subsurface features.

Yes, we buy used equipment from other GPR companies. Please call our corporate office at 419-843-9804, and we would be happy to discuss equipment sales. We routinely service and calibrate equipment to ensure the most accurate results for your project.

Contact GPRS by phone or through our website, and a local GPRS representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Our representatives and local Project Managers are skilled in assessing local conditions and can help you figure out how GPR services can meet your needs.

The amount of pipe we can test often depends on the experience of the Leak Detector. Team members with many years of experience can test up to 10 miles of pipe a day on a metallic system (Cast Iron/Ductile). Experienced Leak Detectors can test a contact point (Hydrant/Valve) within a minute before moving on to the next one. Leak Detectors can work efficiently because they are trained to hear the specific tone that a leak produces compared to any other number of noises a general environment makes.

Water finds the path of least resistance. Water can run through cracks in subsurface rock or make its way into storm, sanitary, and conduit piping. If the subsurface contains a high volume of sand, it will naturally flow farther down. There is no water visible on the surface in more than 99% of the leaks we locate.

No company can match GPRS’ comprehensive suite of infrastructure visualization services, which include utility locating, precision concrete scanning and imaging, 3D laser scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, drone photogrammetry, and mapping & modeling.

And no company can match our nationwide network of highly-trained Project Managers who are able to respond to your job site, no matter where it’s located, usually within 24 hours of contact.

Most importantly, nobody can match our dedication to the safety of you and your team. Contact us today to experience the GPRS difference yourself.

To locate underground utilities safely and effectively, the locator must be adequately trained on GPR methodologies and equipment. If handled incorrectly, accidentally striking a utility can be costly, damaging, or even fatal. Our Project Managers are SIM-certified meaning they are experts on GPR equipment and up-to-date on the latest GPR methodologies.

We can provide 3D modeling in many formats such as:

• Point Cloud Data (Raw Data)
• 2D CAD Drawings
• 3D Non-Intelligent Models
• 3D BIM Models
• JetStream Viewer

Customizable Deliverables Upon Request

• Aerial Photogrammetry
• Comparative Analysis
• Deformation Analysis
• Digital Drawings of GPR Markings
• Floor Flatness Analysis/Contour Mapping
• New Construction Accuracy Analysis/Comparative Analysis
• Point Cloud Modeling Training Webinars
• Reconciliation of Clients 2D Design Drawings
• Reconciliation of Clients 3D Design Model
• Structural Steel Shape Probability Analysis
• Template Modeling
• Volume Calculations
• Wall Plumb Analysis

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Almost any project that requires as-built information can benefit from a laser scanning survey. Talk with our experts and start your 3D laser scanning survey project today.

Video Pipe Inspection or VPI is a sewer inspection service using CCTV video cameras to mitigate or prevent infrastructure damage by inspecting underground water, sewer lines, and lateral pipelines. GPRS's NASSCO certified technicians can locate clogs, investigate cross bores, find structural faults and damages, and conduct lateral sewer line inspections.

3D laser scanners use LiDAR (light detection and ranging) to measure and record precise locations and distances, ultimately producing a point cloud file. The technology enables you to produce highly accurate digital measurements and images quickly and easily for use in construction and engineering projects. 3d laser scanning is a revolutionary tool to document existing conditions. It is invaluable in design, prefabrication, asset management, and facility modifications.

Yes! GPRS tailors our services to meet your needs, and that includes working nights and weekends to help limit disruptions to normal business operations. The equipment that GPRS uses is battery operated, emits less radiation than a cell phone, and less noise than a household vacuum cleaner, allowing us to work discreetly.

GPRS utilizes multiple technologies and processes to helpidentify all utilities and assets onsite. Inside a substation, GPRS follows astandard operating procedure to help identify the grounding grid, duct banks,conduits or any other utilities that may be present. All this information canbe relayed back to the customer in a .KMZ or CAD file.

Yes, we offer lateral launch capabilities as part of our standard Video Pipe Inspection services.

• Millions of real-world data points—A single laser can capture up to a million 3D data points per second, providing incredibly rich detail of every aspect of your project.
• Eliminate error—Individual measurements acquired by tape measures or hand-held devices are subject to errors. Laser scanning is the most accurate form of measurement available, delivering accuracy of a few millimeters or less.
• Answers unanticipated questions—How many times have you left the job site only to discover you need a few more measurements? A 3D BIM scanning will capture extra data, eliminating the need to return to the project to answer unanticipated questions.
• Reduce change orders and waste—The cost of a laser scan pales in comparison to the cost of change orders and construction delays. Incorporating a laser scan into the design of your project assures accurate and complete information, avoiding costly headaches, clashes and wasted material during the construction phase.
• Minimize shut-down times—Laser scanning is quick, safe and non-intrusive – eliminating or minimizing operational shut downs and client inconvenience.
• Increase safety—3D scanning can obtain measurements in hazardous locations while keeping workers out of harm’s way.

