GPR Method
GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) is a reflective method. High frequency electromagnetic wave band (10 MHz – 2000 MHz) is used for data collection about the precise picture under the ground.
GPR registers the changes in the environment electric characteristics (conductibility and dielectric penetrability) that depend directly upon the environment physical and chemical properties. The geo-radar system emits through its antenna device the pulsing electromagnetic energy to the earth material underneath and registers the reflected signal and the time for its return to the receiver. The configuration consists of a main controller (computer with the relevant software) and antenna – wave emitter and receiver. It is also equipped with accessories: storage battery; interface cables; monitor or laptop for data visualization; metric wheel for precise distance measurement, etc.
General Technical Part
When the electromagnetic waves penetrate in depth into media of different dielectric constant values, the borderline between them is clearly indicated on the monitor, thus the so called radargram is obtained. On one principle can be scanned pipes, cables, underground voids, tanks, leakages, etc. due to the graphical contrast reflected in the radargram. The contrast is due to specific dielectric constant value for each matter. The computerized data processing with specialized software results in a very good visualization of the collected raw information, which an experienced professional can easily analyze and calculate according to the measurement goals. It certainly requires a serious experience, but GEOMAGIC-RADAR Co. Ltd. and our laboratory have experienced experts for you.
Applications in the economy
- In geology and mining:
- in-depth strata profiling;
- river and lake bottom profiling;
- sedimentology;
- landslide processes;
- underground waters, etc. locating.
- In road and civil engineering:
- localization and assessment of built-up infrastructures;
- defining the number and thickness of the paved road layers;
- locating underground communications and facilities: power cables, metal and nonmetal pipes, drains, canals, etc.
- capability for detecting and mapping of leakages of pipes and underground reservoirs;
- GPR is also applicable for detecting and mapping of harmful wastes, spillages, leakages, etc.
- Assessment of the condition of bridges, reinforcement, foundations and other concrete structures;
- Availability of air voids, reinforcement condition, raised water content, defining the density, porosity, condition of soil strata.
- In military sphere: infrastructure, bridges, intersecting unexploded projectiles, mines, activities related to hydro-location, overhead pictures of underground facilities, etc.
- In archeology: detecting traces of ancient human activities: fortress walls, fences, tombs and other artifacts
- In ecology: localizing leakages or buried solid wastes from harmful substances
- In agriculture: underground natural water sources and hydro-melioration facilities
- Civil defense: localization of people buried in earthquake or other disasters
- Industrial and civil engineering: availability of air voids, under the foundations of buildings and around them; condition of their reinforcement; raised water content; density of the bearing earth layers or the foundation material; material porosity; soil layer condition; roof leakages; floor slab condition; water supply, heating, sewerage and el. power systems within buildings.
Manufacturer
In the recent ten years, the fastest developing non-destruction control and performance quality assessment method (QA/QC) is the GEORADAR METHOD (GPR). Its wide range of action, its application flexibility in various branches and, last but not least, the reasonable price make the method more and more popular and used in Europe. It has already come to Bulgaria too!
World leaders in the manufacture of geo-radar systems are: Mala GeoScience AB (www.malags.se), Sweden.
As a whole, we witness the appearance of new more multifunctional and cheaper systems competing with each other, which is an advantage for your business or economy.