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Geophysical UST Investigation AGS Project 13-084-ICA <br /> Linden,California <br /> very weakly to the electrical properties of the surrounding soil,thus making the EM61 a high-sensitivity <br /> metal detector. The EM61's sensitivity is enhanced by the use of two receiver coils; the second coil <br /> response can be used to reduce interference caused by nearby power lines and cultural objects such as <br /> buildings,vehicles,and chain-link fences. <br /> Ground Penetrating Radar(GPR) <br /> GPR uses radar technology to produce a graphical profile of the subsurface that shows soil layering and <br /> images of buried objects. GPR systems typically use a single transceiving antenna (one that both <br /> transmits and receives the radar signal)that is dragged along the ground surface. The antenna emits a <br /> radar pulse into the ground; some of the radar energy reflects off of interfaces between materials with <br /> different electrical properties(e.g.,soil and a UST)and returns to the surface where it is detected by the <br /> antenna and sent via the cable to a separate control unit where it is amplified and displayed on a <br /> computer screen as a vertical"wiggle trace,"which is a plot of the strength(amplitude)of the received <br /> GPR signal (i.e., the reflection) over time. Although the vertical scale of a GPR profile is usually <br /> considered as depth,it actually measures the travel time of the radar pulse from the surface to a reflecting <br /> interface and back to the surface. <br /> A subsurface profile is built as the antenna is pulled along the survey line and successive wiggle traces <br /> are recorded. GPR data are usually displayed as an array of closely-spaced traces; this procedure <br /> produces an image of the subsurface as the reflections(wiggles)on adjacent traces merge into coherent <br /> patterns. Soil layer boundaries appear as laterally continuous horizontal bands across a GPR profile. <br /> Buried objects appear as localized, high-amplitude (dark) reflection patterns. Buried pipes and USTs <br /> exhibit a characteristic"upside down U"hyperbolic pattern,which allows them to be readily identified <br /> on a GPR record. Buried refuse often appears as zones of chaotic reflection patterns that disrupt the <br /> horizontal layering on a GPR profile. Although GPR can be subject to significant investigation depth <br /> limitations, it is used for utility locating because it has the potential to detect non-metallic utilities, <br /> whereas RF and EM locating methods will detect only metallic utilities. Burial depths are determined by <br /> using calibrating GPR profiles with images objects buried at known depths. Culverts and storm drain <br /> pipelines observed in drop inlets are often used for this purpose. <br /> Electromagnetic Metal Detecting <br /> Electromagnetic metal detection (MD) is used to find shallowly buried localized metal masses (e.g., a <br /> buried manhole cover) that cannot be readily detected by RF locating systems. MD locating systems <br /> have a pair of wire coils(transmitter and receiver coils);the receiver soil is first"tuned"to a null position <br /> with respect to the magnetic field emanating from the transmitter coil. When the MD locator is held near <br /> a metal object,the magnetic field becomes distorted and the system is thrown"out of tune." MD devices <br /> are designed to emit an audible tone when they are out of tune,thus signaling the presence of a nearby <br /> metal object. <br /> RF Utility Locating <br /> Briefly,the RD-8000 system comprises a transmitter and a receiver;it locates energized electrical power <br /> lines by detecting the magnetic field associated with flowing electrical current. Additionally,the RD- <br /> 8000 locates metal pipes and unenergized cables by detecting the magnetic field associated with a tracing <br /> signal(a weak electrical current)that is applied with the system transmitter. The tracing signals can be <br /> p 3 ADVANCED GEOLOGICAL SERVICES <br />