IDS C-Thrue User manual

WARRANTY
MN/2017/011
Rev 1.0
C-Thrue
All-in-one Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for
accurate scanning and real time analysis
User manual

INDEX
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INDEX
INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
Purpose.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
Application field....................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
Intended Readership ............................................................................................................................................................................................................4
HOW TO READ THE MANUAL .........................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Manual Layout......................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Glossary & Acronyms............................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Definitions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Symbols.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6
SAFETY DIRECTIONS........................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Description............................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Definition of Use...................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Reasonably Foreseeable Misuse ..........................................................................................................................................................................................7
Limits of Use .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Responsibilities.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Hazards of Use......................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
C-Thrue HARDWARE DESCRIPTION ..............................................................................................................................................................................................11
General ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Multi –touch Screen ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Batteries .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................17
Battery charger...................................................................................................................................................................................................................18

INDEX
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Accessories .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE................................................................................................................................................................................................................20
ONE VISION SOFTWARE GUIDE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................22
HOW TO MANAGE THE ACQUISITION IN A JOB SITE....................................................................................................................................................................23
CARE AND TRANSPORT.................................................................................................................................................................................................................24
Cleaning Information..........................................................................................................................................................................................................24
Battery Removal Information.............................................................................................................................................................................................24
Periodical Check .................................................................................................................................................................................................................24
Proper system use ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................24
TROUBLESHOOTING .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................26
IDS GEORADAR ON-LINE ASSISTANCE ..........................................................................................................................................................................................27
Download area ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................27
Screen Connect Support Center Remote Assistance..........................................................................................................................................................27
APPENDIX A - Technical Specification...................................................................................................................................................................................................29
APPENDIX B - DISCLAIMER....................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
APPENDIX C –WARRANTY CONDITIONS ..............................................................................................................................................................................................33
APPENDIX D –CONFORMITY TO EUROPEAN REGULATION .................................................................................................................................................................35
APPENDIX E - IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE US CUSTOMER...............................................................................................................................................................36
APPENDIX F - IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CANADIAN CUSTOMERS ..........................................................................................................................................................37
APPENDIX G - CONTACTS......................................................................................................................................................................................................................38

INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION
This document describes the C-Thrue radar system, and it refers to the
concepts the user should learn before initiating the utilization of this
device. Therefore it is mandatory to carefully reading the entire document
before starting the system.
This manual contains a complete description of the C-Thrue radar system,
detailing the assembly procedure, and the operating procedures of the
system.
Purpose
Reading this document will provide all the necessary knowledge relating to:
•System description and set up.
•Safe utilization of the system and instructions for its general
maintenance.
•Use of the acquisition software and managing the results.
Application field
This system is dedicated to locate rebars, voids, post-tension cables,
cavities, conduits, and any others objects buried in the structure before
cutting or drilling into the concrete. It can be used in every construction
sites and operations including building renovation, overpasses, bridges and
tunnels surveys, as well as for detailed analysis of the original engineering
project and comparison with the as-built structure.
Intended Readership
The intended reader of this manual should be the technician in charge of
using the system that has undergone the IDS GeoRadar training for C-
Thrue.

HOW TO READ THE MANUAL
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HOW TO READ THE MANUAL
Manual Layout
This manual is composed of several parts. After an Introduction, the first
part describes the device and its components, with the explanation of the
main features.
The second part shows the procedure to setup the device and how to
configure it correctly (Assembly Procedure).
The third part illustrates the main features of the software, and its use on
the work field, are described.
Eventually, the maintenance plan, and additional information are
illustrated.
Glossary & Acronyms
DAD: Digital Antenna Driver
RADAR: RAdio Detection And Ranging
LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
USB: Universal Serial Bus
GPR: Ground Penetrating Radar
AC: Alternate Current
HF: High Frequency
Definitions
Raw data: unprocessed data obtained during a field survey.
Maps: graphics showing the change in received radar signal with respect to
the scanning direction.
Survey: the name given to a collection of acquisitions, which together cover
all the areas of an investigation: typically an entire job area.
Scan: a single movement of the antenna trolley from the beginning to the
end of a pre-established path.
Setup: initialization of a piece of equipment or a software process.
Encoder: a distance measurement device which constantly signals the
distance travelled from the start of the scan back to the Control Unit .
Transmitter: part of the antenna dedicated to emitting the radar signals.
Receiver: part of the antenna dedicated to detecting the radar signals.
Augmented reality: Digital on-site representation of data and targets
through the external PC

