Delineation of Agricultural Drainage Pipe Patterns Using Ground Penetrating Radar Integrated with a Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System

Barry Allred,John Elliott,Harry Schomberg,George Meyers,Christine Charyton,Debonne Wishart,Luis Martinez,Steven Mirsky

doi:10.3390/agriculture8110167

Abstract

Better methods are needed for mapping agricultural drainage pipe systems. Prior research on small test plots indicates that ground penetrating radar (GPR) is oftentimes capable of detecting buried drainage pipes; however, the feasibility of employing this geophysical technique in larger field areas has not been adequately evaluated. Ground penetrating radar integrated with a Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) may be an effective and efficient means of mapping drain lines within agricultural fields. Therefore, GPR-RTK/GNSS was tested in three agricultural settings; with Site 1 and Site 2 located in Beltsville, MD, USA and Site 3 near Columbus, OH, USA. Soils at the three sites ranged from silty clay loam to loamy sand. A GPR unit with 250 MHz antennas was used to detect drainage pipes, and at Sites 1 and 2, a physical GNSS base station was utilized, while a virtual base station was employed at Site 3. The GPR-RTK/GNSS configurations used in this study delineated a complex rectangular drainage pipe system at Site 1, with one set of drainage pipes oriented southwest-northeast and a second oriented southeast-northwest. At Site 2, a herringbone drain line pattern was outlined, and at Site 3, random drain lines were found. When integrated with RTK/GNSS, spiral or serpentine GPR transects (or spiral/serpentine segments of a GPR transects) were utilized to provide insight on drain line directional trends. Consequently, given suitable field conditions, GPR integrated with RTK/GNSS can be a valuable tool for farmers and drainage contractors needing to map subsurface drainage systems.

Highlights

A 1985 economic survey showed that the states comprising the Midwest U.S (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin) by that year had approximately12.5 million ha that contained subsurface drainage systems, with cropland accounting for the large majority of areas possessing these buried drainage pipe networks [1]
8, 167 have elapsed since the 1985 survey, a very sizeable amount of additional agricultural drainage pipe has been installed throughout the Midwest U.S In order to improve crop yields, farmers within this have elapsed since the 1985 survey, a very sizeable amount of additional agricultural drainage pipe region often need to repair drain lines that are not functioning properly or install new drain lines has been installed throughout the Midwest U.S In order to improve crop yields, farmers within this between the old ones to improve soil water removal efficiency
1, reflection hyperbola potential drainage pipe responses were fairly easy at Site 2 was detected, ground penetrating radar (GPR) integrated with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) did find a sufficient number of drain lines to to isolate within GPR

Summary

Introduction

12.5 million ha that contained subsurface drainage systems, with cropland accounting for the large majority of areas possessing these buried drainage pipe networks [1]. Agriculture 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW majority of2018, areas possessing these buried drainage pipe networks [1]. Whether for system repairs or efficiency a map of the original subsurface drainage system installation is no longer available. Improvements, locations of the preexisting drain lines are required; in most cases, a map of Present methods of locating drain lines involve the use of hand-held tile probes or heavy the original subsurface drainage system installation is no longer available.

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion