Estimating geometrical parameters of cylindrical targets detected by ground-penetrating radar using template matching algorithm

In the current research, the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method has been employed to identify physical and geometrical parameters of buried cylindrical structures using the pattern recognition approach. To achieve this goal, the well-established mathematical relationships between geometrical parameters of cylindrical target (radius, burial depth, and horizontal location) and the associated GPR hyperbolic response characteristics are employed using the template matching method. In order to validate the applicability of the template matching method in providing estimates of such parameters, the method is first examined on GPR responses of synthetic models with known geometrical parameters followed by applying on real data using two different similarity criteria including 2-D spatial convolution and normalized cross correlation in the wave number domain. In the first step, the GPR responses of 71 synthetic models encompassing one, two, and three horizontal cylinders were produced using the improved 2-D finite difference in frequency domain. Then, appropriate preprocessing sequences to reduce random noise caused by forward modeling were applied on synthetic data. The proposed algorithm applied on several synthetic model responses could estimate the known geometrical parameters of the buried cylinders with acceptable accuracy (maximum error of 15%). The template matching algorithm was also used to extract geometrical parameters of water and wastewater pipes buried in Imam Hossein Square, Isfahan city, as real GPR data. Depending on environmental conditions and subsurface host formation, the real GPR data normally contain a variety of noises; therefore, a series of appropriate objective preprocessing and processing stages were designed in order to apply on real GPR images before deploying template matching algorithm. The applicability of the template matching algorithm on real data and validity of the estimated parameters were proved based on assessing the accuracy of the estimated geometrical parameters of respective pipes through GPR response versus the measured parameters. The proposed algorithm was designed in such a way that all steps of estimating geometrical parameters of buried cylindrical targets are automatically carried out.     

GPR Signatures of Pipes and Walls with Emphasis on the Effect of Inclined Scanning Trajectory

This study investigates the effects of some commonly encountered constraints such as inclined scanning trajectory, multiple targets in the vicinity and material variation on GPR responses of pipes and walls. Further, the effects of wall inclination and broken walls are also explored in GPR signatures. Interpretation of such signatures in GPR data for archaeological and geotechnical surveys has been a challenge. A physical model was created to simulate buried pipes and walls under controlled conditions by maintaining density and moisture content of the soil medium. The presence of PVC pipes, plastered brick and stone walls buried in the dry sand have been investigated and major observations have been reported. The inclined scanning trajectory on buried pipes shows a change in curvature of hyperbola-like signatures. Inclined transects near the ends of pipes and walls manifest single limb GPR signatures. The responses of multiple pipes and walls show dependence on separation of targets and footprint of an antenna. One can discern stone walls from brick walls by recognizing the diffraction of waves by irregular stones in GPR responses. The signatures of walls differ from pipes with respect to the width of the apex and variation in the intensity in the limb.     

Mapping subvertical discontinuities in rock cuts using a 400-MHz ground penetrating radar antenna

Hidden subvertical discontinuities oriented parallel to subparallel to the exposed faces of outcropping sandstone were effectively mapped at three different study sites in central Missouri using a ground-penetrating radar system (GPR) equipped with a 400-MHz monostatic antenna and a survey wheel. At each site, a suite of 2-D ground-penetrating radar profiles were acquired along multiple closely spaced traverses on relatively smooth exposed rock surfaces. Time-zero correction was applied to the raw GPR data which were then processed using band-pass filtering, range and display gain, color transformation, and deconvolution techniques. Pseudo 3D images of each identified discontinuity at each site were constructed based on the interpretation of the nonmigrated ground-penetrating radar profiles. These pseudo 3D images were hand-migrated and transformed into true 3D images which depict variable depths at “perpendicular horizontal distance” to each discontinuity relative to the exposed rock face. The results demonstrate that GPR can be used to detect and map hidden discontinuities. This information can then be used for rock slope stability analysis and rock engineering purposes.     

