In today’s highly technical world, it can sometimes seem like anything is possible. And not only possible, but easy. Tasks that used to take hours (like creating a detailed spreadsheet, writing a summary document, or creating a caricature image of yourself based on a photo can now be done in seconds using AI!
So, when our customers ask us for a 3D rendering of the subsurface on their property following a GPR scan, they likely think this is a simple request. It’s just a matter of using some 3D rendering software to process the data, right? Unfortunately, it’s not (yet) that simple. Creating a 3D rendering of the subsurface using the data from GPR data is a bit of an involved process.
Standard Deliverables with GPR Scanning Services
The vast majority of GPR professionals, including the GPR technicians at Enhanced Scanning, offer two standard deliverable types following a GPR scan: marks on site or 2D CAD line drawings. And while the CAD file we give to customers will include horizontal positions of subsurface items, as well as their depth—so, technically three dimensions—the line drawing doesn’t look like what many customers expect a 3D drawing to look like.
At Enhanced Scanning, we do our best to manage our customers’ expectations up front, which is why we don’t use the term “3D GPR,” like some other providers of GPR scanning services in the Inland Empire might. We find the term misleading. Most people get a certain image in their head when they think of a 3D rendering, and that image probably doesn’t coincide with the deliverable that will be provided at the end of a GPR scan.
Providing 3D Renderings of Subsurface Findings
On a few occasions, we have provided three-dimensional deliverables to our customers. To create these 3D renderings, we had to collect a dense data set with multichannel antennas. Then, we had to postprocess the data. Finally, we gave it to our modeler to create a 3D rendering. This process requires extra time and work, and therefore, an extra fee, so most customers ultimately decline and accept the standard CAD drawing we offer (since it has all the information they need anyway—it just doesn’t look as cool.) But when we have a customer who insists on a 3D rendering, we do have the capability to produce it for them.
If you talk to another company offering GPR scanning services in the Inland Empire and they are offering “3D GPR” service, you will want to ask some questions about what, exactly, they will provide you with at the end of the process, because it’s probably not the 3D rendering you are picturing in your head.
If you have questions about the GPR scanning services provided by Enhanced Scanning, including questions about our deliverables, you can call our office at any time, or you can fill out our web form and we will get right back to you.