GPR Technology Used to Locate Concealed Cleanouts at Industrial Facility
Persistent water intrusion through tiled office flooring at a large industrial site had become a critical issue. The leak was disrupting operations, and the source remained unknown. The facility’s internal team suspected a backed-up sanitary line, but outdated utility records and buried infrastructure made it impossible to confirm without risking damage to the building.
That’s when they called in GPRS.
GPRS Project Manager Adam Sorge responded after the in-house team exhausted efforts to locate the leak source. The suspected blockage stemmed from a compromised sanitary line, but no visible cleanouts remained. Past renovations had tiled over them, and outdated drawings proved unreliable. The facility required precise utility locating solutions to avoid blind demolition and further disruption to critical infrastructure.
Adam Sorge
Utility Locating With GPR and Concrete Antenna
Office flooding pointed to pressure buildup beneath the slab, but with no verified cleanout access, the team lacked options. Using ground penetrating radar (GPR) with a concrete antenna, Sorge initiated a targeted scan to locate embedded infrastructure.
“We don’t always see the sanitary lines directly,” Sorge explained. “But a lot of times, the cleanout lids are metal, and that’s something we can pick up really well with GPR, especially using the concrete antenna.”
Within minutes, Sorge detected three cleanout signatures beneath the tile near a glass partition – a likely origin point for the leak. This confirmed the client’s suspicions but provided the exact data they previously lacked.
“The drawings they had were about a foot off from the actual location,” Sorge said. “That might not sound like a lot, but when you’re talking about breaking through finished flooring, it’s the difference between hitting the mark or having to keep digging.”
Concrete Scanning for Real-Time Field Data
GPRS technicians conducted a scan using interactive software and concrete antenna technology. The goal: real-time actionable data, not post-processed CAD drawings or 3D models. Sorge marked all findings directly on the tile, and the team delivered a Job Summary Report with photo documentation for clear and accurate records.
“Most of the time for interior jobs like this, the deliverable is just our surface markings and a Job Summary Report,” Sorge stated. “We take a few photos of our markings to document what was found, and that’s really all the client needs to move forward.”
The result: no unnecessary demo, no uncertainty. The team successfully exposed and accessed the blocked sanitary line, resolving the leak efficiently.
GPRS Project Managers use a concrete antenna to locate hidden utilities beneath the slab at an industrial facility, helping prevent unnecessary demolition.
Future-Proofing With VPI and Integrated Solutions
During the project, Sorge recommended the facility consider video pipe inspection (VPI) for internal line assessment post-access. This introduced the client to additional software-enabled solutions for preventative maintenance and future planning.
“It was a very straightforward job,” Sorge said. “They needed to find these lids, and we were able to come in and do that quickly and accurately. It saved them a lot of time and probably a lot of frustration.”
From Field to Facility Records – Connected Through SiteMap®
For facility managers seeking long-term visibility, a single locating project like this one becomes exponentially more valuable when integrated into SiteMap®. With SiteMap®, GPRS field data – including surface markings, cleanout locations, and job summaries – can be uploaded into our interactive map-based software platform, transforming one-time scans into permanent digital records.
Instead of relying on outdated drawings, facility teams using SiteMap® gain immediate access to verified infrastructure locations across the entire site. It turns reactive fixes into proactive asset management, providing scalable solutions for maintenance, renovations, and emergency response.
By aligning GPRS field expertise with SiteMap®, contractors and facility managers get an integrated approach to infrastructure that is both visible and actionable.
Infrastructure Locating That Supports Preventive Facility Management
Whether scanning concrete slabs or mapping buried assets, GPRS Project Managers like Sorge leverage interactive tools and technical expertise to support operational continuity. In this case, the solution prevented unnecessary downtime and enabled the maintenance team to take immediate action.
By helping the facility team Visualize The Built World®, even beneath sealed surfaces, GPRS empowered decision-makers with accurate field data, integrated records, and efficient solutions tailored to their needs.
This project underscores the value of precise infrastructure data. For facility managers and contractors, having access to the right tools, software, and locating expertise makes all the difference.
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