Yes! Our nationwide presence means that a GPRS ProjectManager will be on your jobsite as quickly as 24 hours after initial contact.

While GPRS is helping visualize the underground assets and utilities, we can also capture the existing above-ground conditions and features. With LiDAR scanners, GPRS can provide 2-4mm accuracy with its 3D laser scanning services, while processing all the data to generate point cloud files, 3D models, and more.

GPRS is proud to offer WinCan reporting to our Video Pipe Inspection clients. Maintaining sewers starts with understanding sewer condition, and WinCan allows GPRS Project Managers to collect detailed, NASSCO-compliant inspection data. GPRS Project Managers not only inspect the interior condition of sewer pipes, laterals, and manholes – they can also provide a map of their location. The GPRS Mapping & Modeling Department can provide detailed GPS overlays and CAD files. Our detailed WinCan/NASSCO reports contain screenshots of the interior condition of the pipe segments that we inspect, as well as a video file for further evaluation, documentation, and/or reference.

Many of our clients are relatively new to laser surveying, so we offer comfort and assurance by walking them through the entire process, from pre-planning to the final deliverables. We believe this is why we have had the opportunity to work with some of the best known firms and institutions in the United States.

We know that you have other options when it comes to laser scanning—renting or buying equipment or using a competitor. However, GPRS offers our clients what many of the other options cannot. Among the many reasons to choose GPRS are:

• Cutting-edge technology—GPRS uses the latest technology, equipment, and software.
• Industry trends—Laser scanning is a relatively new technology and, like so many other technologies, the industry changes quickly. Because GPRS uses the technology on a daily basis and because it is our sole specialty, we keep up to date on the trends in the field. Our clients can then focus on their core competencies.
• Training—Not only do GPRS technicians receive formal training directly from the scanner manufacturer, but they also receive thorough instruction from an experienced in-house technician. Furthermore, because our team of professionals are devoted solely to scanning and processing the scan data, we have developed the processes to work quickly, accurately, and knowledgably.
• Expertise—To each project, our GPRS team brings combined expertise in many areas, including engineering, architecture, information technology, and construction. Having this combination of knowledge is integral to providing our clients with the best service and optimal deliverables.
• Professional support—Since our scan technicians spend most of their time in the field completing building scanning, we have a trained office support team that is available to assist clients with questions and other information.
• Client-focused approach— We pride ourselves not only in listening to our clients' requests but also in anticipating their needs in ways that allow us to offer ideas and add value to our service.

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Yes! With over 500 Project Managers strategically stationed across every major market in the U.S., we can respond rapidly to as many sites as needed.

GPRS provides a Job Summary report with basic project information for very project we complete. We also provide complimentary KMZ and PDF maps with every utility locate we perform. And, when we perform a utility locate for you, you receive a complimentary Personal subscription to SiteMap®, our industry-leading, cloud-based infrastructure management platform where you can access, view, and securely share your digitized, layered utility maps 24/7. Beyond that, our Mapping & Modeling Team can create anything from a simple, GPS-enabled locating map of your utility locate, to highly detailed, 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models, depending on your needs.

Yes! GPRS can work on any size project ranging from a couple hundred linear feet, up to multiple miles in length. Through a busy intersection for a new electrical duct bank or inside a power station, GPRS Project Managers locate and map all public, private, and abandoned utilities, as well as any other subsurface obstructions.

Our elite VPI Project Managers have the capabilities to inspect pipes from 2” in diameter and up.

GPRS is one of the industry’s most experienced 3D laser scanning service. GPRS has provided laser scanning and modeling services for clients in many industries and can quickly mobilize to any site in the United States. We have worked with some of the best-known firms and companies scanning manufacturing and industrial facilities, oil and gas refineries, historic buildings, stadiums, theatres, hospitals, universities, municipalities, waste water treatment facilities and more – even new construction verifications. We are a licensed engineering firm that focuses solely on laser scanning. Our team of in-house scan technicians and engineers work with each client to develop an accurate understanding of the existing conditions and create custom deliverables, ranging from point clouds to 2D drawings and 3D models.

Yes, GPRS Project Managers have the capability to complete work with, or without your team present on site, as long as access is granted to the work area. Details of our findings will be communicated to your team immediately upon completion of each project.

