Abstract
To design holographic and impulse ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensors suitable for humanitarian de-mining in the Donbass (Ukraine) conflict zone, we measured critical electromagnetic parameters of typical local soils using simple methods that could be adapted to any geologic setting. Measurements were recorded along six profiles, each crossing at least two mapped soil types. The parameters selected to evaluate GPR and metal detector sensor performance were magnetic permeability, electrical conductivity, and dielectric permittivity. Magnetic permeability measurements indicated that local soils would be conducive to metal detector performance. Electrical conductivity measurements indicated that local soils would be medium to high loss materials for GPR. Calculation of the expected attenuation as a function of signal frequency suggested that 1 GHz may have optimized the trade-off between resolution and penetration and matched the impulse GPR system power budget. Dielectric permittivity was measured using both time domain reflectometry and impulse GPR. For the latter, a calibration procedure based on an in-situ measurement of reflection coefficient was proposed and the data were analyzed to show that soil conditions were suitable for the reliable use of impulse GPR. A distinct difference between the results of these two suggested a dry (low dielectric) soil surface, grading downward into more moist (higher dielectric) soils. This gradation may provide a matching layer to reduce ground surface reflections that often obscure shallow subsurface targets. In addition, the relatively high dielectric deeper (10 cm–20 cm) subsurface soils should provide a strong contrast with plastic-cased mines.
Highlights
Type* Use Diameter Length Casing Metal PartsIn active and former conflict zones across the globe, there are daily landmine casualties.The majority (7P9M%N) a-2re civAiliPans and a1l2m1ost half (46%) are childPrleanst[i1c]
Iingprdeepvaircaetiboanseodf poonsta-ccoonmflimctercial offh-uthmea-snhitealrfia(Cn OdeTmS)invinehg,icwleemhaovdeifidevdetlopaeudtoanloowm-ocuosstl,ymoupletir-asetensmoru,lrtoipbloetiscesncsaonrnsi.ng device based on a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicle modified to autonomously operate multiple sensors
ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been investigated in Donbass for use in railway bed inspection [15] and for landmine detection [16], but the medium for both studies was not native soil, so they provided no information on the electromagnetic properties of local soils and their variation
Summary
In active and former conflict zones across the globe, there are daily landmine casualties. GPR has been investigated in Donbass for use in railway bed inspection [15] and for landmine detection [16], but the medium for both studies was not native soil, so they provided no information on the electromagnetic properties of local soils and their variation. To ensure that the signal characteristics of our proposed sensors were suitable for this region, we completed electrical and electromagnetic measurements on fields, containing typical soils These experiments were conducted at an experimental station of the Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry Research named after O.N. Sokolovsky in Sukha Balka, approximately 7 km to 10 km west of the ATO (Figure 1). These first-ever data on the specific electromagnetic characteristics (and range of variation) of in situ Donbass soils made it possible to construct laboratory test beds that simulated actual conditions, as opposed to a simple (and unrealistic) “sand boxes.” The approach described was simple, and could be widely applied to ensure landmine detection GPR and MD sensors are designed appropriately for any geologic setting
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