Improving azimuth resolution of GPR with small array aperture in near field

Abstract

Resolution of conventional GPR imaging techniques are limited by signal bandwidth and array synthetic aperture. Consequently, in small array aperture, the azimuth resolution degrade due to its dependency on width of synthetic aperture. In this work, we demonstrated how Spectral analysis techniques may be used to significantly improve azimuth resolution of GPR with a small antenna array. As a result, two buried targets separated by offset that is less than Fourier azimuth resolution that could not be distinguished by full array using conventional GPR imaging techniques, were successfully distinguished by the array which is five times smaller. In addition to this, comparison of azimuth resolution efficiency obtained from spectral analysis methods and conventional Fourier azimuth resolution for different array width are given.