GPRS has become a trusted partner to hundreds of clients for 3D laser scanning and modeling services. Our team works with integrity, passion and professionalism, upholding the highest standards in 3D laser scanning and modeling services. The foundation of our company’s success revolves around servicing the client. We work closely with every client to deliver the highest quality point clouds, 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models. We offer dynamic 3D laser scanning solutions to the following industries:

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• Agricultural Facilities
• Architectural Documentation
• Concrete Construction
• Construction
• Clash Detection
• Design Build
• Energy & Utilities
• Engineering
• Government, Defense & Military Sector
• Healthcare & Pharmaceutical
• Historical Documentation & Preservation
• HVAC & MEP Coordination
• Industrial, Manufacturing, Assembly & Distribution Facilities
• Mixed Reality & 3D Projection Mapping
• Office & Commercial Buildings
• Overhead Clearances
• Oil & Gas Facilities
• Power Plants & Process Plants
• Real Estate
• Stadiums, Arenas & Theatres
• Telecommunications
• Schools & Universities
• Subsurface Utility Engineering
• Virtual Design and Construction
• Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Accident Reconstruction
• 3D Video Gaming & Software Development

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Yes! Our SIM- and NASSCO-certified Project Managers use VPI technology equipped with sondes, which are instrument probes that allow them to ascertain the location of underground utilities from an inaccessible location. This allows them to use electromagnetic (EM) locating to map sewer systems at the same time they’re evaluating them for defects.

Data will be captured with industry-leading survey-grade Leica equipment. Leica ScanStations can tie to survey control, achieve 2-4mm accuracy and have real time liquid filled dual axis compensation to help mitigate movement and ensure level scans. GPRS scan technicians receive formal training from the scanner manufacturer, plus instruction from an experienced scan technician. Our laser scan technicians are highly trained on the following equipment:

• Leica P50
• Leica P40
• Leica RTC360 3D Laser Scanner
• Matterport Pro3

Our engineers and CAD technicians are trained in the following software:

• Autodesk Recap
• Autodesk Revit
• Autodesk 3DS Max
• Autodesk Navisworks
• Autodesk AutoCADCivil 3D
• Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D
• Autodesk BIM 360
• Autodesk A360
• Autodesk Recap
• AutoCAD
• ArchiCAD
• Bentley MicroStation
• Bentley Descrates V8i
• ClearEdge 3D Edgewise
• Leica Cyclone
• FARO As-Built
• FARO Scene
• Scene 2go
• Scene Webshare
• AVEVA LFM
• Cintoo
• CloudCompare
• Unreal Engine
• FileZilla
• ShareFile
• Dropbox
• Register 360
• JetStream Viewer
• TruView

LiDAR is a remote sensing method used to generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of an object and its surface characteristics. Much like radar systems that employ radio waves to measure objects, LiDAR uses lasers to calculate the distance of objects with light pulses from 3D laser scanners, gathering 3D information about an object.

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As built 3D documentation is an accurate set of drawings for a project. They reflect all changes made in during the construction process and show the exact dimensions, geometry, and location of all elements of the work.

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling and is more than just a 3D model. 3D BIM scanning gives engineers the ability to manage the building data throughout its whole life-cycle. It provides accurate spatial relationships and manufacturer details, as well as geographic information and other pertinent aspects of the building.

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GPRS offers high-definition 3D laser scanning for accurately capturing 3-dimensional data in a wide variety of settings, from laser scanning buildings to hospitals or universities to refineries, regardless of size and surface features. We can survey large-scale structures providing you with high definition 3D data quickly. High definition surveying is ideal for digitizing as-built construction and proposed additions or reconstructions. It can also be used to survey large projects during construction, to make sure the design is being executed properly.

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A digital twin is highly complex virtual model that is the exact counterpart (or twin) of a physical object. GPRS uses 3D laser scanners to collect real-time data for a building or facility and create a digital duplicate. Data can be easily visualized, measured and analyzed. Digital twins can be used to improve efficiencies, optimize workflows and detect problems before they occur.

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It's important to consider the many costs above the purchase price of the scanner that exist including: qualified personnel, software, training, scanner calibration, and legal fees. Learn about the true costs of purchasing your own laser scanning equipment and the savings associated with hiring a qualified professional.

Almost any project that requires as-built information can benefit from a laser scanning survey. Talk with our experts and start your 3D laser scanning survey project today.

‍DESIGN INTENT – deliverables will be shown as a "best fit" to the point cloud working within customary standards, such as walls being modeled 90 degrees perpendicular to the floor, pipes and conduit modeled straight, floors and ceilings modeled horizontal, and steel members modeled straight. This will produce cleaner 2D drawings and will allow for easier dimensioning of the scan area. The deliverables will not exactly follow the scan data to maintain design intent standards. The majority of clients will want this option for their deliverables.

