Geophysical Survey – Quark Scan

05 Sep 2022

Phase II environmental site assessment – ordering a GPR survey?

Geophysical Survey, Ground Penetrating Radar, Underground Storage Tank LocatingGround Penetrating Radar, Oil Tank Sweep, Underground Storage Tank Locating

During a geophysical survey for a Phase II environmental site assessment, some underground storage tanks (USTs) were located. The size of the survey area was less than 1/3 of an acre and 7 steel USTs were detected. The ground penetrating radar (GPR) profiles showing these USTs are shown in the following picture. The first example in the picture (the one at the top left of the picture) is a very good example of using GPR locating USTs. GPR profiles similar to this one are often used by GPR manufactures and GPR service providers to show that GPR is an amazing tool for UST locating. Although this kind of nice profiles could be very impressive, they can create a wrong impression…

A GPR Data Simulation on A Fiberglass UST

Geophysical Survey, Ground Penetrating Radar, Underground Storage Tank Locating, Underground Utility LocatingGround Penetrating Radar, Underground Storage Tank Locating

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) data can be complicated and difficult to interpret. GPR data simulation is a great way to help interpretation. Fiberglass underground storage tanks (USTs) have been more and more popular. Unlike a traditional steel UST, the top of a fiberglass UST is "transparent", making it possible to see liquid level and the tank bottom in GPR data, providing more underground information. But at the same time, the GPR data is more complicated and can be easily misinterpreted. So a GPR data simulation is done here to minimize the chance of misinterpretation There are 3 simulated situations: an empty tank, a tank with some gasoline, and a half full tank. We can see from the simulation that both…

GPR scanning for voids underneath concrete slabs

Concrete Scanning, Geophysical Survey, Ground Penetrating RadarGround Penetrating Radar, underground void locating

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a great tool for checking potential voids beneath concrete slabs. The concrete on the ground surface may look fine, but the void might already be developing and it's just a matter of time before it collapses. If you have a large area of concern for potential underground voids, scanning with GPR and doing test holes in GPR anomaly areas might be the best option. Geophysicists in Quark Scan are highly experienced in concrete scanning and underground void locating. Give us a call!