There are certain professions that require no degrees, certifications, or licenses of any kind. If you decide to go into one of them, you could conceivably be in business the very same day you make the decision! It would be a very busy day, but it is possible.
In most areas of the construction industry, this isn’t an option. You need to obtain a contractor’s license to legally take on most types of construction projects. Obtaining a license in most states is a long process that includes taking a contractors exam and demonstrating experience in the field.
One area of the construction sector that doesn’t require any sort of experience, license, or certification is underground scanning. This is actually somewhat surprising because underground scanning involves the use of highly technical equipment, and requires a good amount of training and experience to correctly interpret the results that equipment puts out.
For example, ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems are often the go-to equipment for underground scanning companies. While the equipment itself is not difficult to operate, interpreting the data is often no easy task. Even skilled technicians can sometimes struggle to figure out what exactly they are looking at when scanning for subsurface items. But unfortunately for consumers, there is no way to differentiate between a qualified underground scanning company and a person who simply purchased the equipment and opened up a scanning business. There’s no database of licensed underground scanning companies, because no licensing agency exists.
When you need an underground scanning company, you will need to do a bit of research on your own. Look for reputable companies that use a variety of scanning tools. In addition to GPR, they should also make use of non-destructive tools such as magnetometers, acoustic pipe locators, electromagnetic frequency (EMF) transmitters and receivers, and more. Not every job will need multiple tools, but a good company will have them on hand in case any findings need confirmation.
You might also benefit from working with a company that takes on a wide range of underground scanning projects, such as utility locating, geological mapping, and archaeological surveys. While you may not need all of these services, working with a company with these types capabilities can be beneficial, no matter the scope of the project.
If you are in Southern California, a very good underground scanning company to consider is Enhanced Scanning. As a company, they are dedicated to using the latest scanning technology and providing extensive training for all of their technicians. They complete a variety of projects including utility locating, concrete scanning, geological surveys, LiDAR scanning using drones, and much more. They are called in for complex scanning projects around the country, as well as everyday underground scanning projects in Southern California.
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