Exploring the barriers of ground penetrating radar adoption: A technological innovation system analysis

Rapid urbanisation, digitalisation, and ongoing energy transitions have increased excavation activities, thereby increasing the risks and consequences of utility strikes. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a promising innovation to enhance utility surveying, offering advantages over traditional methods like trial trenching. Despite its potential, widespread GPR adoption remains limited. This study applies the Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework to uncover systemic barriers hindering GPR adoption within the broader socio-technical context of the Dutch utility sector. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, industry meetings, questionnaires, field observations, and a review of grey literature. Qualitative coding of this data revealed three systemic lock-in cycles. These cycles highlight that the limited adoption of GPR is primarily driven by institutionalised surveying practices that exclude GPR, a lack of legitimacy, and insufficient knowledge development and diffusion. By reframing the challenge of GPR adoption as one of social and institutional alignment, this study offers initial insights into systemic barriers in the Netherlands. It provides a foundation for developing comprehensive strategies to overcome these barriers and facilitate broader adoption of GPR within the utility sector.