Ground penetrating radar as a subsurface environmental sensing tool

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is considered as an environmental tool. The basic concepts involved in GPR are introduced briefly including the antennas, propagation, target scattering, and mapping. Target identification is important when using GPR since the scatterer can only be observed by evacuation. This is discussed in terms of mapping and complex natural resonances. GPR has been used and is being considered as a tool for the detection of a wide variety of subterranean features. A very brief description of the various applications of GPR is presented. In terms of environmental sensing, it has been applied to detect buried tanks, landfill debris, water levels, and contaminated fluids. The detection of various military devices also represent a serious environmental concern including landmines and unexploded ordnance. There are also possible applications involving the detection of buried utilities highway voids, grave sites. It has been used for examining archeological sites. The above list is far from complete because of the ever-expanding use of GPR.< >