Application of ground penetrating radar in the urban environment

Abstract

Several nondestructive testing methods have been studied to detect subsurface voids. However, few focus on deploying nondestructive methods in the congested and complex subsurface environment found in typical urban locations. This research identifies the challenges with applying Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) techniques to locating subsurface voids and buried infrastructure in a complex urban environment. The study cataloged GPR signals representing reinforcements, concrete pipes, trolley tracks, and a large range of subsurface voids from surveys collected in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Building upon this research, the team recreated a typical subsurface urban environment on the University of Louisville campus to develop a library of GPR images taken from known targets with defined parameters for training purposes.