BHATE was the first engineering firm in Alabama and one of the first in the South to perform ground penetrating radar (GPR) and has over 25 years of experience in GPR scanning.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image a surface. GPR scanning can be used in rock, soil, ice, freshwater, pavements and structure to detect objects such as utility lines, changes in material, voids and cracks.

BHATE Geosciences owns multiple GPR systems including handheld, walk-behind and vehicle-mounted GPR devices. With offices in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, BHATE can provide you with GPR solutions across the Southeast. Using BHATE for GPR can help you alleviate costs, change orders and insurance claims and make construction projects safer, quicker and more easily managed.

What is Ground Penetrating Radar?

  • This nondestructive method uses electromagnetic radiation in the microwave band (UHF/VHF) with an antenna pair (transmitter and receiver separated by a small fixed distance) to send short pulses of electromagnetic energy and records returning signals.
  • Images are projected on a monitor depicting location and depth of targets identified.
  • Multiple GPR antennas on one platform allow for the creation of 3D images of the subsurface for even more complete mapping.
  • Our trained GPR specialists interpret the reports to provide you with answers and solutions.

What GPR Services Does BHATE Provide?

  • Structure Scan – GPR saves time and money by mapping structural reinforcements and utilities within concrete slabs and columns. Our GPR technicians are trained to spot the difference between steel and nonmetal conduits, as well as identify corrosion in rebar.
  • Utility Location – While One Call utility locating services can be useful, GPR provides extreme precision in utility line mapping and subsurface utility engineering, which is important when preventing line strikes. GPR can find unmapped utility lines and underground storage tanks (UST), which can prevent your company from being liable for accidental releases of hazardous substances. BHATE can precisely locate utility lines and overlay them onto a CAD file.
  • Geologic Investigations – BHATE provides low-cost, non-intrusive means of subsurface investigation and detailed geologic analysis to help clients understand their site and the implications of our findings. Our GPR experts can identify voids, sinkholes, depth to water table, septic tanks, steel drums, underground storage tanks (UST), depth to bedrock and buried objects/structures.  BHATE has performed GPR scans on cemeteries to map underground items.
  • Road and Bridge Deck Analysis – Vehicle-mounted GPR can be used at traffic speeds for both the measurement of pavement structure thickness, as well as identifying areas of deterioration on bridge decks. Air-launched GPR systems are not connected to the ground and capable of collecting data at speeds of up to 65 MPH without disrupting other road users.
  • Pavement Evaluation & Pavement Condition Assessment – Knowledge of the existing structure and condition is critical to developing a reliable, cost-effective pavement restoration design. BHATE uses GPR to collect, interpret and report information to you to create a Pavement Management Plan.

Why BHATE for GPR Services?

Knowledge & Experience

  • BHATE was the first engineering firm in Alabama and one of the first in the South to perform GPR and has over 25 years of experience in GPR scanning.
  • In addition to having backgrounds in civil engineering and geology, our GPR specialists are supervised by licensed engineers and geologists. We view each project with a mindset of an engineer which provides problem-solving solutions that save time and money.
  • BHATE understands and interprets GPR scans to provide you with cost-effective solutions.

Timely Response

  • We know time is always a factor. BHATE prides itself on quickly responding to customer needs and scheduling our technicians to work around your schedule.

Cost-Effective Engineering Solutions

  • BHATE offers competitive GPR rates.  Our technical knowledge helps customers identify and resolve site issues in a cost-effective manner.
  • The benefits of proactively using GPR scanning outweigh potential costs and liabilities associated with line strikes, damaging reinforcing steel, and the unknown and any risk to human safety.

Expansive Reach

  • With offices in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, BHATE is positioned to service the Southeast in a timely manner to provide cost-effective GPR structural scans or subsurface investigations.

Interested in BHATE’s GPR services? Contact us now for more info or a quote.