Buried Object Characterization Using Ultra-Wideband Ground Penetrating Radar

Abstract

In this paper, a method to characterize buried nonmagnetic objects in ground using ultra-wideband (UWB) ground penetrating radar (GPR) is proposed. In this method, UWB pulses are radiated by the radar, while scattered signals from the ground with the buried object are received. The received signals are then post-processed to estimate the depth, thickness, and electrical properties of the buried object. A constant depth and thickness is enforced at all frequencies while the signals are processed to extract the buried object characteristics, resulting in more accurate estimations and reduced processing time. In addition, path loss due to the close proximity of the radar to the ground is compensated analytically. The applicability of the proposed method is validated with several planar objects and a boulder that we typically encounter in the construction industry. The proposed method can achieve sufficient reliability in estimating the permittivity of buried objects for the purpose of material identification. Incorporating the proposed method into the GPRs enhances their existing imaging ability by adding material identification capability.