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Symbols
This manual contains the following symbols with related meanings:
Type
Description
DANGER
Indicates an imminently hazardous
situation which, if not
avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING
Indicates a potentially hazardous
situation or an unintended
use which, if not avoided, could
result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION
Indicates a potentially hazardous
situation or an unintended
use which, if not avoided, may
result in minor or moderate
injury.
To keep on mind
Important part which must be
adhered to in practice as
they enable the product to be used
in a technically correct and
efficient manner.
Warning messages are an essential part of the safety concept of the
instrument. They appear wherever hazards or hazardous situations can
occur.
Warning messages:
• make the user alert about direct and indirect hazards concerning the use
of the product.
• contain general rules of behavior.
For the users ‘safety, all safety instructions and safety messages shall be
strictly observed and followed! Therefore, the manual must always be
available to all persons performing any tasks described herein.
DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION and NOTICE are standardized signal words
for identifying levels of hazards and risks related to personal injury and
property damage.
For your safety it is important to read and fully understand the table below
with the different signal words and their definitions! Supplementary safety
information symbols may be placed within a warning message as well as
supplementary text.

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SAFETY DIRECTIONS
Description
The following directions enable the person responsible for the product, and
the person who actually uses the equipment, to anticipate and avoid
operational hazards.
The person responsible for the product must ensure that all users
understand these directions and adhere to them.
Definition of Use
Intended use:
•Concrete inspections.
•Rebars and void detection and mapping .
•Measuring horizontal and vertical position of rebars and void.
•Creation of concrete tomographies.
Reasonably Foreseeable Misuse
•Use of the product without instruction.
•Use outside of the intended use and limits.
•Disabling safety systems.
•Removal of hazard notices.
•Opening the product using tools, for example screwdriver, unless
this is permitted for certain functions.
•Modification or conversion of the product.
•Use after misappropriation.
•Use of products with obvious damages or defects.
•Use with accessories from other manufacturers without the prior
explicit approval of IDS GeoRadar s.r.l
•Inadequate safeguards at the working site.
•Aiming directly into the sun.
Limits of Use
Environment: Suitable for use in an atmosphere appropriate for permanent
human habitation. Not suitable for use in aggressive or explosive
environments.
Responsibilities
Manufacturer of the product - IDS GeoRadar s.r.l is responsible for
supplying the product, including the user manual and original accessories,
in a safe condition.
Person responsible for the product - the person responsible for the
product has the following duties:
•To understand the safety instructions on the product and the
instructions in the user manual.
•To ensure that it is used in accordance with the instructions.
•To be familiar with local regulations relating to safety and
accident prevention.
•To inform IDS GeoRadar s.r.l immediately if the product and the
application becomes unsafe.
DANGER: Local safety authorities and safety experts must be
contacted before working in hazardous areas, or close to
electrical installations or similar situations by the person in
charge of the product.

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•To ensure that the national laws, regulations and conditions for
the operation of electromagnetics transmitters are respected.
Hazards of Use
CAUTION: Watch out for erroneous measurement results if
the product has been dropped or has been misused,
modified, stored for long periods or transported.
Precautions:
Periodically carry out test measurements and perform the
field adjustments indicated in the user manual, particularly
after the product has been subjected to abnormal use and
before and after of important measurements.
DANGER: Because of the risk of electrocution, it is dangerous
to use poles and extensions in the vicinity of electrical
installations such as power cables or electrical railways.
Precautions:
Keep at a safe distance from electrical installations. If it is
essential to work in this environment, first contact the safety
authorities responsible for the electrical installations and
follow their instructions.
WARNING: Inadequate securing of the working site can lead to
dangerous situations, for example in traffic, on building sites,
and at industrial installations.
Precautions:
Always ensure that the working site is adequately secured.
Adhere to the regulations governing safety and accident
prevention and road traffic.
WARNING: During dynamic applications, for example stakeout
procedures there is a danger of accidents occurring if the user
does not pay attention to the environmental conditions
around, for example obstacles, excavations or traffic.
Precautions:
The person responsible for the product must make all users
fully aware of the existing dangers.
CAUTION: If the accessories used with the product are not
properly secured and the product is subjected to mechanical
shock, for example blows or falling, the product may be
damaged.
Precautions:
When setting-up the product, make sure that the accessories
are correctly adapted, fitted, secured, and locked in position.
Avoid subjecting the product to mechanical stress.

