Geophysical Services
If you are looking for something underground, whether it’s a small water valve or a huge underground cavern, whether it’s an underground pipe 2 feet down or bedrock tens of feet deep, we can help you! We utilize varieties of geophysical techniques to locate buried targets and delineate subsurface conditions. Geophysical surveys are non-destructive and provide valuable subsurface information for your construction, engineering or environmental projects.
Our geophysical techniques include ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic mapping, electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), and seismic refraction, to name a few. Our expertise in geophysics enables us to choose appropriate geophysical techniques and data acquisition parameters adaptive to the site condition and the investigation purpose. Below are just a few applications of our geophysical services. For a more complete list of applications, please click here.
- Underground Utility Locating
- Underground Storage Tank Locating
- Underground void locating
- Concrete Structure Scanning
- Landfill Delineation
- Septic Field Mapping
- Cemetery/Historic Burial Mapping
- Buried Foundation Mapping
- Bedrock Mapping
FAQ
Due to the wide use of GPR in underground utility locating in recent years and GPR has become the face of geophysics to many people. But GPR is only one of the geophysical techniques. There are many other geophysical techniques such as electromagnetic induction, electrical resistivity imaging, gravity, seismic methods, etc. These methods are well known by mineral prospecting and hydrocarbon exploration industries and have been adapted for environmental, engineering and other applications for years.
Why do we provide geophysical services instead of only GPR services? It is because for many subsurface targets we are consulted to search for, GPR is not suitable or not adequate. Very often we use two or more geophysical techniques to conduct more thorough and efficient investigations.
Electromagnetic mapping works through electromagnetic induction. An instrument is used to generate a primary magnetic field to induce an electrical current in the earth, resulting a secondary magnetic field. This secondary field is measured and its characteristics reflects the subsurface condition. An instrument used for electromagnetic mapping is typically equipped with the GPS technology for rapid subsurface mapping. Two-dimensional (2D) data maps showing subsurface electrical conductivity variations can be generated in field for evaluation. Metallic objects are the easiest to identify, but other non-metallic targets or features could be identified as well. The data maps can be easily imported into a mapping system such as Google Earth or AutoCAD for positioning reference and presentation. Electromagnetic mapping provides a great alternate way of subsurface imaging where GPR is not effective or efficient.