Can GPR distinguish between rebar, conduit, and PT tendons?

Yes — rebar appears as a regular grid of hyperbolic reflections, conduit shows as a continuous run, and PT tendons appear as banded parallel lines in two perpendicular directions.

What should I send before you arrive?

Any available drawings showing the slab design or utility routing are helpful but not required. We can work without drawings on older buildings or sites with no records.

GPR Concrete Scanning in Florida

Ground penetrating radar scanning on active concrete job site

Live GPR Data Capture Marked No-Cut Zones Contractor-Ready Layout

Before you cut, core, or anchor into concrete, you need to know what's inside the slab. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) sends a radar pulse through concrete and reads the signal that bounces back off anything with a different density — rebar, post-tension tendons, conduit, water lines, and voids all reflect differently. The scanner maps those reflections in real time so we can mark clear zones and conflict zones on the slab surface before your crew starts work.

When to Use GPR Concrete Scanning

GPR concrete scanning is used before any work that penetrates, cuts through, or is anchored into concrete where the internal contents are unknown or uncertain:

Core drilling — before drilling for MEP sleeves, drain lines, risers, or any through-slab penetration
Saw cutting — before cutting trenches, control joints, or openings through slabs
Adhesive and mechanical anchoring — before installing anchor rods, handrail bases, or equipment pads
Wall penetrations — before cutting openings through reinforced concrete walls
Selective demolition — before breaking or chipping concrete where the reinforcement layout is unknown
Post-tensioned slabs — before any penetration work on PT decks, parking structures, or high-rise floors

This service is especially important on older buildings with outdated or missing drawings, post-renovation slabs where utilities may have been rerouted, and occupied facilities where any utility strike causes immediate operational impact.

What GPR Can Detect in Concrete

Rebar — direction, approximate spacing, and depth of top and bottom mats
Post-tension tendons — path direction and approximate location (not tension status)
Electrical conduit and plumbing lines embedded in or below the slab
Voids and delamination within the slab
Slab thickness estimation

What GPR Cannot Always Detect

No scanning technology is infallible. GPR has limitations that are important for contractors and engineers to understand:

Non-metallic conduit (PVC, HDPE) may not reflect clearly depending on soil or concrete conditions
Signal penetration decreases with depth — very deep utilities may not be detectable
Heavily congested reinforcement can mask objects behind the top mat
GPR identifies PT tendon location and path but cannot assess tendon tension or condition
Fiberglass rebar may require different detection methods

We communicate these limitations clearly on every job so your team can make informed decisions.

How the Field Process Works

Review the work scope and any available drawings before arriving on site
Set up a scan grid aligned to the planned penetration or cut locations
Collect data with the GSSI StructureScan Mini — a high-resolution GPR system designed for concrete imaging
Interpret scan data in real time and identify reinforcement, conduit, and PT risk zones
Mark the slab or wall with paint indicating clear zones, conflict zones, and no-cut boundaries
Walk the foreman or drill operator through the markings before work begins

What You Receive

Field markings (paint and/or chalk) on the slab or wall surface
A verbal walkthrough with the foreman or crew lead before work starts
On request: photo documentation of scan coverage and marked zones
On request: written reference notes for superintendent or engineering coordination

Who Uses GPR Concrete Scanning

General contractors, concrete contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, core drilling companies, structural engineers, and facility managers use this service. If your work goes into or through concrete, GPR scanning belongs in your pre-task process.

Schedule a Concrete Scanning Quote

Tell us the slab type, the number of penetration points, and your target mobilization date. We'll get back to you fast.

Request a Scanning Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Most Florida projects can be scheduled same-day or next-day depending on scope and travel distance. Call or submit a quote request and we'll confirm availability quickly.

Yes — each object type produces a different signal signature. Rebar typically appears as a regular grid of hyperbolic reflections. Conduit shows as a continuous run. PT tendons appear as banded parallel lines, often in two perpendicular directions. We interpret these in the field and mark each type accordingly.

Yes. GPR uses non-ionizing radar energy — it does not produce X-ray or ionizing radiation. No area evacuation is required, no radiation permits are needed, and the equipment is safe for use in hospitals, schools, and occupied commercial buildings.

Any available drawings showing the slab design or utility routing are helpful but not required. The more context we have, the more useful the scan results. We can work without drawings on older buildings or sites with no records.

Yes. The GSSI StructureScan Mini can be used on floors, walls, ceilings, and elevated concrete decks. Access and surface conditions affect results, but most common construction surfaces are compatible.