Ground-penetrating radar provides detailed surveys of underground objects

Ground-penetrating radar is a technology based on the principles of radar (radio-location) waves. The GPR antenna emits electromagnetic pulses into the medium being surveyed; the radar then receives the reflected signals and records their time, position and depth. Signals can be reflected by objects of various shapes and sizes below ground, by boundaries between soil layers or by features of the specific medium being surveyed. Most surfaces or objects whose electrophysical properties differ from those of the surrounding medium can be located. The GPR survey method depends on the properties of the medium being surveyed (the composition of the soil layers).

To survey the ground (soil and subsoil) we use the “Zond-12e Advanced” GPR with antenna units of:
1.5 GHz frequency (for depths of 0.1 – 2 metres),
500 MHz frequency (for depths of 0.4 – 7 metres),
300 MHz frequency (for depths of 7 – 10 metres),
200 MHz frequency (for depths of 10 – 15 metres),
100 MHz frequency (for depths of 15 – 20 metres).

Ground-penetrating radar can detect:

• Utility lines (underfloor heating, water channels, electrical cables and other services);
• Hidden buried objects, such as metal structures in the ground;
• The location of gas and oil pipelines, as well as unauthorised connections to them;
• Underground tanks and cavities (voids);
• Sources of ground moisture (water pipes and their leaks);
• Soil relief and anomalies (changes) in the ground layers.
• On-site surveys are carried out by two specialists: one operates the GPR unit, and an interpreter analyses the data using specialist software.