Development of a Background Filtering Algorithm to Improve the Accuracy of Determining Underground Cavities Using Multi-Channel Ground-Penetrating Radar and Deep Learning

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In the process of using multi-channel ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for underground cavity exploration, the acquired 3D data include reflection data from underground cavities or various underground objects (structures). Reflection data from unspecified structures can interfere with the identification process of underground cavities. This study aims to identify underground cavities using a C-GAN model with an applied ResBlock technique. This deep learning model demonstrates excellent performance in the image domain and can automatically classify the presence of cavities by analyzing 3D GPR data, including reflection waveforms (A-scan), cross-sectional views (B-scan), and plan views (C-scan) measured from the ground under roads. To maximize the performance of the C-GAN model, a background filtering algorithm (BFA) was developed and applied to enhance the visibility and clarity of underground cavities. To verify the performance of the developed BFA, 3D data collected from roads in Seoul, Republic of Korea, using 3D GPR equipment were transformed, and the C-GAN model was applied. As a result, it was confirmed that the recall, an indicator of cavity prediction, improved by approximately 1.15 times compared to when the BFA was not applied. This signifies the verification of the effectiveness of the BFA. This study developed a special algorithm to distinguish underground cavities. This means that in the future, not only the advancement of separate equipment and systems but also the development of specific algorithms can contribute to the cavity exploration process.