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WARNING: If the product is improperly disposed of, the
following can happen:
• If polymer parts are burnt, poisonous gases are produced
which may impair health.
• If batteries are damaged or are heated strongly, they can
explode and cause poisoning, burning, corrosion or
environmental contamination.
• By disposing of the product irresponsibly you may enable
unauthorised persons to use it in contravention of the
regulations, exposing themselves and third parties to the risk
of severe injury and rendering the environment liable to
contamination.
Precautions:
RECYCLING
The crossed out wheeled bin symbol shown on the equipment
indicates that the product must be recycled separately from
other waste at the end of its useful life.
Separate waste disposal of this product at the end of its useful
life will be organised and managed by IDS GeoRadar. When you
decide to dispose of the equipment, contact IDS GeoRadar and
follow the system that IDS GeoRadar has set up to permit the
separate collection of the apparatus at its life end.
Adequate separate collection for its subsequent recycling,
treatment and environmental friendly disposal contribute
towards avoiding any unnecessary effects on the environment
and to health and favour the reuse or recycling of the materials
that make up the equipment. Unauthorised disposal of this
product as unsorted waste by its possessor will lead to an
administrative penalty foreseen by national regulations.
WARNING: If the product is used with accessories, you may
increase the risk of being struck by lightning.
Precautions:
Do not use the product in a thunderstorm.
WARNING: During the transport, shipping or disposal of
batteries it is possible for inappropriate mechanical influences
to constitute a fire hazard.
Precautions:
Before shipping the product or disposing of it, discharge the
batteries by running the product until they are flat.
When transporting or shipping batteries, the person in charge
of the product must ensure that the applicable national and
international rules and regulations are observed. Before
transportation or shipping contact your local passenger or
freight transport company.

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WARNING: High mechanical stress, high ambient
temperatures or immersion into fluids can cause leakage, fire
or explosions of the batteries.
Precautions:
Protect the batteries from mechanical influences and high
ambient temperatures. Do not drop or immerse batteries into
fluids.
WARNING: Only IDS GeoRadar authorized technical service
are entitled to repair these product.

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C-Thrue HARDWARE DESCRIPTION
General
The C-Thrue and its accessories are delivered within a dedicated suitcase,
Fig. 1 :
Fig. 1 –C –Thrue suitcase
The C-Thrue system is composed by the following parts:
•C-Thrue main body.
•Embedded PC directly connected to the control unit.
•Integrated Antenna module and radar control unit (DAD).
•Multi-touchscreen display for the radar data visualization.
•2 rechargeable 15 Volts Li-ion batteries.
•USB port for the radar data transfer and software updating.
•4 Encoder wheels
•3 laser interfaces for the 2D positioning system.
•Accessories:
oBattery charger (with universal adapter)
oSafety lace to hook the system to the wrist
oSix reflective bars for 2D positioning system
oSticky modelling paste
•Optional accessories:
oTelescopic rod support
oExternal PC to remote by Wi-Fi connection the
embedded pc and for augmented reality data
display.
This chapter contains the description of the above listed parts.
The whole system is shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 –The C-Thrue

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C-Thrue main body
The C-Thrue main body dimension are 285 mm x 200 mm x 160 mm
or 11,2 in x 8,6 in x 6,3 in (length x width x height) and its weight is
2,4 Kg (5 lB), including battery.
•Environment feature: IP 65
•Operating temperature: -20/+50 °C
The main body of the system consists of the following parts (Fig. 3):
•Multi-Touchscreen for the embedded PC.
•Integrated Control unit
•4 wheels for distance measurement and encoder-to-DAD
input
•Handle
•Battery compartment
•USB port for radar data transfer and software updating,
Fig. 4.
•Power button to switch on/off the system, Fig. 4.
•Remote control connector interfaces, Fig. 4.
Fig. 3 –Image of the C-Thrue and its main components
Fig. 4 –Detail of the USB port, Power button and remote control connector interfaces
Multi-Touchscreen
Handle
Integrated Control Unit
Battery
Compartment
4 wheel + encoder
USB port
Power button
Remote control connector

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Antenna
The C-Thrue System is developed with a dual polarization antenna (1 VV
and 1HH channel), with a central frequency of 2 Ghz.
Dual polarization permits detection on both first and second levels of
rebars. (Fig. 5). The offset between the VV and HH antenna center, is 10 cm
(see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6).
Fig. 5–C-Thrue Internal sketch
Fig. 6 –VV and HH center of position
Control unit
The Radar Control Unit (DAD) is lodged and integrated within the main
system body (Fig. 5). No Cables have to be connected on it. Under the
handle, there is a power button to turn it on/off (Fig. 4).
The main power characteristics of the Control Unit are:
Voltage: 12 V +/- 10%
Absorbed power: 8 W
Wheel Encoders
The C-Thrue employs bidirectional encoders for collecting distance data,
regardless which one of the four wheel is in direct contact with the surface
This feature ensures that the distance is correctly registered even in rough
surface when, at times, not all the wheels are in touching with it (Fig. 7).
Center of VV antenna
Center of HH antenna
10 cm

