Frequently Asked Questions

1. Questions prior to commissioning the work

a.          Who do I contact if I need to know more information regarding a specific technique?

If you cannot find the answer to your query on our website This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it our sales manager will be pleased to help.  

b.          Who do I contact for a quote? 

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it our bid manager is the guy to contact

d.          What sort of information do I need to give you in order to receive a quote?

The most important thing we need to know is what you are hoping to achieve from the survey – what are the targets, their size and depth and what are their characteristics ie how do they differ/contrast with their surroundings. Other information we need to know is the size of the area to be investigated, its location, type of surface / ground cover and access details. If in doubt please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it who will be able to help you.

e.          Will I be provided with a risk assessment and method statement for the survey?

Yes, Stratascan will issue you with a site specific risk assessment and method statement where this is required.

f.          What is your earliest availability?

We can normally mobilise within 1-2 weeks of the survey being commissioned, although this is under constant review. An estimated start date will be issued with the quote.

2. Questions at fieldwork stage

a.          Can you survey in all weather?

Most of our equipment has some water protection but only magnetometry and resistivity (both used in archaeological surveys) are water proof enough to allow us to survey in very wet conditions. We can survey in light snow as long as survey lines etc are still visible.

b.          How much can you survey in a day?

This is very much determined by the technique and the density of data needed to satisfy the brief. As an example, a team can cover 2 to 3 hectares a day using magnetometry depending on the ground conditions and configuration of the survey area. In contrast a team can cover about 2500m² per day using an EM31 to collect ground conductivity data.

c.          How long will the site work take?

This is very much linked to question 2b above but also on the number of personnel on the project. We will always try and meet your time scales by putting multiple teams onto site. The approximate duration of the site work will be shown with your quotation.

d.          When will your site team arrive?

On new jobs our site teams will aim to leave our office in Worcestershire at 7.30am. Arrival time will be determined by distance and route to the site. Unless the site involves a lot of travelling we would expect to arrive on the first day between 9am and 10am. If the working hours are restricted on your site or involves a site induction at a set time please let us know at the quotation stage.  

e.          Will overhead power lines and other utilities affect the results?

Overhead power lines rarely interfere with our equipment sensors. Large diameter steel pipes like those used to distribute gas will affect magnetometer data up to 20m either side of the pipe centreline.

f.          How many people will carry out the site work?

For a typical project we will send 1 site team which will consist of 2 people. On larger projects we may deploy multiple teams.

g.          My site is on a Scheduled Monument. Is this a problem?

If the site is scheduled then we will need to apply to English Heritage for permission to carry out the survey. If they approve our proposal they will issue us with a Section 42 licence. We can apply for this on the clients behalf. It can take 2-3 weeks for English Heritage to consider the application.

h.          Does any of your equipment require a licence?

The only equipment we use the use of which is regulated by a licencing authority is ground probing radar. We carry an Ofcom licence which allows us to use GPR throughout the country apart from within military establishments, prisons and near to radio telescope stations where special permission needs to be sought prior to use.

i.          What kind of ground cover can you work over?

This is dependent on technique. Where the equipment is hand held like magnetometry then if a person can walk over the site without too much difficulty it should be surveyable. If the equipment is dragged such as GPR then if it is too difficult to pull a mower over the site without damaging the landscaping or the equipment then it should be considered unsurveyablewith that technique.  

j.          The site is under arable crop. / This site is a formal garden. Will your survey cause any damage to crops and plants?

Most of our techniques are operated by manually carrying equipment over the site in gridded lines. This walking will inevitably cause some unavoidable damage underfoot to crops and plants. Some techniques require a more intensive grid layout and will cause correspondingly more damage. A young crop will be more robust and recover. A mature crop ready for harvest is unlikely to recover.

k.          The survey is within a car park. Will your work cause any disruption?

Our techniques require access to the ground surface. Any obstacles will result in unsurveyed areas. Ideally the car park will be empty and closed during the survey. If it is not possible to close the entire car park then it would need to be closed off in sections allowing us partial access while retaining some parking facilities.

l.          Can you survey inside buildings?

We can carry out ground probing radar surveys inside buildings assuming that the building has a solid floor. Radar will not work over suspended floors which incorporate an air gap.

3. Questions about reporting

a.          Does your price include reporting?

Our price would normally be inclusive of mobilisation, site work, accommodation and reporting. If on a particular project it is not included then this will be specifically stated in your quote.

b.          When can I expect the report?

Preliminary results can normally be supplied within 2-3 days of completion of the site work.  The final report will typically take around 2 weeks to produce. More complicated reports on larger projects may take longer and conversely short projects may be quicker.

c.          Can you determine how deep a feature is buried?

Ground probing radar can give estimates of depth. If depth is a specific objective of your requirements please let us know at the quote stage.

d.          Will I receive a written report?

Results will be overlain on a CAD drawing of the site. A descriptive text report will also be supplied detailing background information, methodology, results and conclusions. All reporting will be in accordance with English Heritage Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation, 2008. Three hard copies and one soft copy will be supplied.