Use of GPR Technology for Surveying

Service drawings can be unreliable with the CAT or RD8001 type scanners only locating services with a metallic or an electromagnetic signature. This leaves the contractor vulnerable to services such as water pipe, domestic services, fibre and BT. Therefore a new technology was needed to be used on this project to find plastic underground services without excavating.

The Leica DSX was used which is easy to use, quick to set up and provides instant data allowing site teams to quickly survey areas for underground services before excavating. It consists of portable hardware and intuitive software which visualises and maps utilities. Unlike  other ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems, the Leica DSX maximises productivity with software that automates data analysis and creates a 3D utility map in the field.

Once the area is scanned data is presented in simple format that anyone can understand. Results can be looked at by the user and any linear anomalies can be ran through the systems algorithm, giving the user a quick decision as to whether it is an underground service or not. A report can be produced immediately on site in PDF format and sent to the office for upload to the Permit to Dig.

The system can import POI’s and utility records to help make better decisions and can export its utility information, with compatible coordinate reference systems, in CAD or BIM read formats.