In previous entries, we have discussed the importance of safety, identifying our networks, and how we can locate existing services to avoid damaging them. In this entry, we will specifically talk about a piece of equipment known as GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) or Georadar.
The georadar is a locating device; physically, its appearance might remind us of a lawnmower. They are usually lightweight and easy to operate. In Figure 1, we can see the Radiodetection georadar.
To locate objects, it uses antennas, which can be one, two, or even four. The equipment shown in Figure 1 has two antennas, one acting as a transmitter and the other as a receiver. The antennas are located on the lower plate indicated within the red rectangle. The transmitting antenna sends a signal into the ground. This signal travels through the subsoil, and when it encounters an object, the signal is reflected and captured by the receiving antenna. In Figures 2 and 3, we can observe how the equipment works.
Due to the signal's back and forth movement, the georadar can provide an approximate depth at which the located object is found. Additionally, the equipment has an odometer, in this case marked with a yellow box, which indicates the distance of the object from our starting zero point.
The depth we can visualize will depend on the characteristics of the antennas. In Figure 4, we can observe the results offered by the RD1500 georadar. As an added value, this georadar has an external GPS that links with global positioning satellites to provide the location where the study was carried out.
As we can see, this equipment is very useful for locating pipes, and not only that, but also buried or hidden manholes, cavities, reinforced concrete, and even very large rocks. The interpretation of the results must be performed by a specialist. At INCOM, we have this equipment available for rent or sale, as well as a team of specialists who will advise you on this type of detection.
