Question 1

Can GPR Find Available Space for Future Burials?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our mapping services not only identify existing graves but also clearly show which areas of your cemetery are available for new burials. With our detailed maps, you can easily plan for future burials, maximizing the use of your space while respecting the resting places of others. This makes it much simpler to manage your cemetery’s capacity and plan ahead.

Question 2

Are GPR cemetery surveys safe for areas with fragile historic headstones?

Accepted Answer

Yes. GPR cemetery surveys are completely non-invasive: the radar cart rolls across the turf without touching monuments, and the radio waves are lower power than a cell-phone call. Sentry Mapping’s process leaves the soil, turf, and even the most fragile 1800s marble or sandstone headstones untouched.

Ground penetrating radar cemetery mapping is one of the gentlest ways to investigate historic burial grounds.

Sentry Mapping’s high-frequency GPR antennas transmit a brief, low-energy radio pulse through the soil and listen for reflections—it is the same non-ionizing energy used by Wi-Fi, so it poses no risk to people or stone. Because the equipment is pushed like a stroller across the grass, there is no vibration, excavation, or chemical applied; nothing ever touches the fragile markers.

The result is a full subsurface map that shows every marked and unmarked grave while leaving the site exactly as we found it. GPR does not emit any harmful radiation. The area can remain undisturbed during the course of the scan and causes no soil disturbance or any other damage to the site.

We have successfully mapped many cemeteries dating back 150+ years without any damage to headstones and markers.

Question 3

How can I locate unmarked graves in an old cemetery without disturbing the ground?

Accepted Answer

Use high-frequency ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to scan the cemetery surface, then overlay the subsurface reflections on a precise GPS/GIS map. This non-invasive method detects unmarked grave shafts, outlines each burial plot, and creates a digital record—so you find every grave without digging or disturbing the soil.

Ground-penetrating radar cemetery surveys are the gold standard for unmarked grave detection because they read what lies below the turf instead of moving it. During a Sentry Mapping cemetery survey, technicians roll a high-frequency GPR cart across each walkway and row.

The antenna sends radio waves about 12 ft deep; when the signal hits a disturbed soil column (the signature of a grave shaft) it bounces back, creating a hyperbola visible on screen. We record every reflection with survey-grade GPS, then feed that data into our cemetery GIS mapping workflow. Within days you receive a digital cemetery mapping file that pinpoints each burial plot—marked or not—overlaid on recent drone imagery. Because the process is contact-less and lightweight, there is zero damage to headstones, landscaping, or fragile historic soil layers.

Beyond the map, you get a printed master plan, a searchable web map, and two free years of Chronicle cemetery management software. Staff can click any plot to view burial details, upload documents, or confirm availability before selling a space. This combination of GPR grave locating and intuitive software eliminates guesswork, prevents accidental disturbance, and preserves heritage while maximizing usable ground, all without a single shovel hitting dirt.

Question 4

Is Ground Penetrating Radar Safe to Use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is considered safe for operators, cemetery staff, and visitors. The equipment uses very low-power radio waves—about one-thousandth the strength of a cell phone—so it does not disturb human remains, monuments, or nearby electronics. Surveys are noninvasive, silent, and require no digging.

Ground Penetrating Radar transmits non-ionizing radio pulses (typically 250–900 MHz) through the soil and measures the echoes. The power output is less than two watts—roughly the same as a household Wi-Fi router—so it poses no radiation or electrical hazard to people, animals, pacemakers, or headstones. Because the signal loses strength within a few feet of the antenna, nothing outside the immediate scan line is affected.

During a Sentry Mapping cemetery survey, certified technicians push a lightweight GPR cart across the turf. There is no drilling, excavation, or contact with caskets, meaning remains stay undisturbed and the landscape shows no evidence of the work once the wheels roll past. All equipment meets FCC Part 15 emission limits, and our team follows OSHA and cemetery-industry best practices for PPE, site control, and respectful conduct.

The result is a completely non-destructive way to detect unmarked graves, confirm plot boundaries, and digitize records. Managers get precise GPS-tied data for every burial, plus an interactive cemetery GIS map and two years of free Chronicle cemetery management software—without risking visitor safety, staff health, or the integrity of historic sites. In short, GPR delivers the safest, most reliable path to modern, professional cemetery mapping.

Question 5

What is cemetery mapping?

Accepted Answer

Cemetery mapping is the process of creating an accurate, searchable map of every grave and plot in a cemetery, including unmarked burials. Using tools like GPS, GIS, aerial imagery, and ground penetrating radar, Sentry Mapping documents exact locations so you can protect graves, avoid double-sold plots, and guide visitors quickly.

Cemetery mapping is the process of documenting where every burial and plot sits, then turning that into a map your staff and visitors can search. Done right, it combines surface features like rows, roads, and sections with what is below ground.

Sentry Mapping provides professional cemetery mapping across the 48 contiguous United States using survey-grade GPS, cemetery GIS mapping, drone or aerial imagery, and ground penetrating radar cemetery scans for unmarked grave detection. Depending on your needs, that may include:

– Burial Plot Mapping to mark each gravesite and redraw plot lines

– Grave Locating for a specific missing or unmarked burial

– Cemetery Survey and Drafting to build an accurate as-built map even when paper records are wrong or missing

– Web Maps for Cemeteries that are clickable and searchable with no annual fee

Your deliverables typically include a printed master map plus a digital cemetery map you can open online to search names, view plot details, and see where space is sold, reserved, or available. For ongoing record work, Sentry also offers Cemetery Management Software with Chronicle, with two years of free Chronicle Viewer access when you partner, so you can keep the map and records current over time.

Cemetery Mapping Services

Sentry Mapping Cemetery GPR Services

Cemetery Burial Plot Mapping

Cemetery Survey & Drafting Services

Cemetery GIS Services

Grave Locating

Web Mapping

Expert Cemetery GPR Mapping Services

Sentry Mapping Services’ extremely accurate cemetery mapping provides the best visualization for both visitors and management to find what they are looking for.

GPR Technology

How Does GPR Work to Map Cemeteries?

Understanding Your Cemetery’s GPR Profile

Graves that are 50 years old or more produce less distinct hyperbola and are difficult to detect compared to newer graves that are much easier to locate.

Cemetery Mapping with GPR

GPR: Uncovering History

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