AS-BUILTS – deliverables will be shown as close as possible to actual field capture. If walls are out of plumb, pipes and conduit show sag, floors and ceilings are unlevel, steel members show camber, etc., this will be reflected in the model. This will produce reality-capture deliverables, but 2D drawings may show “crooked” or out of plumb lines, floors will be sloped or contoured, steel members may show camber, twisting or impact damage. Dimensioning will not be as easy due being out of plumbness/levelness, etc. This option should be used when the exact conditions of the scan area is imperative. Clients using the data for fabrication, forensic analysis, bolt hole patterns, camber/sag/deformation analysis, and similar needs would require this option.

GPRS's clients range from small companies to large nationwide or global firms. GPRS is ready to mobilize to any site in the U.S., usually within the lead time of only one or two days. Additionally, we have the ability to be on-site short-term or long-term, depending on our clients' needs. We are the #1 provider of 3D laser scanning services and 3D BIM modeling services.

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SLAM stands for Simultaneous Localization & Mapping. SLAM's purpose is to move through a given space to create a digital map of that space that users can refer to.

For a better understanding, let's break down the term. Localization is to find the location of an object with reference to its surroundings. Mapping is to map the layout and framework of the environment.

In 3D scanning, a SLAM algorithm uses the LiDAR sensor to track a precise estimate of the point cloud scanner’s position as it moves through a space. The mapping software, in turn, uses this data to align your point cloud properly in space.

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Weighing the benefits of laser scanning versus using traditional means to “as-built” a site:

• Safer— Eliminates the need for lifts, safety harnesses, etc.
• Faster— Less people are required and more area can be covered.
• Reduces costs— Associated with field trips to gather initial information or additional details that were missed originally.
• Saves time— Eliminate time out of the office when you could be doing other things while the scanning is being done.
• Saves money— Travel costs, rental of man lifts, inaccuracy of obtaining data and loss of productivity in the office while technicians are in the field.
• Streamlines work-flow— When the client receives the deliverables, they are ready to begin their work immediately.

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If you’re using laser scanning as part of your workflow, CAD technicians take point clouds and turn them into useful deliverables. Many software packages offer automated classification, or point grouping, or de-noising to quickly turn point cloud data to useful deliverables. In the industry of laser scanning, this process is called “artificial intelligence” or “machine learning”. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to software that makes decisions or classifications that would have traditionally been made by humans, and machine learning refers to that software’s ability to get better at those tasks through repetition and training via human input and feedback.

LIDAR stands for Laser Imaging, Detection, and Ranging (commonly called Light Detection and Ranging). LIDAR is based on a principle referred to as time-of-flight, which uses a pulsed laser that emits the beam, a mirror that deflects the beam towards the scan area, and an optical receiver which detects the laser pulse and reflects it back to the scanner from the object. Time-of-flight refers to using the known speed of light with the amount of time it takes the laser pulse to be emitted, bounce off of an object, and return to the scanner to determine the distance the object is from the scanner (Distance = (Speed of Light x Time of Flight) / 2). LIDAR scanning collects data at a slower rate than phase-based scanners but is able to be used at greater distances than phase-based scanners.

Phase-based scanners emit a constant laser beam into multiple phases and compare the phase shifts of the returned laser energy. The scanner then uses phase-shift algorithms to determine the distance, based on the unique properties of each individual phase (Time of Flight = Phase Shift / (2π x Modulation Frequency)). Although phase-based scanners collect data at a much high rate than time-of-flight scanners, their effective distance is much shorter. Additionally, phase-based scanners tend to have more "noise," or false data, than time-of-flight scanners.

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GPRS 3D Laser Scanning Services falls in the following categories:

NAICS Codes:

541370 Surveying and Mapping
541330 Engineering Services
541340 Drafting Services
541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
SIC Codes:

87130000 Surveying Service
CSI Codes:

2073 3D Laser Scanning and Dimensional Survey
PSC and FSC Codes:

C217 Mapping
C218 Architectural and Engineering Services
1550 Drones
6675 Drafting, Surveying and Mapping Instruments
R425 Engineering and Technical Services
R617 Data Collection Services

Some projects require special applications due to limitations within the physical setting. Often times this is due to line-of-sight issues and when a scan must be done safely from the ground or with precautionary distance. Some of these applications would include above-ceiling MEP features in hospitals where it is necessary to maintain negative airflow or interstitial spaces that are congested with limited access. Since laser scanning is a non-contact measurement tool (i.e. we can scan from a safe distance or location) this becomes a powerful tool for solving these complex challenges.