应用GPR获取水文地质参数研究初探

探地雷达(GPR)能够在不同空间尺度上采集水文地质数据来对地下特征进行详细描述,近年来被广泛应用于探测地下结构和埋藏体。本文简要介绍了GPR的工作原理、探测方式及其应用条件;探讨了GPR获取多孔介质水力参数的物理机制;分别利用50MHz和25MHz天线对同一断面进行等采样距测量,经分层标定和时间拾取,获取了沿测线非饱和带含水率及饱和带的孔隙度和渗透系数,并将结果与钻孔取样的岩性进行了对比,结果合理。     

Background of ground penetrating radar measurements

Characterization of the shallow subsurface (0.25 to 10 m) is of growing importance for engineering activities, solutions of environmental problems, and archaeological investigations. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an appropriate technique considering the depth range of interest, the strength of electric and magnetic contrasts between different subsurface layers and buried objects, and the required resolution. GPR surveys can detect subsurface structures by recording electromagnetic reflections from discontinuities. The detectability of objects and the delineation of subsurface structures increases with increasing wave velocity and conductivity differences between the object and its surroundings or between adjacent layers. However, unwanted reflections from objects above the surface influence the images. Shielded antennas can be used to avoid strong reflections from these objects. The data thus obtained are, however, more difficult to interpret. The fundamentals of GPR and two different acquisition setups for a GPR system are discussed. Basic interpretation tools for travel-time and velocity estimation are described, and finally, case studies are presented, followed by conclusions.     

Electrical resistivity ground imaging (ERGI): a new tool for mapping the lithology and geometry of channel-belts and valley-fills

Efforts to map the lithology and geometry of sand and gravel channel‐belts and valley‐fills are limited by an inability to easily obtain information about the shallow subsurface. Until recently, boreholes were the only method available to obtain this information; however, borehole programmes are costly, time consuming and always leave in doubt the stratigraphic connection between and beyond the boreholes. Although standard shallow geophysical techniques such as ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and shallow seismic can rapidly obtain subsurface data with high horizontal resolution, they only function well under select conditions. Electrical resistivity ground imaging (ERGI) is a recently developed shallow geophysical technique that rapidly produces high‐resolution profiles of the shallow subsurface under most field conditions. ERGI uses measurements of the ground's resistance to an electrical current to develop a two‐dimensional model of the shallow subsurface (<200 m) called an ERGI profile. ERGI measurements work equally well in resistive sediments (‘clean’ sand and gravel) and in conductive sediments (silt and clay). This paper tests the effectiveness of ERGI in mapping the lithology and geometry of buried fluvial deposits. ERGI surveys are presented from two channel‐fills and two valley‐fills. ERGI profiles are compared with lithostratigraphic profiles from borehole logs, sediment cores, wireline logs or GPR. Depth, width and lithology of sand and gravel channel‐fills and adjacent sediments can be accurately detected and delineated from the ERGI profiles, even when buried beneath 1–20 m of silt/clay.     

Interpretation of voids or buried pipes using Ground Penetrating Radar modeling

In coal mines abandoned works or voids at shallow depth, might be a potential hazard and therefore, such areas are considered for redevelopment. As voids and fractures accumulate groundwater which may be hazardous for the mines work. Subsidence, fire, flooding and some other kinds of environmental hazards related to shallow coal works, necessitate for better understanding of voids and their interpretation for Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data. Whereas, in civil engineering, GPR is used for detection of the buried pipe, however, it becomes difficult to differentiate betweem the pipes used for water supply and for electrical cable. In order to better interpretation of voids and buried pipes we present a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) solution based on Maxwell’s equations that allows accounting for the frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity of many near-surface materials. The algorithm and the results presented here, however, offer the perspective to improve some of these inherent problems and thus help to make 2-D structure a more reliable and effective tool for probing the shallow subsurface. Also it is found that the different dispersion mechanisms cause significant amplitude and phase differences, which may be relevant to amplitude variation with offset (AVO) and stratigraphic investigations using Ground Penetrating Radar.     

瞬时属性估计器在探地雷达数据处理中的应用

为了提高浅层埋藏目标识别的瞬时物理属性的精度,根据极平坦频率特性有限脉冲相应滤波器的思想,首次提出用它作为微分器和延时器组成解析信号瞬时属性估计器（FIFM）,对探地雷达信号的瞬时属性进行提取。结果表明,瞬时属性剖面的分辨率得到了明显的提高;采用瞬时属性估计器进行探地雷达信号瞬时参数的研究是一种非常有效的方法,可用于公路、桥梁、隧道等结构物的无损检测数据分析。      

探地雷达在管线探测与工程勘察中的应用

简要地介绍了探地雷达的勘探原理,工作方法、技术,及其在工程勘察中的应用,并在前人的基础上,利用ＳＩＲ－２型探地雷达,寻找地下管线和确定工程地质界面,进行了一系列的实测工作,获得了高质、清晰、直观的ＧＰＲ图像。     

