Ground Penetrating Radar in Civil Engineering In episode 045 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Daniel P. Bigman, PhD on Ground Penetrating Radar in civil engineering also known as GPR. Daniel also answers some questions from our listeners on technical items and other issues they are facing with Ground Penetrating Radar in Civil Engineering. Here are some of the questions I ask Daniel Bigman about Ground Penetrating Radar in Civil Engineering: What is your background with GPR? What are the benefits and limitations of the technology? How does GPR get priced? What have you seen in popularity and the current state of use in civil engineering? How can firms get started with GPR and what are the common mistakes beginners run into? Quotes from the episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast: Here are some key points discussed in this episode with regards to ground penetrating radar in civil engineering: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-evasive imaging technology which allows you to create a 3-Dimensional image of surfaces prior to, or in lieu of excavation. GPR is one of the most dynamic, subsurface imaging technology that is available. GPR produces an electromagnetic pulse, which is an electromagnetic radio wave that get pushed into the ground. Radio waves travel at a very certain speed in any given material, and the benefit of GPR is that as a wave changes it speed, meaning that it transfers from one material into another material, some of the energy of that wave, reflects off that interface. When it reflects, it can get recorded in both the 2-way travel time and the amplitude of the reflection back at the ground service. You can use that then to create a 3-Dimensional sketch of the subsurface. Pairing GPR with some sort of a verification scheme, may produce the most successful approach as it allows you to limit time and money but still obtain a large data set. One of the biggest drawbacks of GPR are site conditions. The two most difficult soil conditions to work in are wet clay or saltwater (brackish conditions). Both conditions can make it difficult to collect GPR data, however, they are not impossible to use GPR. GPR can get priced on an hourly, daily or an physical area rate. Prices can range from $100 per hour to $2500 per day. The role of civil engineers in ground penetrating radar (GPR) is to provide a much deeper analysis of GPR data, and to offer additional layers of information that GPR can offer in relation to what other people can’t offer. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can be used in so many different areas including agriculture, environmental, archaeology, evaluating a diseases inside of a tree and many more. If you would like to find out more about Daniel Bigman and GPR, you can visit his website or any of Learn GPRs Social Media Platforms as listed below. More details in this episode… About Daniel Bigman: Daniel P. Bigman, PhD received his PhD from the University of Georgia and is an expert in non-invasive subsurface mapping and 3D imaging. His graduate research focused on the applications of near-surface geophysics to archaeological and historical contexts and has since taught at several universities in Georgia. He has collaborated with scholars across the southeastern United States on innovative research pertaining to applied geophysics and damage prevention, especially as it relates to the protection of cultural resources. The results of these projects have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals of international reputation. Daniel is also the founder of LearnGPR.com, which is the most comprehensive, fun, and accessible Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) training on earth.