Infrasense Scans Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston to Locate Conduits and Reinforcing Steels
Posted: 2013-2-12
Source:
PR Web
Infrasense has recently completed a utility and rebar detection project in the Ted
Williams Tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts. Working as a subcontractor to J.F.
White Contracting Company, Infrasense used ground penetrating radar (GPR) to
mark out rebar and utility lines embedded in the concrete ceiling of the tunnel.
As a part of the routine inspection process, new temporary supports must be
attached to the tunnel ceiling to allow load testing of a representative sample of
the existing supports. To prevent reinforcing steel and utility lines from being
damaged during this attachment process, and to ensure the safety of the drilling
crew, J.F. White selected Infrasense to locate the conduits and reinforcement at
each of 120 locations where drilling was scheduled to take place.
The tunnel work presented a unique set of challenges for Infrasense engineers
due to the dark and confined work spaces. In order to navigate the narrow
plenums that provide ventilation above the main tunnel opening, Infrasense
engineers used a new handheld GPR system that is easier to carry and use where
there is limited mobility. Using a high-resolution 1.6 GHz frequency ground-
coupled antenna, Infrasense engineers were able to survey all 120 locations,
spanning more than 1 mile, in just 4 nights. After each location was surveyed,
Infrasense marked out the conduits and rebar on the concrete surface in order to
provide accurate locations for drilling crews to use.
The effectiveness of the GPR system was tested and verified by Infrasense
engineers by scanning and marking utility locations outside of an unopened
junction boxes in the tunnel wall. After these locations were marked by the
Infrasense crew, personnel from J.F. White and the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation opened the junction box to determine the true location of the
utility lines at that location; the Infrasense markings corresponded perfectly to
the true utility locations at the junction box.
Ground penetrating radar is a nondestructive evaluation technique that operates
by transmitting short pulses of electromagnetic energy into the concrete, using a
boxed antenna attached to a survey vehicle or rolled along the slab. These pulses
are reflected back to the antenna providing a record of the properties and
thicknesses of the layers within the slab.
GPR can detect the depth and spacing of reinforcing steel or other metallic
objects, as well as the thickness of concrete slabs. It is also able to detect
subsurface deterioration of a slab through changes in the radar signal through
the concrete. GPR is an especially useful tool for projects such as the utility
survey performed in the Ted Williams Tunnel because the variety of GPR
configurations and settings provide more flexibility and capabilities to the
engineers doing the work.
About Infrasense, Inc.
Since 1987, Infrasense, Inc. has applied the most current technologies to the
most difficult challenges in subsurface scanning. Infrasense’s engineers are able
to nondestructively extract critical information from a diverse range of
structures. The firm has conducted research to advance the field of subsurface
detection, while also providing valuable information to clients across the country.
To learn more about Infrasense and the services we provide, visit our website:
http://www.infrasense.com.
Williams Tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts. Working as a subcontractor to J.F.
White Contracting Company, Infrasense used ground penetrating radar (GPR) to
mark out rebar and utility lines embedded in the concrete ceiling of the tunnel.
As a part of the routine inspection process, new temporary supports must be
attached to the tunnel ceiling to allow load testing of a representative sample of
the existing supports. To prevent reinforcing steel and utility lines from being
damaged during this attachment process, and to ensure the safety of the drilling
crew, J.F. White selected Infrasense to locate the conduits and reinforcement at
each of 120 locations where drilling was scheduled to take place.
The tunnel work presented a unique set of challenges for Infrasense engineers
due to the dark and confined work spaces. In order to navigate the narrow
plenums that provide ventilation above the main tunnel opening, Infrasense
engineers used a new handheld GPR system that is easier to carry and use where
there is limited mobility. Using a high-resolution 1.6 GHz frequency ground-
coupled antenna, Infrasense engineers were able to survey all 120 locations,
spanning more than 1 mile, in just 4 nights. After each location was surveyed,
Infrasense marked out the conduits and rebar on the concrete surface in order to
provide accurate locations for drilling crews to use.
The effectiveness of the GPR system was tested and verified by Infrasense
engineers by scanning and marking utility locations outside of an unopened
junction boxes in the tunnel wall. After these locations were marked by the
Infrasense crew, personnel from J.F. White and the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation opened the junction box to determine the true location of the
utility lines at that location; the Infrasense markings corresponded perfectly to
the true utility locations at the junction box.
Ground penetrating radar is a nondestructive evaluation technique that operates
by transmitting short pulses of electromagnetic energy into the concrete, using a
boxed antenna attached to a survey vehicle or rolled along the slab. These pulses
are reflected back to the antenna providing a record of the properties and
thicknesses of the layers within the slab.
GPR can detect the depth and spacing of reinforcing steel or other metallic
objects, as well as the thickness of concrete slabs. It is also able to detect
subsurface deterioration of a slab through changes in the radar signal through
the concrete. GPR is an especially useful tool for projects such as the utility
survey performed in the Ted Williams Tunnel because the variety of GPR
configurations and settings provide more flexibility and capabilities to the
engineers doing the work.
About Infrasense, Inc.
Since 1987, Infrasense, Inc. has applied the most current technologies to the
most difficult challenges in subsurface scanning. Infrasense’s engineers are able
to nondestructively extract critical information from a diverse range of
structures. The firm has conducted research to advance the field of subsurface
detection, while also providing valuable information to clients across the country.
To learn more about Infrasense and the services we provide, visit our website:
http://www.infrasense.com.