平面土基刚性圆管基底压力分布的试验研究

很多给排水、原油输送管道直接敷设于原状平面土基之上,此种情况下的管道基底压力分布明显不同于研究较多的其它类型基础上管道的分布规律。本文在工程现场试验的基础上,结合Winkler弹性地基解析法,初步探讨了平面土基上刚性圆管的基底压力的分布规律,由本文模型所得的计算结果与试验结果吻合程度较高。     

基于随机分布的断裂破碎带GPR剖面特征分析

为了验证探地雷达在查找基岩中断裂破碎带的有效性、以及进一步认识破碎带在探地雷达反射剖面上的表现特征,结合概率论和数理统计知识,通过设置断裂破碎带中介质的介电常数在一定空间范围内随机分布,建立了更为贴合实际的断裂破碎带模型,使用时域有限差分方法正演模拟其二维GPR反射剖面,较好地揭示了断裂破碎带的GPR剖面特征。通过对不同破碎程度和基岩具有不同介电常数的破碎带模型进行正演模拟,分析其正演GPR剖面的图像差异,较为深入地认识了断裂破碎带在GPR剖面上反映出的特征。最后,进一步引入工程实例,发现通过正演模拟揭示的断裂破碎带GPR 剖面特征在断裂破碎带的实际探测剖面上也是存在的,说明通过正演模拟来指导实际资料的解释是现实可靠的。     

Unveiling buried aeolian landscapes: reconstructing a late Holocene dune environment using 3D ground-penetrating radar

Across the UK, sandy beaches and dunes protect coastal infrastructure from waves and extreme water levels during large-scale storms, while providing important habitats and recreational opportunities. Understanding their long-term evolution is vital in managing their condition in a changing climate. Recently, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods have grown in popularity in geomorphological applications, yielding centimetre-scale resolution images of near-surface stratigraphy and structure, thus allowing landscape evolution to be reconstructed. Additionally, abrupt changes in palaeo-environments can be visualized in three dimensions. Although often complemented by core data, GPR allows interpretations to be extended into areas with minimal ground-truth control. Nonetheless, GPR data interpretation can be non-intuitive and ambiguous, and radargrams may not initially resemble the expected subsurface geometry. Interpretation can be made yet more onerous when handling the large 3D data volumes that are facilitated with modern GPR technology. Here we describe the development of novel semi-automated GPR feature-extraction tools, based on ‘edge detection’ and ‘thresholding’ methods, which detect regions of increased GPR reflectivity which can be applied to aid in the reconstruction of a range Quaternary landscapes. Since reflectivity can be related to lithological and/or pore fluid changes, the 3D architecture of the palaeo-landscape can be reconstructed from the features extracted from a geophysical dataset. We present 500 MHz GPR data collected over a buried Holocene coastal dune system in North Wales, UK, now reclaimed for use as an airfield. Core data from the site, reaching a maximum depth 2 m, suggest rapid vertical changes from sand to silty-organic units, and GPR profiles suggest similar lateral complexity. By applying thresholding methods to GPR depth slices, these lateral complexities are effectively and automatically mapped. Furthermore, automatic extraction of the local reflection power yields a strong correlation with the depth variation of organic content, suggesting it is a cause of reflectivity contrast. GPR-interpolated analyses away from core control thus offer a powerful proxy for parameters derived from invasive core logging. The GPR data collected at Llanbedr airfield highlight a complex dune system to a depth of 2.8 m, probably deposited in several phases over ~700 years, similar to elsewhere in North Wales.     

一维HHT变换在探地雷达数据处理中的应用

探地雷达(GPR)噪声信号通常具有非稳态、非线性特征,为去除这些噪声提高GPR图像解译的准确性,对利用HHT方法去噪进行了研究。首先阐述HHT的基本理论,然后通过对探地雷达数值模拟信号中噪声的去除验证基于HHT方法的可行性,最后将该方法用于探地雷达隧道地质超前预报的数据处理中。通过研究表明:该方法可以用于探地雷达信号的去噪,通过Hilbert变换得到三特征参数图像与EMD分解后合成图像进行对比验证,从而达到提高GPR信号解译精度的目的。     

桩埋管参数对渗流下能量桩热-力耦合特性的影响

为获得地下水渗流作用下桩埋管参数对能量桩热-力耦合特性的影响,建立了不同埋管参数的能量桩数值模型,分析了桩埋管数量、埋管布置形式、埋管管径对单位桩深换热量、日换热量、桩截面平均温升、桩身位移增量及桩身附加温度荷载的影响。结果表明：增加埋管数量可以增大能量桩换热量,但也会加剧桩内不同埋管间的热干扰,导致换热性能下降及桩身...     

