Why Bother with a Bay Area Concrete Scan?

Everyone has seen news stories about construction accidents that resulted in oil and gas leaks and explosions, fires, electrocutions, and major power outages.  Known as external force damage, these run-ins with underground utilities can cost lives as well as huge sums of money.  While avoiding such catastrophes is probably the best and most obvious reason to perform a Bay Area concrete scan before any excavation, it is not the only reason. Certainly, many excavation and construction accidents can be preempted by calling Underground Service Alert (USA) North 811, northern California’s utility location one call center.  811 is useful service provided...

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Bay Area Utility Location

In the Bay area utility location markers in a rainbow of colors liven up sidewalks and streets.  Those location markers indicate the presence of utility lines beneath the surface, but to really “see” what’s down there requires specialized technology.  Modern excavation construction projects depend heavily on ground penetrating radar (GPR). As the name suggests, ground penetrating radar employs radar technology.  The acronym stands for radio detection and ranging.  Basically, radar is the transmission of a signal via antenna, which bounces off objects in its path.  A receiver picks up the signal on the rebound.  The technology has been around for...

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San Jose Ground Penetrating Radar

High tech and affluent, San Jose basks in the heart of Silicon Valley.  Gleaming modern structures stand shoulder to shoulder with ancient Spanish missions in the San Francisco Bay Area’s mild, sunny climate.  In the city’s center, dozens of building projects are underway, but the proximity of  Mineta San Jose Airport’s final approach imposes unbending restrictions on height.  Buildings are limited to 24 stories in San Jose’s southern end and only 18 stories nearer the airport.  As a result, architects are turning to unique design plans to avoid a “blocky” skyline, and parking is going underground.  Now, more than ever,...

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