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Fig. 7 –Wheel encoder (red arrows)
Lasers
3 laser interfaces are integrated in the main body of the C-Thrue.
One is in the front part, and the other two are in the right and left side of
the system (Fig. 8). They are mounted exclusively for the 2-D positioning
system used with reflective bars (Par 4.5.1).
Fig. 8 –Lasers position on C-Thrue main body
This is a CLASS 1 Laser. This means that the laser is not detected
by a naked eye, and is not dangerous for the eyes itself.
CAUTION: don’t look at the Laser with any magnifier glass.

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Handle
The C-Thrue handle (Fig. 9) is ergonomic and designed to operate the
system only with one hand.
Fig. 9 –C-Thrue handle
A safety tie (Fig. 10) is provided to attach the system to the wrist.
Fig. 10 –Safety tie
The User should make a knot around the C-Thrue handle with the slimmest
part of the lace, and then wear the lace on wrist from the wider side of the
lace (Fig. 11).
Fig. 11 –How to use the lace/tie

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In the upper part of the handle there is a start/stop acquisition and marker
positioning button (Fig. 12, red square) easy to use with the thumb (Fig.
12).
Fig. 12 –Button for start/stop acquisition and marker positioning (red square) and the
additional button (blue square) for FCC regulations
Multi –touch Screen
The system is provided with an integrate OS (Fig. 13), with the software
already installed; the user can operate C-Thrue also with a Wi-Fi connected
laptop, whose minimum requirements are the following:
•Processor: i3 1.7 GHz
•RAM: 1 GB
•Graphic adapter compatible with Open GL 2 or
newer
•Operative system: Windows 7, 8 or 10
•Ethernet port
Fig. 13 –Multi touchscreen
For FCC rules and regulations, there is an
additional button under the handle (blue
square, Fig. 12. Hold this button during the
acquisition, release a the end of it. Hold the
button with the forefinger.

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Batteries
The C-Thrue is powered by rechargeable Li-ion Battery (15V-3.2Ah) with 2
hours runtime (Fig. 14).
The system is supplied with two batteries (1 plus 1 spare).
Fig. 14 –Li-ion batteries for C-Thrue
The C-Thrue Li-ion Battery is lodged in the rear part of the system, under
the handle.
To open the battery compartment cover the User should make a ¼- turn
left screw. Turn to the right side to close it. Insert the battery from rear side
of the system as shown in the following pictures (see Fig. 15).
Fig. 15 –Battery compartment cover
1
2
3

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Battery charger
The battery charger (Fig. 16) has to be connected to the electricity mains at
AC 110/220V.
It is composed of three parts: an electrical transformer, a cable from
transformer to the main AC, and battery housing. (see Fig. 16).
The battery charging is concluded when the Led becomes green.
Fig. 16 –Battery charger components
Accessories
Reflective Bars for system positioning
The C-Thrue is also provided with positioning bars kit (Fig. 17 and Fig.
18allowing the User to create a local reference system axis. Thanks to their
reflective side (Fig. 19), Lasers are able to detect them, measuring
distances.
Fig. 17 –Positioning bars
Green light=100%charge
5 cm ~ 2 in
2
10 cm ~ 4 in
2
40 cm ~ 16
in 2

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Fig. 18 –Distances between notches
Fig. 19 –Reflective side of the bars
To fix the reflective bars to a wall or pavement surface, a sticky modelling
paste is provided (Fig. 20).
Fig. 20 –Sticky modelling paste
Reflective side

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ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE
The procedure to assemble the C-Thrue is straightforward and can be
performed by one person.
To assemble the system the User should follow these steps:
1. removing the radar main body from the luggage, Fig. 21;
Fig. 21 the system and its luggage
2. Fixing the safety lace to the system, Fig. 22;
Fig. 22 the safety lace
3. Inserting the battery, Fig. 23;
Fig. 23 the battery case
4. Mounting the telescopic rod support (optional)
5. Wearing the safety lace to the wrist, Fig. 24;
Fig. 24 wearing the safety lace