Product category:
Equipment Hire Services
News Release from: Ashtead Technology | Subject: Mala GPR
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 September 2007
Rented ground radar locates all
Utilities
Tower Surveys hired utility location equipment from Ashtead Technology Rentals: this advanced technology enables them to provide a comprehensive survey of subsurface objects
Tower Surveys operates a team of Chartered Surveyors throughout the UK and overseas, performing non-intrusive utilities and underground services surveys, including both site mark-up and digital reporting Underground utility surveys are provided for a wide range of public and private sector clients, employing drainage equipment (including CCTV), electrolocation techniques ('CAT and Genny', RD4000) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) to locate services
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 28 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Ashtead adds FLIR infrared camera to hire fleet
Ashtead Technology has announced the addition of the FLIR P620 high-resolution infrared camera to its hire fleet of thermal-imaging equipment.
TSI helps BBC to test Beijing pollution
A TSI DustTrak air-monitoring instrument was hired by the BBC to measure air quality at the Team GB training base in the UK for comparison with particulate levels at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
GPR complements electrolocation technology through the identification of non-conductive services such as plastic gas pipes and fibre-optic cables, which conventional electrolocation equipment is not designed to detect.
Tower Surveys hire the Mala Easylocator GPR equipment from Ashtead Technology Rentals.
Jes Galtress at Tower Surveys says "Ashtead service is reliable, prompt and courteous and the equipment always arrives on time, in superb condition and ready for use.
Further reading
Rental partnership for new methane laser detector
Ashtead Technology Rentals has been appointed by Crowcon Detection Instruments as the rental specialist for the latest Crowcon laser methane detection instrument
Rented videoscope saves time and money
A high-tech videoscope hired from Ashtead Technology Rentals helped an environmental services company to significantly reduce down-time during routine health and safety checks
Water monitors added to Ashtead hire fleet
Ashtead Technology Rentals has added the YSI 556 multiparameter water quality sonde and the SonTek Flowtracker to its rental fleet of water monitoring instruments
We have always been able to provide a good service to our clients when using equipment supplied by Ashtead.
The after-sales service is superb and we hire their equipment in the knowledge that the job will get done".
Ashtead General Manager James Carlyle says "GPR instruments are well suited to renting for a number of reasons.
Firstly, they are expensive to purchase so a short-term hire makes strong financial sense.
Secondly, as with all our instruments, we have invested in the latest technology and finally, whilst GPR is mainly used for non-intrusive ground investigations it is also a useful tool for testing concrete materials, highways and even for snow/ice thickness measurements".
A GPR transmits radio signals into the material being tested and measures the reflected signals.
Any material with different electrical properties to the 'host material' will reflect differently and the instrument records this difference and translates the data into a visual representation on the shockproof TFT monitor on the Mala unit.
Ashtead engineers have received many complimentary comments from customers that have rented the Mala; they have been extremely impressed with the quality and clarity of the images that the instrument is able to produce.
Pipes, conduits, metallic objects, plastics, concrete, ceramics, asphalt composites and voids can be clearly located using this technique and as such GPR finds common application in work that necessitates the precise identification of utility location.
A selection of antennas is available with the unit so that users can select an appropriate depth range, of up to 5 meters.
Ashtead also offer RF pipe and cable locators, which are lower in cost but partly depend on an electrical current in the target pipe or cable.
Used in passive mode they can locate some conductive services without the need to apply a current.
They are ideal for the location of known 'live' utilities.
RF locators can be used in conjunction with the Mala GPR.
GPR is employed in the following applications: Plastic gas pipes.
Ductile iron or plastic water pipes.
Plastic or ACP sewer pipes.
Telecom fibre w/o tracer.
Lost duct banks or vaults.
Distribution heating / cooling.
Jes Galtress speaks highly of the Mala and says "The only problem with this device is that it passes quickly and easily over the test ground and onlookers often believe the operator is trying to mow the grass!".
• Ashtead Technology: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
