concrete scanning services
concrete scanning services
How are GPR Concrete Scanning and Concrete X-ray Scanning Different?
There are two common ways for performing concrete scanning services– GPR and X-ray. But these methods come with advantages and disadvantages. Certain differences between these services make them effective for one situation and ineffective for another.
Do you know which concrete slab scanning method is suitable for your scenario? We will discuss this in this post. Remember, both are among the best non-invasive concrete structure scanning technologies.
Concrete X-ray scanning
This technology has existed for a long time in the construction industry because of its accuracy. The two variations of this technology are Digital X-ray scanners and Regular X-ray scanners. The former scans the concrete digitally, allowing you to view images on an electronic device, while the former renders from the film.
Concrete X-ray scanning locates and identifies structures within concrete using technical interpretation. The major disadvantage of this method is the radiation emitted by these devices. They lead to health problems. Also, the process is time-consuming, making things problematic if you work on a tight budget.
Concrete GPR scanning
GPR, or Ground penetrating radar, is a cost-effective and faster concrete scanning method. The result is consistent even if the area is large and deeper subsurface-level scanning is required.
The only thing is that GPR requires technically equipped professionals as there are large amounts of raw data to analyze and interpret.
Difference between GPR Concrete Scanning and Concrete X-ray Scanning
Real-time scanning
There is no additional step in GPR, and it provides immediate scan results. On the other hand, getting accurate results from X-rays requires multiple steps and more time. You can even use GPR for spot analysis if you need to prepare quick reports. The method has a small work-site footprint.
Affordability
Compared to concrete X-ray scanning, GPR quickly scans a large area, saving significant time and labor costs. X-ray is unsuitable for large areas as it takes time to scan, increasing the overall service cost. GPR is an ideal option to locate and mark out subsurface objects.
Job Safety
More than your smartphone, GPR technology is safe for concrete slab scanning. It doesn’t emit radiation or signals like X-ray scanners. It means there is no need to evacuate a construction site during the GPR process because of the fear of radiation exposure.
3D scanning
X-ray scanning doesn’t provide a comprehensive result as it only scans one side of the concrete slab or structure. GPR offers 3D scanning, so it’s more suitable for scanning slab-grade concrete structures. The best thing about GPR scanning is that it distinguishes back-filled underground facilities easily.
Noise level
The noise level of the concrete scanning procedure matters, especially if you live in and around a residential area. GPR scanning operates quietly, meaning you can perform scans without disturbing and interrupting the surrounding activities on the construction site. On the other hand, X-ray scanning is a bit noisy than GPR, disturbing people nearby.
Access
GPR concrete scanning can scan a slab from one side. X-ray requires access to both sides of the slab.
C-N-I Locates Offers Cost-Effective GPR Concrete Scanning Services
We know locating underground facilities or mapping utilities embedded into concrete slabs is challenging. So, we recommend you consult our professionals for concrete scanning services. We cover small and large areas and scan concrete structures accurately and precisely.