Application of geomorphic analysis and ground-penetrating radar to characterization of paleoseismic sites in dynamic alluvial environments: an example from southern California

Selecting paleoseismic sites in dynamic, range-front environments can be difficult, because they are sites of rapid deposition and poor preservation of coarse-grained, channelized alluvium. The most obvious tectonic landforms, tall scarps, are often too old to constrain sequences of specific rupture events. The faulted deposits that do provide maximum and minimum earthquake ages, however, are often buried or masked by erosion in active drainage channels. Subsurface images of stratigraphic and structural relationships at multiple sites are useful prior to excavation. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an effective tool for locating sites suitable for trenching studies. We illustrate the utility of GPR with a case study of a thrust fault in southern California.     

Ground penetrating radar for groundwater exploration in granitic terrains: A case study from Hyderabad

The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a newly developing geophysical tool for imaging the sub-surface and is potentially useful in groundwater exploration. We test its usefulness in characterizing a groundwater rich lineament near Gajularamaram in the Hyderabad granite terrain, where groundwater is limited to soil, weathering zone and lineaments. The lineament is 2 km long and 50–100 m wide, and oriented in WNW-ESE direction. It is characterized by many closely spaced sub-vertical fractures and faults, majority of which are parallel to the lineament. On either sides of the lineament, sub-horizontal sheet joints are abundant. The lineament is saturated with groundwater that discharge as springs at some places. About 450 m long, 400–100 MHz GPR data (～5–30 m depth) were acquired along five profiles across the lineament. In the lineament, soil thickness varies from ～0.5 m to 5 m, and is underlain by weathered granite. In the WNW part, a thick weathering zone (～15 m) is present and a 10 m wide vertical anomaly zone (lineament) is also present. The presence of shallow reflectors at 1 m depth in the lineament is attributed to the groundwater surface. The GPR images reveal many sub horizontal to gently dipping reflectors, which are interpreted to be the sheet joints. The GPR data clearly reveal the saturated lineament, from which groundwater may migrate laterally to long distance through the sheet joints. We demonstrate the GPR as a rapid geophysical tool that can be used successfully to explore the nearsurface groundwater.     

浅埋管道水平横向作用下砂土极限承载力研究

断层、滑坡、液化等地质灾害引起的场地大变形对埋地管道结构安全产生严重的威胁。开展了中密砂中埋地管道−砂土水平横向相互作用的系列三维数值模拟,根据数值模拟的结果探讨了不同深径比下管−砂土横向相互作用时土体的破坏模式,研究了深径比对砂土极限承载力的影响。基于管周土体的破坏模式建立了简化计算模型,根据极限平衡理论推导了管道水平横向运动时砂土极限承载力计算公式。研究结果表明：极限状态下,浅埋管道周围土体形成延伸到地表的破裂面,轮廓线近似对数螺线;砂土的极限承载力随着深径比增加,最终在临界深径比处达到稳定;随着深径比的增加,土体发生剪切滑动破坏所需的管道位移也逐渐增大;由于横向承载力系数取值依据不同,国内外规范计算所得土体极限承载力差异较大;得到的解析解能够较好地预测中密砂土中浅埋管道水平横向运动时土体的极限承载力。     

基于Hilbert-Huang变换的探地雷达信号增强及复信号分析

阐述了Hilbert-Huang变换原理,着重讨论了EMD分解应满足的条件及具体分解过程.以黑麋峰抽水蓄能电站进厂交通隧洞实测GPR剖面为例,应用EMD分解去除部分噪声,再利用Hilbert变换求取GPR剖面复信号,提取瞬时振幅、瞬时相位、瞬时频率3个参数,绘制出相互独立的瞬时参数剖面图,根据不同地质状况进行多参数综合解释.结果表明,该方法避免了使用单一时距剖面分析所造成的解释偏差,能够更好地对异常信息做出反映,提高了GPR数据的解析精度.     

用连续小波变换分析探地雷达回波信号

脉冲探地雷达回波信号是典型的非平稳、非线性信号.本文通过连续小波变换,对地下圆柱目标实测结果进行分析,得到了目标冲击响应的典型波形特征.分析结果证明,这种方法可以有效地用于目标检测,时延估计等脉冲探地雷达信号处理中的关键问题