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Ground penetrating radar, or GPR, is a technique used to investigate materials below the ground and underneath concrete. It’s often utilized in the construction industry because it provides contractors with a clear idea of what’s happening beneath the surface. Scanning can reveal the presence of wiring, pipes, septic tanks, manholes, and other elements that could disturb the workflow. Though heavily used in the modern world, its roots can be traced back decades. Here’s a brief guide to how this innovative method has shaped American life.

The Early Days

Ground penetrating radar framework may be attributed to a single scientific fact: light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Several 19th century findings, including Ampere and Faraday’s laws, established the fundamental basis that applies to modern geophysical practices. In particular, it was the  scientist James Clerk Maxwell’s theories that apply most to the radar. Light travels at its fastest speed in a vacuum, and it slows as it passes through any medium. Because radar waves move at the speed of light, that same principle applies to the GPR. After sending a high-frequency radio signal into the ground, the device tracks the speed of the return signal to detect what lies out of sight.

The First Design

Honolulu, HI GPRWalter Stern developed the first radar, influenced by the growing interest in radio waves. In the early 1920s, two United States Navy researchers discovered that when ships passed them, their radio communications were broken. This newfound development spurred Stern to create the device, which he used to examine the thickness of an Austrian glacier. It wasn’t until a few years later that American military personnel expressed interest in using the technology to improve their understanding of ground properties, including water tables and ice formations.

GPR in History

The Apollo Lunar Sounder Experiment (ALSE) was flown on Apollo 17, the last mission to send American astronauts to the moon, to assist in surface studies. Advancements in technology and availability of commercial ground penetrating radar systems then transformed the industry. It has since been used to collect valuable data throughout the country.

In Hawaii, scans to detect lava tubes have been conducted since 1978. Using the innovative system, a U.S. Coast Guard expedition team discovered the ice-lodged remains of the J2F-4 Grumman Duck aircraft, which crashed in 1942. The United States Department of Energy used GPR equipment to search for survivors following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Today, the tool is used for everything from utility locating to minimizing risks in construction as well as to aid in archaeological, scientific, and historic discoveries.

 

Safeguard your project by scheduling ground penetrating radar scanning through Haggith’s Structural Scan & Inspection in Honolulu, HI. Serving clients throughout Oahu, the company employs non-destructive inspections to provide you with high-level evaluations and images of your worksite. Find out more about their innovative scanning methods on their website, or call (808) 239-4330 to request a quote for a GPR scan.

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