Bridge Deck Analysis with GPR
Concrete Scanning
CLIENT
Various construction companies and engineering firms
TIME
2-3 days
SERVICE
Concrete Scanning
The Challenge
Bridge decks are typically heavily reinforced and highly variable, with changes in thickness, cover depth, and material condition across the span. Traditional intrusive testing is disruptive, slow, and limited in coverage, while incomplete data can lead to uncertainty in rehabilitation design, cost overruns, or conservative assumptions. Accurate positioning is also critical to ensure results are defensible and repeatable.
The Solution
Scantec performs bridge deck surveys using dual-frequency Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to target specific assessment objectives:
2600 MHz GPR to measure top rebar cover depth with high resolution
900 MHz GPR to evaluate overall deck thickness with greater penetration
Survey lines are collected systematically across the bridge deck using GSSI GPR systems, following applicable GPR standards for survey density and data quality.
To ensure spatial accuracy, GPR data is integrated with RTK GPS and total station positioning, allowing precise georeferencing of results and seamless integration into engineering drawings and reports.
The Outcome
By engaging Scantec for bridge deck GPR analysis, project teams gain:
Accurate, non-destructive measurements of deck thickness and rebar cover across the full deck area
Standards-compliant data suitable for transportation and regulatory requirements
Engineering-ready deliverables, supported by survey-grade positioning
Reduced uncertainty in rehabilitation planning and condition assessment
Efficient data collection with minimal disruption to traffic and operations
The result is a clear, defensible understanding of bridge deck conditions—supporting smarter rehabilitation decisions, optimized designs, and safer infrastructure for Alberta’s transportation network.
