Worker with a scanner VS GPR-C Technician
The main reason is that equipment manufacturers market GPR as "not needing specialized knowledge". This is absurd! GPR is non-intuitive. Experienced workers, and even academic researchers who've been doing it for over a decade will routinely misunderstand how GPR generates radargram features (shapes). In other words, they don't know how GPR works! A misunderstanding of the technology will nevertheless allow a worker to correctly scan simple slabs and walls. But anything more complicated, and they'll easily be surpassed by a technician. Yes, GPR has its limits, but a "worker with a scanner" won't even come close to those limits!
The equipment manufacturer's job is to sell their equipment to as many customers as possible. Some of them also sell training, but the training is too broad because GPR is used in many fields. They cover aspects of GPR that are irrelevant to a concrete scanner.
Also, just because they can make a great GPR unit, doesn't mean they know how to use it to its fullest for concrete scanning. In the end, is it really their job to be on the cutting edge of how to use the equipment. The onus is on them to provide assistance and manuals on how to use their specific equipment, but being on the cutting edge of concrete scanning and training isn't. That's our job - to make the best and most valuable training.
Since the manufacturers market the units as "anyone can use this tool", many companies will buy them and assign it to a worker thinking this is equivalent to making someone in charge of taking site pictures. Then they become a "worker with a scanner", and they tend to not last long. This is one of many reasons GPR-C Technicians are in high demand. It's hard to find, and retain talent in this industry. An otherwise competent worker won't have confidence in the technology if they're not properly trained. And if they're not properly trained, is it really fair to blame them when things get hit?
Concrete cutting/coring companies and scanning/utility locating companies have a big incentive to have the most skilled technicians. Their success hinges on it. There are plenty of competitors that are ready and willing to steal market share and replace the leaders in the industry. Train your employees to become GPR-C Technicians so you can be one of those competitors.
