Locating Voids Beneath Concrete Slab at School
- Berkley, Michigan

When underground plumbing or water utilities break down & start to leak, it’s extremely important to have information on the sub-surface soil. There is always a chance when pipes are leaking that sub-surface voids could be forming beneath the floor. Prior to continuing on with business as usual, the floors should be investigated to ensure the safety of the people working in the area.

A situation occurred inside a High School in Berkley MI where a water/plumbing pipe was starting to leak. There was also an underground tunnel which was starting to fill with dirt & it was a mystery on how it was happening. The contractor assigned to figure out the problem needed information as to the extent of any voids beneath the surface adjacent to the tunnel before moving forward with the issue. Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Michigan was contacted to investigate the problem area to determine if or where any voids were present. GPRS scanned inside multiple rooms using a 1600 MHz high resolution antenna to mark the boundaries of the voids located. GPRS was able to locate & mark the boundaries of the tunnel as well. They also marked the paths of any conduits passing through the area to ensure the safety of the workers repairing the floor. The company had to drill small holes throughout the problem area & it was essential not to compromise any existing utilities. The repair company had the information needed to proceed with fixing the problem the correct way.

GPR is a great tool to investigate for sub-surface voids. GPR can also be utilized for many different applications. To learn more on the capabilities of GPRS in the Ann Arbor, MI & Detroit, MI areas, contact Regional Manager, Thaddeus Bullock, at 734.377.4551 or thaddeus.bullock@gprsinc.com.