Finite-difference time domain (FDTD) modeling of ground penetrating radar pulse energy for locating burial sites

Abstract

Analysis of the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) numerical simulation of ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurement for locating burial sites is described in this paper. Effective, efficient, and reliability interpretation of GPR field data obtained from clandestine sites is very crucial in forensic investigations. The main goal of the study is the prediction of the change in the interaction of the electromagnetic incident on changes in buried bodies with time. In order to achieve this, the research involves the modeling of the GPR electromagnetic pulse energy responses to simulated changes in buried body with time with a view to understand what the results of real field measurement will give. The field measurements were conducted with GPR system manufactured by Mala Geoscience with antennae frequency of 500 MHz, 250 MHz, and 100 MHz. Responses from both synthetic and field radargrams depict the target was intercepted at same time (approximately 25 ns). The results have demonstrated that FDTD modeling is an important tool for enhancing the reliability of GPR data interpretation particularly for forensic study.