99.8% Accurate Roadway, Right-of-Way, and High-Speed Underground Utility Locating & Mapping Now Available in Ohio

Capturing accurate underground utility data on high traffic roadways, rights-of-way, and in dense urban areas is a challenge. Generating accurate readings with traditional utility locating methods is tough enough – when you factor in traffic flow, subsurface anomalies, and a complex urban utility matrix, it can seem impossible, and expensive.

Enter the high-speed Raptor 3D ground penetrating radar (GPR) array utilized by GPRS.

This unique GPR array can create 3D images of the subsurface at highway speeds when towed behind a vehicle. And, when paired with GPRS’ 99.8% accurate Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM), it can give municipal managers, civil and design engineers, utility managers, general contractors, surveyors, and facilities managers the vital utility information they need in a fraction of the time of a traditional utility survey.^*  

Which is why GPRS is pleased to provide this additional service to our customers.

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Why Use a High-Speed 3D GPR Array?

The high-speed 3D GPR array is designed for projects that demand the best in speed, coverage, and reliability. GPRS utilizes the array to streamline subsurface utility mapping and deliver results you can trust.

• Highway-Speed Data Collection: The Raptor GPR array collects 3D subsurface images at speeds up to 80 MPH (130 km/h) with a 5 cm trace interval, eliminating the need for lane closures or traffic control, and maximizing safety and productivity.
• Broad Swath, High Resolution: With 18 channels of ground penetrating radar, the array covers the full width of a vehicle, capturing dense, high-resolution data in a single pass.
• Real-Time Visualization: View and QC your GPR data as it’s collected, ensuring immediate feedback and confidence in your results.

Unmatched Accuracy and Reliability

Accuracy is critical in underground utility detection. The high-speed array, combined with GPRS’ proven methodology, provides the highest level of confidence in your subsurface utility mapping projects.

• 99.8% Accuracy Rate: GPRS Project Managers can leverage the array’s advanced capabilities with their expertise in Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) to deliver industry-leading accuracy in utility locating and mapping, nationwide.
• Advanced Positioning: Integrate GPS, Robotic Total Station, and Real-Time Kinematic positioning for precise geolocation, even in challenging environments like under bridges or in dense urban corridors.
• Seamless Data Integration: Easily bring in survey control points and above-ground features for comprehensive, georeferenced deliverables: including CAD files, KMZ/KML exports, and more, all delivered via SiteMap^® for 24/7 secure, sharable access from your computer or mobile device. 

What Are the Applications of a High-Speed 3D GPR Array?

Utility flags are a common site along roadways, rights-of-way, or boulevards in most cities where wastewater & sanitary sewer managers, utility providers, telecommunications installers, and civil and design engineers involved in roadway maintenance and infrastructure need to mark out utility lines prior to excavation. In most cases, a local utility locating company spent hours creating a grid of GPR data, which look like dark hyperbolas when the radar signal bounces off a utility or other underground facility. The utility locator then interpreted those hyperbolas to map the utility line and mark it with flags. This process had to be repeated for each utility line they detect within their scan area.

By contrast, the high-speed 3D GPR array supports full 3D GPR scanning at five-centimeter intervals at 80 mph. It can scan on 18 different GPR channels to provide highly detailed 2D representations of its data in real time, which can then be turned into complex 3D objects or other file types as needed to complete the project. This makes the GPR array perfectly suited for numerous applications.

• ‍Utility Mapping – As described above, locating and mapping buried underground utilities. This includes roadways, rights-of-way, and anywhere you need to map miles of utilities, fast, such as for pipeline, wind farm, or other installations
• Rights-of- Way Engineering – Civil and design engineers are required to manage the physical location for infrastructure projects like roadways, utilities, and pipelines. That management can include the acquisition of rights, preparing maps and legal descriptions, legal compliance, and surveying
• Road & Bridge, and Infrastructure Surveys – Pavement condition assessments, potential void detection, and detecting various roadway layers
• Concrete Scanning & Imaging – Finding embedded concrete reinforcements like rebar, potential voids, and other subsurface features‍
• UST, Void, and Subsurface Anomaly Investigation – Detecting underground storage tanks (USTs) potential voids, subsurface utility or other tunnels, and anomalies
• Environmental Assessments – Mapping geological and manmade features that could provide preferential pathways for underground contaminants
• Mineral Exploration & Mining – Locating minerals, planning mines, evaluating quarry elevations and expansion plans, and mapping mine tunnels‍

Less mainstream uses can include archaeological investigations, forensic investigations, and military applications to identify unexploded ordnance.

One of the most important benefits of the high-speed 3D GPR array is that it can locate subsurface utilities and anomalies at highway speed, reducing or eliminating the need for complex traffic management and delays. Its speed also allows subsurface utility mapping across large areas in significantly less time.

We Get It Right the First Time

GPRS + High Speed 3D GPR = The Most Accurate Roadway Utility Data Available

Technology alone isn’t enough – you need the right people behind it. GPRS combines cutting-edge equipment with the nation’s most experienced, SIM-certified Project Managers to deliver results that set the industry standard.

• Nationwide Coverage: With 500+ elite Project Managers across all 50 states, GPRS delivers rapid response and consistent quality wherever your project takes you.
• Field-to-Finish Solutions: From data collection to in-house mapping and deliverables, we guarantee a smooth process and accurate results—every time.
• Cloud-Based Access: Every GPRS customer receives complimentary SiteMap® Personal access, giving you 24/7 access to your layered, geolocated infrastructure data from any device.

When rights-of-way, roadway, or other high-speed utility assessments are conducted, GPRS can also conduct our standard 99.8% accurate utility locating and mapping service to verify the 3D array’s findings. GPRS’ standard for utility data geolocation is RTK positioning, which can be accurate to within a centimeter, depending on obstructions and line of sight.