Passive ground penetrating radar using AM radio broadcasting signals

Abstract

Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) concerns are risk mitigation problems requiring confirmation, denial, and new evidence concerning long thin cylindrical conducting utilities illustrated on old, oftentimes unreliable, and out dated utility maps. This case study first presents a scientific, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) description of a revolutionary class of radio detection technology that applies regional AM band radio satiation ground wave electromagnetic (EM) energy to illuminate 100's of square miles of urban surface area. Buried conductors in the illumination region re-radiate the AM radio signal, which becomes detectable only with our novel proprietary AM-band passive GPR, using gradiometric antenna-receiver (AMG) technology. The revolutionary technology is based on the long wavelength scattering limit theory of theoretical physics. We describe the nature of AM radio station ground wave EM energy illumination of subsurface utilities, the principles of AMG detection of re-radiated phase-coherent AM signal energy, and then compare images of long thin cylindrical conducting utilities with in-place maps of subsurface utilities. The utilities were buried near surface and down below 15 m (60 ft). Service area hydrocarbon plumes were mapped at the airport.