Environmental & Brownfield Surveys
Investigate hidden site conditions before intrusive work.
Ground penetrating radar supports non-destructive investigation of buried structures, made ground, former foundations, subsurface anomalies and changes in site construction.
Investigate former foundations and services.
Map changes in fill and site construction.
Collect systematic profiles across the site.
Support selective trial pits and sampling.
Investigation Objectives
Build a clearer picture of previous site use
Environmental and brownfield GPR surveys can help identify areas of interest before excavation, sampling, redevelopment or more detailed intrusive investigation.
Former foundations and structures
Investigate radar responses associated with buried slabs, walls, footings, culverts and remnants of previous development.
Buried tanks and utilities
Search for discernible buried objects, service routes and related ground disturbance that may require further verification.
Made ground and fill variation
Map changes in reflection character that may indicate variations in fill thickness, construction or subsurface disturbance.
Voids and anomalous areas
Identify unusual radar responses that may justify targeted trial pits, boreholes or additional geophysical investigation.
Survey Methods
Match the frequency and deployment to the site
Integrated site profiling
GroundVue GV100 is designed for rugged, larger-area investigation where a shielded 100 MHz system is suitable for the intended target depth and survey environment.
- Shielded 100 MHz antenna system
- Hand-pulled or vehicle-towed deployment
- Continuous or distance-triggered recording
- Integrated positioning with external GPS support
- Suitable for uneven brownfield terrain
Multi-frequency and deeper surveys
TriVue, GV3 and GV7 provide additional frequency, channel and deployment options for sites requiring complementary datasets or deeper professional investigation.
- Multi-frequency profiling with TriVue
- Modular antenna configurations with GV3
- Low-frequency deep investigation with GV7
- Custom channel and deployment arrangements
- Suitable for specialist geophysical workflows
Investigation Workflow
Combine site history with systematic survey coverage
Effective brownfield investigation begins with a clear understanding of the site history, expected targets and the decisions the survey must support.
Review available evidence
Consider historical mapping, previous site use, utility records, aerial imagery, intrusive logs and areas of suspected disturbance before defining the survey.
Configure and collect
Select the frequency, line spacing, positioning method and survey direction required to provide appropriate depth, resolution and site coverage.
Interpret and verify
Correlate radar responses with the site model and use targeted trial pits, boreholes, sampling or complementary geophysics where confirmation is required.
Recommended Systems
GroundVue systems for environmental and brownfield investigation
System selection depends on the expected target size and depth, required site coverage, ground conditions and whether the survey requires one frequency or complementary datasets.
Large-area brownfield investigation
GroundVue GV100
A rugged integrated 100 MHz system for environmental, brownfield and larger-area investigation across uneven ground.
- Shielded single-channel antenna
- Hand-pulled or vehicle-towed
- Continuous and odometer-triggered recording
Multi-frequency site profiling
GroundVue TriVue
An integrated three-frequency system for collecting complementary shallow and deeper radar information in a single survey pass.
- 250, 500 and 1000 MHz
- Three simultaneous independent channels
- Suitable for varied target depths
Low-frequency deep investigation
GroundVue GV7
A specialist low-frequency transmitter and receiver system for deeper geological and subsurface investigations.
- 40 or 80 MHz configurations
- Common-offset, CMP and WARR capability
- Intended for experienced professional users
Interpretation & Validation
GPR identifies contrasts, not contamination
Radar information can support a site investigation by identifying structures, interfaces and anomalous responses, but it does not directly determine chemical composition or confirm contamination.
Important survey considerations
- A radar reflection indicates an electromagnetic contrast and does not by itself identify the object, material or environmental risk.
- GPR cannot directly identify contamination or determine whether a buried tank, drum or feature contains hazardous material.
- Clay-rich, saline, saturated or highly conductive ground may significantly reduce signal penetration.
- Complex made ground can generate numerous reflections and may make individual targets difficult to distinguish.
- Survey results should be correlated with historical evidence, intrusive investigation, sampling and complementary geophysical methods where required.
Discuss Your Investigation
Configure the survey around the site history and investigation objective
Tell us about the previous site use, expected targets, ground conditions, required depth, survey area and the intrusive work the investigation is intended to support.