Question 1

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 2

What are best practices for preserving heritage in historic cemeteries with missing records?

Accepted Answer

Sentry Mapping's cemetery mapping with ground-penetrating radar and easy software is the safest way to safeguard heritage when paper burial records are lost. First locate every marked and unmarked grave, digitize old ledgers and photos, create a searchable plot map, then share it online for staff and families.

Digital cemetery mapping protects fragile history even when ledgers are missing. Start with a non-invasive ground-penetrating radar cemetery survey to reveal every burial, marked or unmarked, without disturbing soil. Sentry Mapping crews couple high-frequency GPR with precision GPS for dependable unmarked grave detection and burial-plot mapping accurate to the inch. Drone imagery and headstone photographs are synced to each coordinate so caretakers see exactly what sits above and below ground in the cemetery GIS mapping portal.

Next, scan any surviving deeds, notebooks, or obituaries and import them into a cemetery management software program. The system links every document to the right plot, and its grave-locating search returns results in seconds, ending guesswork. Add oral histories while elders are still available, and flag cultural or veteran markers so maintenance crews can protect them.

Finally, publish a public-facing web map through Sentry Mapping that can be periodically edited to stay current, reducing staff calls and accidental plot reuse so descendants can find relatives online. If you need full record-keeping capabilities, we also offer a complete cemetery management software program.

Schedule an annual walk-through to capture new interments and condition photos; the GIS map updates in minutes, keeping heritage data alive. By combining GPR detection, digitization, and open GIS sharing you create a living record that respects the past and guides every future decision.

Question 3

What file formats can you deliver (GIS layers, CAD exports, KML, PDFs, spreadsheets), and which are best for long-term archiving?

Accepted Answer

Sentry Mapping can deliver cemetery mapping data as GIS-ready shapefiles with attribute tables (easy to import into ArcGIS or QGIS) plus a printed master map and an interactive web map link. With our optional cemetery management software program, you can also export reports to PDF, XLS, or CSV for backups.

Sentry Mapping delivers digital cemetery mapping in the formats most cemetery managers and GIS teams need. For cemetery GIS mapping projects our core delivery is GIS layers as ESRI shapefiles with matching attribute tables so your staff can load graves, plot boundaries, sections, and paths directly into ArcGIS or QGIS.

You also receive a printed physical master map and a clickable, searchable web map (see Web Maps for Cemeteries) so staff and visitors can find a burial fast without special software.

With our optional cemetery management software program, you can generate office-friendly documents too — export reports as CSV or XLSX spreadsheets and as PDFs, and output certificates as DOCX or PDF.

For long-term archiving we recommend keeping at least three copies: the shapefiles plus attribute tables for future GIS use, a flat CSV export of key records for maximum portability, and a PDF copy of the master map or reports for human-readable reference.

Question 4

What questions should I ask a GPR mapping company before hiring them?

Accepted Answer

Before you sign a contract, ask any ground-penetrating-radar mapping company about their cemetery experience, GPR frequency and GPS accuracy, data deliverables, software compatibility, crew credentials, project timeline, on-site disruption, cost structure, and liability insurance. Clear answers reveal whether they can truly protect your graves and records.

Professional cemetery mapping with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an investment in accuracy, heritage, and risk reduction. Use the questions below to vet providers— and compare their answers to Sentry Mapping’s transparent six-step process.

1. Cemetery-specific expertise: How many burial-plot mapping projects have you completed, and can you provide references? Sentry Mapping focuses exclusively on cemeteries, so every technician understands plot numbering, deed boundaries, and respectful field protocols.

2. Technology: What GPR antenna frequencies, precision GPS, drones, or GIS software do you deploy? High-frequency antennas and sub-inch GPS, paired with drone ortho-imagery, deliver the crisp underground and surface data Sentry’s digital cemetery mapping requires.

3. Accuracy and deliverables: Will you mark discovered graves on the ground, supply a printable master map, and create an interactive cemetery GIS map the public can search? Ask to see a sample link; Sentry clients receive both a printed plan and an online map with no recurring web-map fee.

4. Data integration: Can your files plug into our existing GIS or cemetery management software? Sentry Mapping includes two free years of Chronicle cemetery mapping software so staff can update records, sell plots confidently, and show visitors how to find unmarked graves on any device.

5. Project logistics and protections: How long will the cemetery survey take, what areas must remain accessible, and are you fully insured against site damage?

Choosing a GPR mapping partner isn’t just about equipment, it’s about trust, precision, and long-term value. Sentry Mapping combines advanced technology with decades of cemetery-specific experience, ensuring every survey is accurate, respectful, and seamlessly integrated into your operations. When accuracy, transparency, and heritage preservation matter most, Sentry Mapping is the partner you can count on.

Question 5

What surfaces can Ground Penetrating Radar be used for?

Accepted Answer

Ground-penetrating radar scans accurately through most cemetery surfaces—lush turf, bare soil, gravel drives, asphalt lanes, concrete walkways, and even brick or paver plazas—without disturbing the grounds. Whether your plots sit under manicured lawn or beneath a paved road, Sentry Mapping's GPR equipment can still detect every marked or unmarked burial.

Ground penetrating radar cemetery surveys work on virtually any surface you’ll encounter in a burial ground. The high-frequency antennas Sentry Mapping uses read clean echoes through manicured grass, compacted soil, sand, clay, or loam. Because the radar signal is transmitted and received from a wheeled cart that rolls along the ground, it also performs well over hardscapes such as asphalt drive lanes, concrete walkways, gravel paths, brick or stone pavers, and even thin decorative slabs. This versatility lets our technicians scan every corner of your cemetery—between headstones, under tree canopies, through columbarium plazas, and across parking areas—without cutting, coring, or excavation.

Moisture, surface texture, and minor topography rarely pose problems; in fact, slightly damp soil can improve signal clarity, allowing unmarked grave detection down to eight or ten feet. By combining this all-terrain GPR capability with centimeter-grade GPS, Sentry Mapping delivers precise burial plot mapping and digital cemetery mapping that integrates seamlessly with our optional cemetery management software. The outcome: a complete, searchable grave locating map staff and visitors can trust, while the grounds stay pristine and undisturbed. Contact us for a free estimate to plan your project with confidence.

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