A hospital in Los Angeles, California utilized the precision utility locating and mapping data provided by GPRS to ensure the safety of excavations related to recent parking lot renovations.
GPRS Project Manager Javier Mendez utilized ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanning and electromagnetic (EM) locating to locate and map utilities in and around the parking lot of a VA Medical Center in LA. The facility had recently installed solar panels and needed precise scans of the area to update their as-built records and safely reroute some buried utilities.

Javier Mendez
“They needed to know the precise locations of all these utilities, because the parking lot – they already had solar in there – but what they didn’t realize is they put the solar within the existing utilities,” Mendez explained. “So, if they ever were to go back and excavate again, they really can’t because the solar is in the way. They need to find all these lines, reroute them, and cap some of them off.”
In keeping with the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM), Mendez deployed his GPR scanner and EM locator to find all the utilities buried under the parking lot. The data he collected was geolocated using Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Positioning and uploaded into SiteMap® (patent pending), GPRS’ infrastructure mapping software application.
Mendez located significantly more utilities under the parking lot than the client expected, leading to an expanded scope of work that included locating utilities into the adjacent right-of-way.
“Once they saw [the underground utilities] extended to the right-of-way, they wanted to see where exactly those lines in the parking lot go and where they tie into,” Mendez explained. “They wanted to find the main since they were going to be exposing these lines. They want to see where they could cap it off or where they could cap it or reroute it from. Gladly, we were able to provide them with where all these lines that went into the parking lot were tied into and where they get fed from exactly.”
The accurate utility locating data GPRS collected ensured our client could complete their work without damaging any of the critical utilities servicing the hospital.

SiteMap gives clients the ability to securely access their critical infrastructure data from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, enabling them to plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately, build better.
“Because we had just about every utility you could think of, you had fire, water, gas lines, steam lines, and petroleum lines running through that section,” Mendez explained. “So, I think them calling us out definitely did save them a lot of money, a lot of time, and we kept everyone safe. Without us, they would have went in there, crossed their fingers, and wished for the best.
“We always want to go above and beyond and whatever they asked for,” Mendez continued. “We are there to make sure they’re satisfied with whatever information we provide for them.”
Through SiteMap, GPRS provides you with accurate existing conditions documentation to help you plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately build better.
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