Subsurface utility detection using ground penetrating radar and electromagnetic locator – a comparative study

Abstract

The process of finding and mapping underground utilities is crucial for managing underground infrastructure effectively, especially to avoid damaging them during construction and digging. This research studies two main methods used for this purpose: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic Locator (EML). GPR works by using electromagnetic waves to detect and assess things underground, giving an idea of how deep they are. On the other hand, EM L help to find metal utilities by using electromagnetic fields. This shows how important it is to have accurate maps of these utilities. Having precise maps is like having a solid foundation for planning and maintaining infrastructure. It also points out that when combine information from GPR and EML and analyse the results together, it can make the findings even more accurate. In a nutshell, these methods are crucial for keeping us safe, preventing delays in projects, and making sure to use resources wisely across different industries. In this research, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is used to determine the correlation in depth accuracy error which is 0.05821 which is calculated based on the depth measured by GPR and EML.