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When property owners, facility managers, contractors, or structural engineers want to find out what's inside the concrete in their building, they typically have two options: ground-penetrating radar and concrete X-rays. These two technologies are both capable of scanning concrete and providing sophisticated images of the material’s internal structure. Here are some of the most important differences between the two technologies in several key areas. 

Ground-Penetrating Radar vs. Concrete X-Rays: A Guide 

Safety 

It's widely understood among industry professionals that ground-penetrating radar is safer than concrete X-rays. Concrete X-rays emit powerful radio waves that are harmful to professionals and clients alike. Because of this, teams must wear heavy protective equipment when using X-rays. 

Access Required

ground-penetrating radarGround-penetrating radar offers a distinct advantage over concrete X-rays. While concrete X-rays require individuals to have access to both sides of the concrete being analyzed, those using ground-penetrating radar only need to access a single side of the concrete slab. This makes for a simpler and faster job that often requires significantly less site preparation and interruption of labor. For this reason, and because of the imaging techniques used, ground-penetrating radar also tends to be cheaper than X-rays. 

Speed

Most concrete X-rays are capable of two or three scans a day, whereas ground-penetrating radar systems are able to do 10 scans or more. This means that clients using ground-penetrating radar are able to achieve comprehensive analyses of their concrete in less time than if they were using concrete X-ray technology. 

Image Quality

Just about the only benefit concrete X-rays have over ground-penetrating radar is the quality of the image. X-rays are currently capable of producing images with a higher resolution, but ground-penetrating radar is catching up and may soon surpass X-rays altogether. 

 

If you’re interested in learning more about how ground-penetrating radar will benefit your residential or commercial project, contact Haggith's Structural Scan & Inspection LLC in Kaneohe, HI. Led by Dale Haggith, a longtime industry professional with certification in Theory and Practice of Applying Subsurface Interface Radar in Engineering and Geophysical Investigations, their reputable team of experts will pinpoint objects and obstructions embedded deep in concrete floors, walls, and foundations. Visit their team's website to learn more about its unique services, or call directly at (808) 239-4330. 

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