<title>Suggested soil characterization techniques and surrogate targets for ultrawideband radar mine detection experiments</title>

Abstract

The Technical Cooperation Program subgroup K Action Group 23 is engaged in collaborative ultra-wideband (UWB) radar land mien detection experiments using instruments located in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US. In order to compare results, it is essential to develop standard characterization techniques to provide an improved basis for comparison of data and radar techniques. This paper discusses some suggested standard soil characterization techniques and standardized targets for UWB GPR mine detection experiments. For land mine detection using ground penetrating radar, it is the electrical characterization of soil over the relevant frequency range that is important. Some results of analysis of soil from test sites are given and discussed. Standardized targets are needed to allow reliable comparison of independently conducted experiments. Surrogate targets for this purpose need to be safely handled and deployed, sufficiently realistic to allow estimation of mine detection performance, and easily transported across national boundaries. It is desirable to have simple targets to allow comparison of numerical models with experiment. The design of a limited target set is discussed and sample signature measurements are presented in this and companion papers.